ICC Under-19 World Cup, 5th Place Play-off: India U-19 beat Sri Lanka U-19 by 76 runs

ICC Under 19 World Cup – Team India

Indian Under-19s, playing the ICC Under-19 World Cup, stormed to a 76-run victory in the 5th place play-off match against the Sri Lanka U-19s, courtesy of a Man-of-the-Match performance from all-rounder Deepak Hooda. In response to India’s 291, Sri Lanka succumbed to a total of only 215 runs in 48.1 overs.

India enjoyed a solid start to their innings after being put to bat first by the Sri Lankans. After the loss of both the openers Ankush Bains and Akhil Herwadkar in close intervals, with the score at 80-2 in 13 overs, India’s stand-in captain Sanju Samson combined with Shreyas Iyer to put together a brilliant partnership of 87 runs for the third wicket.

Gopal departed for a well made 59 and Samson followed him. Sri Lankan bowlers started to wreak havoc in the Indian batting line-up as India lost 2 more wickets immediately after the departure of Samson. Anuk Fernando got rid of Samson and Sarfaraz Khan in the same over as India were suddenly reduced to 179/6 in 35.1 overs.

Just when the team looked like they were losing track, Deepak Hooda stepped up to rescue Team India yet again, this time with a 56-ball 76, which included 7 boundaries and 4 towering sixes. India finished the match with 291 runs on the board for the loss of 7 wickets in 50 overs. Hashen Ramanayake was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers, finishing with figures of 46/2 in 10 overs.

Sri Lanka were shaky in reply, loosing opener Hashan Damindu – run out by Sanju Samson – with just 11 runs on the board. The Islanders were strangled by the Indian bowlers, who did not provide them with enough room to score runs freely.

After the dismissal of Sri Lankan captain Sadeera Samarawickrama, who scored a well made half-century, only Priyamal Perera (47 off 46) contributed with the bat. Eventually, Sri Lanka were bowled out for a meagre 215 in the 49th over, losing the match by 76 runs in the process.

While all the Indian bowlers made significant contributions, Deepak Hooda was again the stand-out performer with the ball, picking up 3 wickets in his 10 overs giving away only 31 runs.

Brief Scores: India U-19 291/7 (50 overs): S Iyer 59, D Hooda 76; H Ramanayake 46/2.

Sri Lanka U-19 215-all-out (48.1 overs): S Samarawickrama 58, P Perera 47; D Hooda 31/3.