England U19 268 for 9 (Benkenstein 102) lost Sri Lanka U19 260 (Weerasinghe 80, Perera 53) by four runs – DLS
Essex’s batting made 102 in England’s 268 for 9 in a match reduced to 45 overs due to rain. In gloomy conditions, Gayana Weerasinghe led Sri Lanka’s reply with a polished 80 off 76 balls and a Mahith Perera half-century threatened to take his side to victory. But Perera was run out by Freddie McCann’s direct hit in the 43rd over and the Sri Lankan tail was left with too much to do.
England had won the toss and Nottinghamshire’s McCann, who made 174 in Monday’s win at the same ground, showed a willingness to make Sri Lanka pay when wicketkeeper Sharujan Shanmuganathan dropped a simple catch in the second over, yet to he scores. McCann took three boundaries in an over off Hivun Kenula, but then gave Vihas Thewmika a simple return catch in the eighth over.
It was one of three wickets to fall before the rain arrived in the 16th over, but when play resumed Benkenstein, who made 51 in the series opener at Chelmsford last Friday, and Essex team-mate Charlie Allison began to prosper.
Benkenstein’s first 50 runs came from 69 balls and his partner was slightly quicker (62 balls) to his half-century before both hit the gas. Benkenstein needed just 29 more deliveries to reach his hundred, which included seven fours and five sixes as he played aggressive shots on both sides of the wicket.
Alison contributed an impressive 87 off 85 balls in a stand of 184 in 29 overs, with seven fours and two sixes, before playing Thewmika in an attempt to hit him over mid-wicket in the 37th over. Benkenstein bowled a delivery from Dinura Kalupahana at deep backward point for 102 in the next over and England lost momentum.
The Sri Lankan bowlers pulled it back well in the final overs, taking 6 for 44 in 7.2 overs with Thewmika finishing with 4 for 33. It left them needing 269 in 5.9 runs an over.
England’s seamen withdrew as Sri Lanka responded. Harry Moore came in by bowling Hiran Jayasundara through the wicket and McCann claimed the first of two wickets with his off breaks when Pulindu Perera reversed straight to gully.
Debutant Alex Green had left-armer Sanmuganathan well caught by Allison, diving forward at deep mid-wicket, and when Noah Thain’s soft outside swing had captain Dinura Kalupahana with his first ball, Sri Lanka needed 144 in 21 overs.
Weerasinghe and Mahith Perera kept them in the hunt, putting on 64 for the fifth wicket in nine overs, but England retained a pleasing ability to strike when needed and Weerasinghe drove Dom Kelly’s slower ball to mid-on, where Benkenstein kept good. .
Sri Lanka’s hopes now rested on the prolific Perera, whose stand with Diniru Abeywickramasingha looked to be taking them over the line. But Abeywickramasingha mistimed a scoop after he had added 46 for the seventh wicket and Perera (53 off 54 balls) was superbly run out by McCann’s direct backhand hit as England held their nerve.