Pathiraja, Somaratne, Sahan steer Sri Lanka Under 19 to massive win

A ton by Pawan Pathiraja and an unbeaten half-ton from Ranuda Somaratne, supported by a five-wicket haul by Wanuja Sahan, helped Sri Lanka Under19 record a massive 148-run win over England Under-19 in the 2nd Youth ODI encounter played at the SSC ground yesterday.

Pathiraja, who cracked 113 in 134 balls (13 fours), shared a valuable 105-run stand for the fourth wicket with Somaratne who made 58 with two boundaries and a six.

Later, Somaratne featured in another valuable partnership with skipper Dunith Wellalage, who made an unbeaten 38 for the fifth wicket to help Sri Lanka Under-19, taking first lease of the wicket, to make a formidable score of 251/4. In their run chase, the

England Under-19 outfit was sent reeling to a pathetic score of 44/7 by the 18th over with Yasiru Rodrigo, Wanuja Sahan, and Matheesha Pathirana doing the damage.

Later, Wanuja Sahan cleaned off the tail despite resistance from James Rew (50) to bundle the visitors out for a paltry 103 runs.

With the win, Sri Lanka Under-19 levelled the five-match series 1-1. The two teams will play next tomorrow at the same venue.

At SSC – Sri Lanka Under-19 won by 148 runs

Sri Lanka Under 251/4 in 50 overs (Pawan Pathiraja 113, Ranuda Somaratne 58 n.o., Dunith Wellalage 38 n.o.; Joshua Bouden 2/42, Rehan Ahmed 2/42)

England Under 19 103 in 31.4 overs (James Rew 50; Wanuja Sahan 5/21, Yasiru Rodrigo 2/18, Matheesha Pathirana 2/20)