Sri Lanka's Senuja Wekunagoda scores 233 with ODI-like strike rate vs India U19, registers 6th highest score in Youth Tests history

Sri Lanka's Senuja Wekunagoda scripted history at Galle International Cricket Stadium as he scored 233 against India Under-19 in first Youth Test. Wekunagoda's 233-run knock is the sixth-highest score in Youth Test history. It is also the highest score in Youth Tests by a Sri Lanka batter. The previous record belonged to Yashodha Lanka with a 213-run knock against England Under-19 in Colombo in 2011.

The record for highest score in Youth Test history belongs to Australia's Clinton Peake with an unbeaten 304 against India Under-19 in Melbourne in 1995.

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Wekunagoda’s marathon knock

Wekunagoda's 233 helped Sri Lanka Under-19 post 424/9 before declaring despite both openers falling early to Kavya Paresh Patel. Wekunagoda reached his half-century from just 38 balls. He got ample support from Vimath Dinsara who departed for a 99-ball 52 in the second session of Day 1's play.

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In the 34th over of the innings, Wekunagoda reached his century from 87 deliveries. Kavija Gamage took the defensive approach. The scoring rate went down but impressive for red-ball cricket standards. In the 61st over, Wekunagoda completed his 150 from 159 deliveries. The partnership was broken by skipper Yashbardhan Chauhan in the 68th over. Gamage missed his fifty by just one run. He faced 121 balls and hit nine fours in the 128-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

In the 89th over of the innings, Wekunagoda completed his double century with a boundary. He took 226 balls to reach the milestone. At Day 1, Stumps, the hosts were 344/4 with Wekunagoda unbeaten on 203. Chamika Heenatigala scored 33.

On Day 2, Wekunagoda hit the first six of the innings and then lost his wicket the next ball to Jeganathan Hemchudeshan. His knock of 233 from 267 balls, featured 33 fours and a six. He batted with a strike rate of 87.27.

5 wickets for 3 runs, then no.11 wreaks havoc

In the next over, Priyanshu Singh dismissed Heenatigala who scored 45 runs from 100 balls. In his next over, Priyanshu got rid of Ramiru Perera. Hemchudeshan struck twice in the 103rd over, dismissing Jason Fernando and Lathendra Akash. The hosts went from 385/4 to 388/9. Oshanda Manahara got Sri Lanka past the 400-run mark with a cameo. The no.11 batter contributed with an unbeaten 12-ball 31 cameo laced with four fours and a couple of sixes before the innings was declared. Sri Lanka Under-19 posted 424/9 in 106.4 overs.