Team management’s selection and tactical blunders continued as Sri Lanka U19 lost the match against Afghanistan by 32 runs through D/L method, played on Wednesday at Whangarei In the U19 World Cup.
Afghanistan victory was set up by half centuries by Ibrahim Zadran (86 off 112 balls), Ikram Ali (55 of 89 balls) and Darwish Rasooli (63 off 44 balls), as they posted a formidable total of 284/7 in their 50 overs.
In reply, Sri Lanka was going nicely as they were placed on 108/3 after 24 overs. However, the rain interrupted the match and when play resumed finally, Sri Lanka was given a revised target of 127 runs off the 14 overs.
However, the team management had already shuffled the batting line up by then, as they promoted hard hitting allrounder Jehan Daniel before the captain Kamindu Mendis.
Ashen Bandara tried his best to go for the target by hitting imterprsing 38 runs off just 24 balls, including two sixes.
However, Santush Gunathilika Couldn’t justify his selection once again as he could only make paltry 12 runs off 18 balls. During the last overs, when Sri Lanka was searching for quick runs, Gunathilika was rotating the strike and exposing tail enders.
Sri Lanka included Gunathilika in place of Hasitha Boyagoda, who played a match winning knock against the same opposition during the Asia Cup few months back.
