Hong Kong U19 beaten but not bowed against Sri Lanka U19

Hong Kong Under-19 suffered a heavy 88-run defeat to Sri Lanka Under-19 in an official ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2010 warm-up match played at Hagley Park today but they put up a dogged fight and Sri Lanka's wide margin did not necessarily reflect the difference between the two sides.

Sri Lanka skipper Chatura Peiris won the toss in fine conditions and elected to bat first. The two openers, the left-handed Udara Jayasundera and the right-handed Andri Berenger, played cautiously at the start as they combated the early life in the wicket. Runs proved a little hard to come by in the early overs as the overnight rain had left the outfield slightly damp. Udara survived an early life when Max Tucker was unable to hang on to a stinging chance at mid-wicket in the fourth over and James Atkinson had a sharp run out opportunity shortly afterwards but was unable to hit the target with the batsman well short of his ground.

Tucker was in the action again a little later but not for the reasons he would have wished. Fielding a firmly struck drive from the first ball of his fifth over he received a nasty blow to his bowling hand and had to leave the field for immediate medical attention. A subsequent x-ray at hospital revealed a minor fracture to the finger and he is likely to be sidelined for the first round of matches. Tucker's over was completed by Aditya Kanthan.

There was another disruption to play when a period of rain swept the ground for approximately 45 minutes, however no overs were lost as time was made up with a shorter lunch break.

Hong Kong's pressure created three other clear run-out opportunities, including two with the Sri Lankan batsmen having given up hope on making their ground, but somehow the Hong Kong players were unable to convert these opportunities into wickets. Both batsmen made the most of their chances as runs began to flow from their bats, now seemingly at will.

Andri Berenger was the first of the two openers to bring up his century and he went on to score 113 from 130 balls, including 9 fours and 3 sixes, before retiring from the crease. Shortly after the second drinks break, Udara Jayasundera also retired after reaching his century off 112 balls, including 9 fours and 1 six. Banuka Rajapaksa (40 from 31 balls) and Kithuruwan Vithanage (28 from 20 balls) continued the free scoring vein but Irfan Ahmed finally broke the partnership when he bowled Banuka from the first ball of the final over. It was scant reward for the Hong Kong team, who had bowled and fielded quite well throughout the innings.

Following a reduced lunch break, the Hong Kong U19's started their reply with Shakeel Haq and Vikash Gope at the crease. Gope however prodded nervously at the third ball of the innings and he was caught by Andri Berenger off the bowling of Chatura Peiris. Shakeel perished in the same manner off the last ball of the 5th over and once again Hong Kong U19 was under pressure. James Atkinson could not repeat the heroics against USA U19 and he was bowled by Chatura Peiris after hitting 22 from 24 balls.

Irfan Ahmed and Nizakat Khan combined for partnership worth 49 runs but when the score had reached 82, Nizakat was adjudged LBW after scoring 21. Irfan and Mark Chapman continued to build the score in a partnership worth 43 runs. Irfan was batting well at this stage and five fours and 1 six flowed from his bat before he was caught at deep mid-wicket for a well-struck 55 from 66 balls. When Irfan was dismissed, Chapman assumed the role of senior batting partner. The fifteen year-old batted with a maturity beyond his years as he guided the team towards a respectable total. Waqas Barkat (16) and Alex Smith (12) helped push Hong Kong's score over 200 but a late flurry of wickets to Saranga Rajaguru saw them dismissed for 226 from 48.2 overs. Chapman finished unbeaten on 69, scored from 77 balls and including six fours and one six.

For Sri Lanka, Chatura Peiris finished with figures of 3-24 from eight overs, while Saranga Rajaguru claimed 4-43 from 8.2 overs.

Scorecard: Hong Kong Under-19 v. Sri Lanka Under-19

Hong Kong U19's last warm-up match will be played against Canada U19 at the Mainpower Oval in Rangiora. There will then be a few days break before the first competition match is played against England U19 at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval on 16th January 2010.

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