Sri Lanka U-19 cricket team’s right-arm fast bowler Vinuja Ranpul took 5 wickets conceding just 10 runs against Afghanistan U-19 cricket team in the ICC U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2022 but a poor batting display from the Sri Lankan batters helped Afghanistan in securing a 4-run victory and seal their spot for the semi-finals.
Sri Lanka’s decision to win the toss and bowl first seemed to be a good choice after, batting first, the Afghanistan team managed to register a mere total of 134 runs losing 10 wickets in 47.1 overs. Only three of the Afghanistan batters- Allah Noor (25 runs off 58 balls), Abdul Hadi (37 runs off 97 balls) and Noor Ahmad (30 runs off 33 balls) - managed to reach the two-digit mark in the innings.
Brilliant bowling
Ranpul exhibited his terrific bowling skills to dismiss five Afghanistan batters. The 18-year-old pacer got good support from skipper Dunith Wellalage who scalped three wickets in the match. Apart from these two bowlers, Yasiru Rodrigo and Treveen Mathew picked up a wicket each.
Sri Lanka’s lethal bowling saw Afghanistan lose their four top-order batsmen for just two runs. Later, Ahmad and Hadi helped their side in recovering from the early danger and reach a mere total of 134 runs.
Poor batting
In reply, Sri Lankan batters started the run-chase after they lost seven wickets within just 43 runs. A lack of understanding and communication seemed to be there between the Sri Lankan batters as three (Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Sakuna Liyanage, Yasiru Rodrigo) of their first seven wickets were results of run out. Later, Ranpul also had to be back to the pavilion after he was run out, scoring just 11 runs.
A 69-run partnership between Raveen de Silva (21 runs off 84 balls) and skipper Wellalage (34 runs off 61 deliveries), for the eighth wicket, helped Sri Lanka in reach 112 runs. The crucial partnership came to an end after Sri Lanka skipper was dismissed in the 41st over by Afghanistan bowler Nangeyalia Kharote.
After that they managed to score 18 more runs and eventually had to concede a four-run defeat.
Afghanistan’s Bilal Sami picked up two wickets conceding 33 runs.
