A disciplined bowling effort by India colts helped them beat Sri Lanka by five runs in a low-scoring final of the Under-19 quadrangular one-day cricket tournament in Visakhapatnam.
The Indian boys, who had topped the league stage, scored a modest 168 all out thanks to Akshdeep Nath's patient 55, who resurrected his side's innings from 37 for five in the 14th over after they were asked to bat.
The bowlers then defended the small total by skittling out the Sri Lankans for 163 with 3.1 overs to spare at the Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy Cricket Stadium. Pacers Sandeep Sharma (four for 23) and Rush Kalaria (three for 34) shared the bulk of the spoils while left-arm spinner Vikas Mishra and off-spinner Baba Aparajith chipped in with a wicket each.
Chasing 169 for a win, Sri Lanka made a disastrous start with opener Niroshan Dickwella falling to Sandeep in the third ball of the innings. Sandeep and Rush then ran through the Sri Lankan top-order as the visitor was reduced to 27 for five in the ninth over.
Duleeka Thissakuttige and Lahiru Madushanka — who top-scored with 63 — then added 75 runs for the sixth wicket in 22.1 overs to take Sri Lanka closer to the target before the former was out with the team's total at 102 for six in the 31st over. Though the visiting team had enough overs in hand it kept losing wickets.
Sandeep polished off the tail by scalping the last two wickets — Apila Aponso and Dilshan Dhanushka — in the space of three balls.
The scores:India U-19: 168 in 50 overs (A. Nath 55, S. Patel 31, Madushanka four for 17) bt Sri Lanka U-19 163 in 46.5 overs (D. Thissakuttige 29, L. Madushanka 63, S. Sharma four for 23, R. Kalaria three for 34).
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