In a gripping encounter at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi, Sri Lanka U19 claimed a 58-run victory over Pakistan U19 in the first match of their five-match one-day series.
Saad Baig, the Pakistan U19 captain, chose to field first after winning the toss. Sri Lanka U19’s opening batsman, Pulindu Perera, emerged as the standout performer with a magnificent century. Perera’s explosive innings of 156 runs from just 96 deliveries included an impressive 17 boundaries and six sixes. He was the linchpin of Sri Lanka’s innings, with the next highest scorer being Ravishan de Silva, who contributed 30 runs in 74 balls.
Naveed Ahmed Khan, the off-spinner, showcased his bowling prowess by picking up three crucial wickets. Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Ibtisam, and Ahmed Hussain, each claiming two wickets, played significant roles in limiting the Sri Lankan innings to 309 runs, with just two balls remaining.
Pakistan U19’s chase got off to a challenging start as they aimed to chase down the formidable target. However, Shamyl Hussain and Arafat Minhas rallied to produce fighting half-centuries. Hussain was the top scorer for Pakistan U19, narrowly missing out on his century with a composed 98 runs from 120 balls, including nine boundaries. Minhas contributed 84 runs from 73 deliveries, which featured 11 boundaries and a six.
Despite the commendable partnership of 153 runs for the fifth wicket, the Pakistani batsmen couldn’t manage to surpass the target set by Sri Lanka U19. Dinuka Kalupahana’s four-wicket haul was instrumental in restricting Pakistan’s innings. Garuka Sanketh also played a vital role, picking up three wickets for 42 runs.
With this victory, Sri Lanka U19 takes an early lead in the series, setting the stage for an exciting second one-day match, scheduled for 24 October at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi.
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