By Brian Thomas
Sri Lanka, under 19 team who did well to beat Nepal in their lung opener, came up with a sterling performance against the much fancied Afghanistan under 19 team as they thumped the favourites by a huge margin of 131 runs in the Asia Cup league 50 over game at Sharjah yesterday. With this comprehensive win, the Island team has qualified for the Semi finals along side Bangladesh in their death over group consisting of favourites Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
The other group looks easier with Japan. UAE , India, and Pakistan . Today, India, who lost to Pakistan, in their group game, play Japan , whilst Pakistan compete against a strong UAE outfit at Dubai today. If Pakistan beat UAE, the defending under 19 Asia Cup champions, they too will march to the Semi finals alongside Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, who have already qualified for the Semi final spot. India, the 6-time winner in this competition, is expected to out play Japan, after which they will play the UAE to secure their spot in the semi-finals, which is envisaged. Sri Lanka was batting first yesterday after winning the toss made 242 for 8 wickets set a par target of 243 against the much fancied Afghanistan who were beaten by Bangladesh in their lung opener by 34 runs.
Left-handed Surujan Shanmuganathan, the Sri Lankan one drop bat batted through the innings held the batting together for a match winning 101 , that secured him the man of the match award. Shanmuganathan is fondly known as little ” Sanga ” also made 67 against another match winning knock of 67 against Nepal in the lung opener. The left-handed prodigy who haiks from St Benedicts College Kotahena was ably supported by Pulindu Perera, who opened the batting for Sri Lanka a stalwart of Dharmaraja College in Kandy compiled a well structured innings of 53 whilst stiching a 100 run partnership for the 2nd wicket.
Afghanistan had no answer to the quality of spin, which, in fact, is their own medicine and were undone for 112 runs that raised the eye brows of the pundits who expected the 243 target to be over hauled without let or hinderence. Leg spinning Manisha Praveen, a product of Lumbini College who has a Wanindu Hasaranga type googly scalped 3 for 16 that saw Sri Lanka get home convincingly to secure the semi final spot.
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