Sri Lanka U19s have drawn level in their ODI series against South Africa U19s, after beating them by 12 runs (D/L method) in Colombo.
After the young South Africans won the first tie by 16 runs, the second encounter was a similarly low-scoring and close affair, but it now leaves a deciding match in the third and final ODI in Colombo on Wednesday.
Rain prevented what would have been an interesting finish. After Sri Lanka were bowled out for 209, South Africa were on 184-8, needing 26 off 12 balls. It would have been a tall ask and that was reflected by the D/L method, as SA would have needed to be on 197-8.
Sri Lanka won the toss, but it was left-arm paceman William Sendin to make early inroads, removing both openers in his opening spell. It was a captain’s knock to hand SL a competitive total, scoring 97 off 115 balls and playing his part in two important partnerships. Skipper Wiaan Mulder chipped in with two wickets, but leg-spinner Jade de Klerk was the star with the ball, conceding a miserly 23 runs off his 10 overs, weighing in with two wickets himself.
The chase was a constant struggle from the tourists as wickets fell at crucial stages. The top order was removed cheaply as they were stranded on 27-3, but a sturdy 54-run partnership between Mulder (41) and Jesse Christensen (35) brought them back into the contest.
Kenan Smith finally found some form with a 60-ball 46 to give his side some hope, but he saw a few more wickets fall around him as they couldn’t stay in touch, before rained confirmed the inevitable.
Photo: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images
