Bowlers rescued Sri Lanka, again. Put into bat first by Namibia in their second match of the ICC Men's Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2024 on Wednesday, Sri Lanka could manage only 133 runs in 37.5 overs despite Supun Waduge's 76-ball knock for 56 runs in Kimberley, South Africa. (Streaming | More Cricket News)
And it proved more than enough as Namibia under-19 collapsed to 56 all out in 27 overs. Vishwa Lahiru, a left-arm spinner, and Ruvishan Perera, a right-arm pacer, claimed three wickets each while Dinura Kalupahana took a brace in another brilliant bowling display.
In their tournament opener, three days ago at the same venue, Sri Lankan bowlers had dismissed Zimbabwe for 89 all out in 21.1 overs while defending a revised target of 129 runs (22 overs) due to rain. Lahiru was at his destructive best, claiming figures of 3/14 in 5.5 overs.
Thanks to their global standing, Sri Lanka started as the obvious favourites against Namibia, one of the minnows of world cricket. Asked to bat first, they kept losing wickets even as Waduge, who replaced Vishen Halambage in the playing XI, played an unbeaten knock. Defending a total of 133 runs in a 50-over match, however, would need some sensational bowling effort.
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That's what Sri Lankan bowlers did. Two maidens to start with, and Garuka Sanketh struck. The medium pacer then produced a direct hit to send Alexander Volschenk JW Visagie. From 16/2 in the ninth over, Namibia slumped to 56 all out, losing the remaining wickets in 18 overs for 40 runs.
Of those, 18 were scored by PD Blignaut, who hit four fours during his 15-ball knock batting at nine down. The only other Namibian batter to post a double-digit individual score was Hanro Badenhorst, who batted at eight down, 11 off 32.
Namibian colts had previously lost their tournament opener to Australia by four wickets. In their final group match, the Alexander Volschenk-led side face Zimbabwe under-19 in an all-African clash on Saturday. Sri Lanka u-19, thanks to their 77-run win, moved to the top of the table in Group C. They are set to face Australia on Sunday.
