Sri Lankans blast out host Windies from World Cup | Page 2 | Sunday Observer

Sri Lankans blast out host Windies from World Cup

23 January, 2022
Sadisha Rajapakse cuts a ball to the boudary
Sadisha Rajapakse cuts a ball to the boudary

Sadisha Rajapakse played a superb innings of 76 as Sri Lanka defeated the West Indies by three wickets in their Under-19 World Cup cricket fixture played at Besseterre,St Kitts in the Caribbean yesterday .

Sri Lanka chasing 251 reached the target in 48.2 overs with three wickets in hand to enter the quarter final with an unbeaten record.

Australia, Pakistan, India, South Africa and England have also qualified for the semi finals with Bangladesh, the UAE, Afghanistan and Zimbawe vying for the balance two slots.

Rajapakse who was promoted as an opener played the anchor role in this match scoring 76 in 115 balls with five boundaries and was named as player of the match.

Rajapakse initially set the course with a 52-run stand for the second wicket with Shevon Daniel who scored 34 in 33 balls with five fours and a six after his opening partner Chamindu Wickramasinghe was out early in the first over making just four runs.

But Daniel’s presence stepped up the tempo for Sri Lanka as the team grew in confidence while chasing a big target.

Any hopes the West Indies had of dismantling the Sri Lankans was thwarted by Anjala Bandara who joined Rajapakse to share in a 78-run match-winning stand for the fourth wicket and settle the issue.

Bandara scored 40 in 52 balls with two fours and a six during his partnership with Rajapakse.

Late order batter Ranuda Somaratne ensured Sri Lanka picked up the required runs to finish off the match making an unbeaten 28 in 27 balls after the dismissals of Rajapakse and Bandara.

Earlier host West Indies put into bat made 250 for 9 wickets in 50 overs with Teddy Bishop (45), Kevin Wickham ( 56), Jordan Johnson ( 47) and Rivaldo Clarke (45) making useful knocks to build up their innings.

Sri Lanka skipper Dunith Wellalage continued with his wicket-taking exploits taking 3 for 39 in his ten over spell while paceman Matheesha Pathirana ended with 2 for 67 in his ten over spell.

Sri Lanka will meet either Pakistan or Zimbabwe in the quarter finals scheduled to played on January 26.

Chief scores

West Indies 250 for 9 in 50 overs (Shaqkere Parris 16,Teddy Bishop 45, Kevin Wickham 56,Jordan Johnson 47, Rivaldo Clarke 45, McKenny Clarke 21, Dunith Wellalage 3/39, Matheesha Pathirana 2/67)

Sri Lanka 251 for 7 in 48.2 overs (Sadisha Rajapakse 76, Shevon Daniel 34, Anjala Bandara 40, Dunith Wellalage 15, Ranuda Somaratne 28 n.o,, Raveen de Silva 13, McKenny Clarke 2/38, Isai Thorne 2/41 (DR)

 

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