Colombo: A combined bowling effort saw India U19 skittle Sri Lanka U19 to 122/8 after being bowled out for 411 in the first innings on the second day of the second unofficial Test at the R Premadasa Stadium on Tuesday.
At the end of the second day’s play, the home side trailed India U19 by just two wickets by 289 runs. Lower-order batsmen Setmika Senaviratna and Kimhaan Mendis, both unbeaten on 4, will resume their reply on the final day.
India U19 started the second day with a bang from their first innings of 253/3 with Kushagra Ojha and Manal Chauhan scoring overnight centuries. They could extend the overnight partnership to 155 before being run out in the seventh over the next day.
Ojha was the notable run scorer for the visitors with 111 off 193 balls with 12 fours and 2 sixes.
Following his dismissal, Manal took control of India U19’s batting duties and smashed the 400-run barrier with a sensational 150, during which he hit 20 fours and a six.
Top-scorer Manal received significant support from number 9 Sigurupathi Venkata, who scored a blistering 25 off 33 balls.
Mendis was the best bowler in the first innings for the Sri Lanka U19 team, taking 3 wickets for 102 runs in his 25 overs, while Vigneswaran Akash, Dulnith Chikera and Setmika Senaviratna took two wickets each.
India U19 were all out for 411, needing at least 140 runs to avoid the follow-on, with the team’s batting unit faltering and ending the day in a precarious position.
Middle-order batsman Chigera remained the top scorer for Sri Lanka U19s with 31 off 37 balls, followed by Viran Samuditha’s 21 off 35 balls, while Dimantha Mahavidana (24) was the only other player to reach double figures.
On the Indian side, Sigurupathi Venkata, Rohit Yadav and Pranav Raghavendra took 2 wickets each and Kavya Paresh Patel and Jaganathan Hamsudashan took one wicket each.