HAMBANTHOTA: Sethmika Senaviratna’s four-wicket haul, half-centuries from Senuja Vekunagoda and Samika Heenadikala helped Sri Lanka U19 win the third and final ODI against India U19 by one wicket at the Mahendra Rajapakse Stadium on Thursday.
The win saw Sri Lanka clinch the 3-match series 2-1, winning the second match as well, while the tour team won the opener.
Batting first in the series decider, the visitors posted 290/8 in their 50 overs with the anchor partnership of Satham Vineeth and Lakshya Rajesh Raisandhani.
The duo rescued India A from a poor start as they were reduced to 31/2 in seven overs by adding 108 runs for the third wicket.
Kavija Gamage finally broke the crucial stand in the 27th over with 61 off 63 balls with 7 fours, dismissing Raichandani.
Vineeth then put on a brief partnership with Kushagra Ojha (three) and Arjun Rajput (14) before eventually succumbing to Senavirathne in the 38th over. He was the top scorer for the U19 India team with 131 runs off 136 balls with 13 fours and 3 sixes.
Following his dismissal, Shavin Vinod and Mohit Ulva contributed significantly to the visitors’ total at the back with 26 and 19 not out respectively.
Senavirathne was the best bowler for Sri Lanka U19s with four for 41 in his 10 overs, followed by Kimhan Mendis with two wickets, while Gamage was caught with a scalp.
Chasing a tough target of 291 runs, the hosts finally managed to clinch the winning runs with one wicket in hand off the final delivery of the innings, aided by Heenathikala’s unbeaten half-century.
The middle-order batsman led Sri Lanka U19’s tense innings and scored an unbeaten 84 off 68 balls with 7 fours and two sixes, earning him the Man of the Match award.
After the departure of top-order batsman Vekunagoda, Heenadikala scored a blistering 67 off 59 balls with 10 fours and a six.
Apart from them, the middle-order duo of Gidma Vidhanabhadrana (31) and Gamage (29), and number 10 Kimhan Mendis (23) also played a key role in the home side’s successful run chase.
Anmoljeet Singh was the pick of the bowlers for India U19 with 4 for 42 from his eight overs, followed by Shavin Vinod with 3 wickets and Mohit Ulva with 2 wickets.