The West Indies got their third win in a row with a tense three-wicket win over Sri Lanka to open their Super Six campaign at the ICC Under-19 World Cup in South Africa on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat first, scoring a respectable total of 231 runs. Dinura Kalupahana and Malsha Tharupathi were the standout performers with the bat, forming a crucial partnership of 51 runs. Raneico Smith was the star bowler for West Indies, taking 4 wickets.
In the second innings, West Indies got off to a strong start, scoring 54 runs in the powerplay, with Stephan Pascal leading the charge. The chase was then led by Steve Wedderburn, who scored a brilliant 61 runs, and Jordan Johnson, who contributed 39 runs.
The game witnessed some key moments, with momentum shifting between the two teams. West Indies took control with 4 boundaries between the 24th and 27th over, but Sri Lanka fought back with 2 quick wickets in the 27th and 28th over. The pendulum swung again in West Indies’ favor with a crucial boundary in the 48th over, leaving them needing just 1 run in the final over. Showing nerves of steel, the batting team secured victory with 3 balls remaining.
Overall, it was a thrilling contest that showcased some exceptional performances from both sides.
MATCH SUMMARY
Sri Lanka Under-19s vs West Indies Under-19s, ICC Under 19 World Cup
Sri Lanka Under-19s 231/10 (50 ov)
West Indies Under-19s 232/7 (49.3 ov)
West Indies Under-19s won by 3 wickets