Excellent fielding was the key to Sri Lanka Youth team’s victory

On Oct 19, 2021

Sri Lanka under 19 team showed good fighting spirit during first two one day games against Bangladesh under 19 side and two sides will meet in their third game of the five match series today at Dambulla International Cricket Stadium.

Dunith Wellalage and the team started this series with a 42 run victory which gave good confidence to the players. The fielding can make huge change at the matches and Sri Lankan youth players proved it at the second game with excellent fielding skills.

Sri Lanka Under 19s already took a 2-0 lead with a stunning one run victory over Bangladesh on Monday .Sri Lankan youth bowlers did well to defend a total of 228 runs in the second Youth Test

Chasing a target of 229 runs to win Bangladesh were in control after top order did well to take them past 100 runs for the loss of two wickets. Opener Mahfijul Islam made a superb knock of 75 and they were well set for victory to equal the series .But they were troubled by spinners Dunith Wellalage and Treveen Mathew and paceman Matheesha Pathirana in the middle overs but the visitors still had hope as they needed just 19 runs in the last three overs.

That was when Pathirana changed things picking up two wickets in the 48th over. to challenge the opponents. Skipper Dunith Wellalage, Trevin Mathews and Shevon Daniel already proved their abilities as spinners which is the main weapon of the Sri Lankan bowling department. Mathews took four wickets to win the first game well supported by Daniel.

Sri Lankan batting department led by left hander Pawan Pathiraja already scored back to back half centuries in this series while Opener Sadeesh Jayawardena who was the tip scorer of the second game with a well complied knock of 58 while Daniel,Raveen de Silva and Sadisha Rajapaksa played good supporting roles to build up the innings.

Sri Lankan newly appointed youth team head coach Avishka Gunawardena had nearly two months period with the youngsters. However he used his experience as a coach and seriously noticed Sri Lanka’s youth players talent.

The youth team squad had to train under Bio Bubble due to Global pandemic but head coach Avishka Gunawardena, fast bowling coach Chamila Gamage ,Spin coach Sachith Pathirana, fielding coach Upul Chandana and batting coach Dhammika Sudhatshana made a valuable effort to build up youth team players.

Five players skipper Dunith Wellalage, Raveen de Silva ,Yasiru Rodrigo, Matheesha Pathirana and Chamindu Wickramasinghe had previous National youth team experience but all others are debutants for the Internationals. They all are have good commitment to go forward and coaches give good back up to the players. The head coach Avishka Gunawardena said Sri Lankan youth team have good all rounders and that is plus point to go forward.