Benkenstein ton helps England U-19 clinch ODI series

Sri Lanka under 19 team put up a good fight but skipper Luc Benkenstein’s brilliant century helped England Under19 to win third and final ODI by four runs (DLS method) to clinch three-match Youth ODI series 2-1 played at County Ground in Hove on Wednesday

Sri Lanka were set a revised target of 265 in 45 overs as per the DLS calculations. They came very close to reaching the target thanks to well-compiled half-centuries by Gayana Weerasinghe and Mahith Perera but fell short by just 4 runs at the end. Gayana Weerasinghe made 80 in 76 balls with 12 fours while Mahith Perera made 53 off 54 balls with 3 fours and a six to build up Sri Lanka innings but that fell four runs short to win the game. Gayana was in terrific form after having back to back fifties.

Earlier having won the toss, the hosts skipper Luc Benkenstein opted to bat first and posted 268 runs for 9 wickets on the board. Due to a rain interruption during the innings, the game was reduced to a 45-over contest.

England middle order batters Luc Benkenstein and Charlie Allison stood out with brilliant knocks to guide their side to a solid total. Benkenstein scored 102 runs off 99 balls with 7 fours and 5 sixes while Allison contributed 87 runs off 85 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixes.

The off-spinner Vihas Thewmika was the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka youth team as he captured 4 wickets for 33 runs. The skipper Dinura Kalupahana also impressed with the ball taking 3-wicket haul.

Both Sri Lanka and England under 19 teams will meet in the first Youth Test of the two-match series on July 8 at Wormsley.

Chief Scores: England Under 19 268 for 9 wickets in 45 overs (Freddie McCann 28, Charlie Alison 87, Luc Benkenstein 102, Rocky Flintoff 14, Tazeem Chadry Ali 13*, Hevin Kenula 1/61, Dinura Kalupahana 3/58, Vihas Thewmika 4/33, Praveen Maneesha 1/52)

Sri Lanka Under 19 260 all out in 44.4 overs (Pulindu Perera 38, Hiran Jayasundara 13, Gayana Weerasinghe 80, Dinura Kalupahana 14, Mahith Perera 53, Diniru Abeywickramasinghe 19, Harry Morre 2/42, Freddie McCann 2/39). (D.R)(dailynews)