Galle: The first unofficial Test of the two-match series between Sri Lanka U19 and India U19 ended in a draw at the Galle International Cricket Stadium here on Thursday.
At the close of play on the final day, the home side were 178/6, leading the India U19s by 26 runs before the umpires knocked on the bails and the players shook hands.
A pulsating final day of the first red-ball match began with India U19 resuming their first innings from 378/3 with centurion Lakshya Rajesh Raichandani and Kush Patel in reply to Sri Lanka U19’s 424/9 to declare.
However, the two could extend their overnight partnership to 32 runs as Dimat Abeysinghe eventually cleaned up India’s U19 mainstay Raisandhani briefly after he had amassed his well-deserved double century. The opener retreated after top-scoring 207 off 324 balls with 25 fours including 3 sixes.
His dismissal paved the way for Manav Krishna to come out to bat at number 6, and wicketkeeper Batter soon stitched a crucial 62-run partnership with Kush, who scored 42 off 82 balls for the fifth wicket.
Following Kush’s dismissal, Krishna took control of India U19’s batting campaign and led them to a 152-run lead in the end with a blistering century. After scoring 100 off 153 balls with 6 fours and 3 sixes, he returned to bat in the last innings.
Lathendra Akash was the best bowler for the hosts with 3 wickets for 66 runs in his 19 overs, Kavija Gamage and Abeysinghe with 2 wickets each and Samika Heenathikala, Ramiru Perera and Dulnith Chikera with one wicket each.
Trailing by 152 runs, Sri Lanka U19’s batting unit rocked them in the second innings despite half-centuries from Chikera and Gamage as tour captain Yashpardhan Chauhan took four wickets.
In the second innings, Chikera scored 72 off 77 balls, while Kamake scored 51 off 66 balls.
India skipper Chauhan returned a brilliant bowling figure of 4/49 in his 10 overs, while Pranav Raghavendra and PK Kishore claimed a scalp each.
For those who don’t know, after a stalemate, Sri Lanka U19 and India U19 will meet in the second unofficial Test at the same venue from July 20 to 23.