Daniel’s century in vain – Sri Lanka fail to qualify for final

■ Under-19 Tri Nation tournament in Abu Dhabi

SRI Lanka U-19 skipper Shevon Daniel scored a career best 140 off 115 balls inclusive of six sixes and ten fours, but his team fell agonisingly five runs short of beating Afghanistan in a crucial game and thereby failed to qualify for the final of the Under-19 Tri-Nation tournament in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka needed to beat Afghanistan to enter the final and although they made a valiant attempt to do so, it was not to be as they lost by four runs.

In a run fest at the Tolerance Oval, where 642 runs were scored, Afghanistan choosing to bat first after winning the toss raced to an imposing total of 323-7 riding on skipper Numan Shah’s century – 116 off 109 balls (13 fours, 3 sixes) and fifties from Sohil Khan (52 off 71 balls, 4 fours) and Haroon Khan (56 off 41 balls, 5 fours, 1 six).

Sri Lanka got off to a bad start in their pursuit of that total when opener Sineth Jayawardene was dismissed off the first ball for a duck, trapped lbw by left-arm seamer Bashir Ahmed who also accounted for the other opener Hirun Kapurubandara (2) to have Sri Lanka two down for 12. Bashir also scalped Vishen Halambage (14) as Sri Lanka lost three wickets inside the first ten overs for 46.

Dinura Kalupahana (47 off 67 balls, 2 fours, 2 sixes) and Daniel set about repairing the innings with a partnership of 112. A further stand of 83 followed between Daniel and Hiran Jayasundara (17) carrying the total to 241 in the 39th over at which point Sri Lanka lost both batsmen to Bashir who continued to torment the batters. Sri Lanka continued the fight through their late order Malsha Tharupathi (18), Vishwa Rajapaksa (26) and Duvindu Ranatunga (27).

At the commencement of the final over Sri Lanka required six runs to win with two wickets in hand, but left-arm spinner Kamran Hotak bowled Ranatunga off the first delivery and then trapped Trevin Matthew lbw off the third as Sri Lanka were dismissed for 319 with three balls to spare. Bashir was the pick of the Afghanistan bowlers finishing with the excellent figure of 7 for 54 off his 10 overs.

Afghanistan who finished on top of the standings with six points (3 wins and 1 loss) will face second placed Bangladesh who ended up with four points (2 wins, 2 losses) in the final today. Sri Lanka finished third with two points (1 win, 3 losses).

Scores: Afghanistan (U-19) 323-7 (50) (Hizbullah Durrani 39, Numan Shah 116, Sohil Khan 52, Haroon Khan 56, Dinura Kalupahana 2/76, Vishwa Lahiru 2/41, Vishwa Rajapaksa 2/56)

Sri Lanka ( U- 19) 319 ( 49.3) ( Shevon Daniel 140, Dinura Kalupahana 47, Vishwa Rajapaksa 26, Duvindu Ranatunga 27, Bashir Ahmed 7/ 54, Kamran Hotak 2/ 37)