Sri Lankan Youths win the second game in World Cup

2024.01.24

Following Supun Waduge’s undefeated 56-run innings, all eight of Namibia’s top batters yielded single-digit scores.

In Kimberley, a combined effort by Sri Lanka’s bowlers smashed Namibia for 56 in a chase of 134. All eight of Namibia’s top hitters fell for single-digit scores, with left-arm spinner Vishwa Lahiru and medium-pacer Ruvishan Perera taking three wickets apiece.

Following their introduction, Sri Lanka had a sluggish start, losing Pulindu Perera for three in the seventh over. Zacheo Van Vuuren, a fast bowler, then started to slip; he claimed the next four wickets and reduced Sri Lanka to 71 for 5 in the 20th over. Supun Waduge, ranked third in Sri Lanka, then spearheaded the opposition, amassing an undefeated 56 off 79, while receiving little assistance from his opponents. After taking three wickets in the lower order, Johannes de Villiers guided Sri Lanka to 133 all out.

Namibia’s pursuit, in turn, never gained momentum. The Sri Lankan bowlers not only restricted them from scoring runs, but they also hit frequently, so they could hardly advance. In the twentieth over, Namibia lost eight wickets for twenty-five runs. After putting up an eighteen-run partnership, Peter-Daniel Blignaut and Hanro Badenhorst attempted a rebuild, but Perera halted it in the 26th over. After taking the final wicket, Lahiru ended Namibia’s innings in 27 overs.

Sri Lanka 133 (Waduge 56*, van Vuuren 4-23, de Villiers 3-19) beat Namibia 56 (Blignaut 18*, Perera 3-3, Lahiru 3-19) by 77 runs

Pakistan U19 vs Nepal U19

With five wickets to spare against Nepal, Pakistan’s Under-19 World Cup record was upheld thanks to an undefeated 63 from Azan Awais.

Pakistan, chasing a pitiful 198, got off to a perfect start thanks to openers Shamyl Hussain (37) and Shahzaib Khan (37), who put on 80 runs in 21.2 overs. Pakistan was struggling at 104 for 4 after Aakash Chand took many fast wickets, two of which came in the same over. However, Awais, who came in at number four, formed important alliances with Ahmad Hassan and Haroon Arshad to help the team cross the finish line in 48 overs. Awais knocked six fours off of 82 balls.

Nepal had earlier puffed and puffered their way to 197 when they had chosen to bat. With 39 points, Bipin Rawal led the squad in scoring, but he had little assistance as the team consistently fell behind. Arafat Minhas emerged as the most effective bowler for Pakistan, finishing with three wickets for a total of twenty-three, while Umaid Shah and Hassan both grabbed two wickets.

Pakistan 201 for 5 (Awais 63*, Shamyl 37, Chand 3-34) beat Nepal 197 (Rawal 39, Minhas 3-23) by five wickets

West Indies U19 vs Scotland U 19

With the help of an unbeaten fifty from Jewel Andrew and a four-wicket haul by Isai Thorne, West Indies defeated Scotland in Potchefstroom to win the competition for the first time.

Scotland batted first and got off to a steady start thanks to an 89-run partnership between openers Jamie Dunk (57) and Adi Hegde (32). But when Hegde was removed in the 22nd over, Scotland found it difficult to form significant alliances as Thorne tormented the middle and top order of the squad on route to his 4 for 46 total. Only two other hitters were able to score in double figures, and Alec Price, batting at number three, contributed 31 to the total. Scotland was eventually limited to 205 for 9.

Throughout the chase, the West Indies dropped wickets often, but valuable contributions from their skipper Stephan Pascal (26), Jordan Johnson (24) and Mavendra Dindyal (29) kept them on course to surpass the goal. They were a dangerous 111 for 5, but an unbroken partnership of 95 runs between Andrew and Nathan Edward saw the team home. After hitting eight fours and remaining undefeated at 64 off 60 balls, Andrew was voted Player of the Match.

West Indies 206 for 5 (Andrew 64*, Dindyal 29*) beat Scotland 205 for 9 (Dunk 57, Thorne 4-46) by five wickets

@charith