Dunith’s century keeps Sri Lanka aloft

ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup

A century by skipper Dunith Wellalage and an unbeaten half century by Ranuda Somaratne helped Sri Lanka Under 19s post 232 runs against their South African counterparts in the fifth place Play-off Semi-Final of the ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Sunday.

Deciding to bat first, Sri Lanka Under 19s lost three wickets for 25 runs before Wellalage fought back anchoring the batting line up to post a modest total.

Wellalage had the support of his fellow St. Joseph’s College teammate Shevon Daniel to put on 52 runs stand for the fourth wicket after Chamindu Wickramsainghe and Sadisha Rajapaksa and Sakuna Liyanage were out without reaching double figures.

Wellalage scored 113 runs, the highest knock by a Sri Lankan batsman at this World Cup, inclusive of nine fours and four sixes and put on a crucial partnership of 130 runs for the fifth wicket before departing in the penultimate over. He faced 130 balls for his knock.

Somaratne was unbeaten on 57 runs after having scored three fours and two sixes.

Scores:

Sri Lanka U19s 232 for 6 in 50 overs (Shevon Daniel 29, Dunith Wellalage 113, Ranuda Somaratne 57n.o.; Matthew Boast 2/21, Kwena Maphaka 3/60)