Sri Lanka maintained their perfect record in the 2022 ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup with a thrilling three-wicket victory over West Indies at Conaree Sports Club in Basseterre.
Sri Lanka defeat West Indies by 3 wickets and qualify for the Super League stage 🎉#WIvSL | #U19CWC pic.twitter.com/xcdYi9WDr9
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) January 21, 2022
The hosts went into the contest knowing they needed a win to stand a chance of qualifying for the Super League quarter-finals, with their opponents and Australia ahead of them in Group D.
Openers Shaqkere Parris and Matthew Nandu ensured they made a steady start, reaching the end of the fifth over for 20 without loss before Treveen Mathew removed the latter for seven.
Parris was then bowled by Dunith Wellalage for 16 before Teddy Bishop and Kevin Wickham combined for a fruitful partnership, taking the West Indies to 102 for two after 26 overs.
Bishop was eventually removed on 45 by Wellalage, caught by Mathew, but Jordan Johnson picked up where his teammate left off as he raced to 26 from 30 balls.
Wickham reached his half-century before falling for 56 to Matheesha Pathirana in the 38th over, although Johnson and Rivaldo Clarke kept West Indies ticking along nicely.
Two wickets in three balls in the 45th over stunted the hosts’ momentum, though, with Wellalage accounting for Johnson as he fell three runs short of his fifty before Giovonte Depeiza was run out moments later by Anjala Bandara without scoring.
A late cameo from McKenny Clarke of 21 from 13 balls saw West Indies finish all out for 250, with Wellalage (3/39) and Pathirana (3/67) both taking three wickets.
3️⃣ wins out of 3️⃣ matches!#YoungLions finished on top of the table in Group D and through to the quarter-finals of #U19CWC. pic.twitter.com/WJYs6VBW7c
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) January 21, 2022
In response, Sri Lanka lost opener Chamindu Wickramasinghe in the first opener as Nathan Edward enticed him into a flick outside off stump that went straight to Rivaldo Clarke.
Sadisha Rajapaksa and Shevon Daniel got their side back on track as they reached the end of the 11th over on 56 for one before Daniel was removed by McKenny Clarke for 34.
Rajapaksa powered on regardless and despite losing Sakuna Liyanage (9), he reached his fifty in the 25th over with support from new partner Anjala Bandara at the crease.
Bandara contributed 40 from 52 balls before his wicket was taken by Isai Thorne, with Rajapaksa (76) also falling to the same bowler in the 40th over as Sri Lanka reached 200 for five.
With 51 still needed off 60 balls for victory, Shiva Sankar removed Wellalage (15) to set up a tense finale as Ranuda Somarathna and Raveen de Silva came together in the middle.
And while Mckenny Clarke bowled De Silva (13), a nerveless 28 from 27 balls from Somarathna saw Sri Lanka home as they secured a three-wicket victory with 10 balls to spare.
Saturday 22 January matches
- India v Uganda - Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago
- Bangladesh v United Arab Emirates - Warner Park, St Kitts and Nevis
- Pakistan v Papua New Guinea - Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago
- Afghanistan v Zimbabwe - Diego Martin Sporting Complex, Trinidad and Tobago
All matches start at 09h00 local time
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