Sri Lanka keep semis hopes intact at U19 World Cup

(South Africa v Sri Lanka scorecard)

Sri Lanka stay in the reace for a semi-final spot at the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup with a confident victory over South Africa in the Super Six. After restricting the Proteas to 261 for seven, the Lankan side rode on a Viran Chamuditha hundred to register a five-wicket win.

Broadcast details for ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup

While Australia is already through to the final four, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan are vying for the second qualifying spot from Group 1 of the Super Six. As things stand, Sri Lanka is second with six points, but Afghanistan (four points) has a match in hand and a superior net run-rate.

Sri Lanka still have a chance of making the knockouts as they keep the pressure on Afghanistan with Thursday’s win. The latter cannot afford a slip-up against Ireland in their final Super Six match on Friday.

In Bulawayo, Jorich van Schalkwyk was the glue that held the South African innings together after the young Proteas elected to bat first. He scored a patient 116 off 130 balls, a knock that included 13 fours and two sixes.

A 96-run opening partnership between van Schalkwyk and Adnaan Lagadien (46) gave South Africa a solid base to build upon. Later in the innings, van Schalkwyk also put on 48 runs with Bandile Mbatha for the fourth wicket. But Sri Lanka bounced back.

On a track that gave spinners something to work with, Sri Lanka’s Vigneshwaran Akash came to the fore. The leg-spinner lured the batters into a web and kept them second-guessing. He finished with outstanding figures of four for 46, claiming the wickets of South Africa’s top three batters. Akash gave Sri Lanka the first breakthrough as he bowled Lagadien through the gate.

While left-arm spinner Chamika Heentigala did not have as many wickets to show, he played an invaluable part by keeping a lid on the scoring and helping Sri Lanka build pressure from both ends.

After losing Dimantha Mahavithana early in their chase, Chamuditha and Senuja Wekunagoda put their heads down and stitched together a second-wicket partnership of 143 runs. The Sri Lankan batters were conservative in their risk-taking, and kept the scoreboard ticking.

Giving another glimpse of why he has been earmarked as a future star, Chamuditha brought up his second hundred of the tournament. He struck 13 fours and a six during a well-paced innings of 110 that set up Sri Lanka for a crucial win.

There were some moments of anxiety as South African wicketkeeper Lethabo Phahlamohlaka grabbed two stunning catches, knocking Sri Lanka from a healthy 166-2 to 206 for four.

It brought down the scoring rate but didn't derail the chase. Heentigala and Dulnith Sigera calmly navigated a tricky final phase to carry the team to victory in 46 overs.

The loss to Sri Lanka marked the end of a disappointing tournament for the Proteas, with their only win at the tournament coming against Tanzania.

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