Sri Lankan U-19s tie one-day 2010

Lankan U-19s tie one-day series

CANTERBURY: England Under-19s prevailed over Sri Lanka Under-19s by 51 runs (D/L method) in the rain-affected fifth game in Canterbury as the visitors succumbed for 125, chasing 177 in 41 overs.
England had struggled batting first and only managed 184 before being bowled out in 48.2 overs, but it proved sufficient to level the five-match series two-all. The teams share the spoils with the third game having been abandoned due to rain.

The hosts elected to bat and got off to a confident start, the openers adding 40 in 7.2 overs before Bhanuka Rajapaksa dismissed Joe Root. Lewis Gregory supported the set opener Jack Manuel, taking the score to 74 in 14.2 overs before wickets began to tumble.
Lahiru Jayaratne was the main tormentor, dismissing Gregory and Luke Wells within the space of three balls. Ateeq Javid did not last long and was run out for 9 as the innings began to lose steam. When Manuel fell for a fluent 63 off 74 balls with the score on 117, Sri Lanka sensed a chance to skittle out the opposition under 150. However, captain Paul Best, coming in at eight, put paid to those hopes with a responsible unbeaten 28. The rest of the tail held on to lift England to 184.

Sri Lanka’s top order found the pair of Matt Dunn and David Payne too hot to handle. Ramith Rambukwella scored 16 runs as the opening batsmen added 21 in the first five overs. Things changed quickly after that, and 21 for 0 soon became 28 for 4. When Dhanushka Gunathilleke was dismissed for 5, Sri Lanka had lost half their side for 43. Rain intervened at this juncture and having lost five top-order wickets Sri Lanka came back facing a steeper target. Though three lower-order batsmen managed 20s, it was a task too steep for them and they were bowled out in the 35th over, Dunn and Payne sharing seven wickets in all.

Best was delighted with the result, saying after the match: “It was great to win the final match and level the one day series. The result was a fair reflection of the strength of the two teams and it was fantastic for England players ending their U19s career to finish on a high.”
Scores: England Under-19s 184 (48.2) (J Manuel 63, P Best 28 n.o., Lahiru Jayaratne 3/22)
Sri Lanka Under-19s 125 (34.1) (Denuwan Rajakaruna 28, Akshu Fernando 23, Chatura Peiris 26, M Dunn 3/15, D Payne 4/40).

Sri Lankan World cup venues to be used for West Windies tour 2010

World cup venues to be used for Windies tour

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
Sri Lanka Cricket is planning to play all the matches during the West Indies tour here in November-December at the three World Cup venues – R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sooriyawewa in Hambantota and Pallakele in Kandy.

West Indies are due to play a series of three Tests and five One-Day Internationals during their tour of Sri Lanka. Presently, the venues allocated for the Tests are Dambulla, SSC and P Sara Oval and for the five ODIs – Hambantota, Galle, SSC and R Premadasa Stadium.
Sri Lanka Cricket secretary Nishantha Ranatunga told The Nation, that the venues decided are provisional and that there is every possibility that the eight matches (3 Tests and 5 ODIs) could be played at the three World Cup venues.

“We want to give our national players the maximum opportunity of playing at these three venues ahead of the World Cup matches,” said Ranatunga.
“The playing areas at Hambantota, Pallakele and R Premadasa Stadium are ready our only concern is the construction of the stadium around it. We will review the work in progress by end of September and then decide whether the matches can be played there,” he said.
Ranatunga also stated that every opportunity is being given to the national selectors to pick the best side for the World Cup.

“We already have India and New Zealand playing in a tri-series. There is also South Africa ‘A’ playing concurrently with Sri Lanka ‘A’. Pakistan ‘A’ is also due shortly to play in two unofficial tests and take part in a one-day tri-series. There is enough opportunity on offer for the players to perform and compete for places before the final selection,” said Ranatunga.
Pallakele hosted the first unofficial 4-day test between Sri Lanka ‘A’ and South ‘A’ which ended on Friday. Hambantota is slotted to host the first unofficial 4-day test between Sri Lanka ‘A’ and Pakistan ‘A’ from September 9-12.

The 14th edition of Cricket World Cup is scheduled to be held from February 17 to April 2 with Sri Lanka due to host 12 of the 49 matches which includes five of their six group matches at R. Premadasa Stadium (3 matches) Hambantota (1) and Pallakele (1) plus the second quarter-final and the first semi-final (both at R Premadasa Stadium). Sri Lanka will also host all the group matches played by Pakistan at all three venues.

West Indies tour of Sri Lanka (provisional itinerary)
Nov 16-20: 1st Test: Sri Lanka v West Indies at Dambulla
Nov 24-28: 2nd Test: Sri Lanka v West Indies at SSC
Dec 1-5: 3rd Test: Sri Lanka v West Indies at P Sara Oval
Dec. 9: 1st ODI: Sri Lanka v West Indies at Hambantota
Dec 11: 2nd ODI: Sri Lanka v West Indies at Hambantota
Dec 14: 3rd ODI: Sri Lanka v West Indies at Galle
Dec 17: 4th ODI: Sri Lanka v West Indies at SSC
Dec 19: 5th ODI: Sri Lanka v West Indies at R Premadasa Stadium