CMC – IN a breathtaking finish that encapsulated the drama of youth cricket, Sri Lanka Under-19s snatched a heart-stopping one-wicket victory from the jaws of defeat against West Indies Under-19s in the second Youth ODI at the Coolidge Cricket Ground here on Tuesday.

Chasing a modest target of 202, the young Sri Lankans seemed to be cruising before late wickets set up a grandstand finish, ultimately clinching victory with two overs and a single wicket to spare to level the seven-match series at a game apiece.

The hosts, having been dismissed for 201 in 47.5 overs, will rue a missed opportunity after their bowlers fought valiantly to defend a below-par total.
The innings was built almost solely on the back of a magnificent 82 from captain Joshua Dorne, who provided the backbone of the West Indian effort.
His knock could not have come at a better time, as the host seemed to have made the wrong call to bat first, after they lost two wickets for just six runs with both openers, Zachary Carter and Micah Greenidge, back in the pavilion for one and nought respectively.

Dorne found minor support from Brendan Boodoo, who chipped in with 28 and Jonathan van Lange, 26, but the innings lacked a major partnership, consistently pegged back by the Sri Lankan attack.

Vigneshwaran Akash was the chief destroyer, his leg-spin proving too much for the middle order as he returned impressive figures of 3 for 30.
In reply, Sri Lanka’s chase was anchored by a composed 45 from captain Vimath Dimsara, who steadied the innings after consistent wickets, which saw Sri Lanka in a precarious position of 98 for four.

Useful contributions followed from Chamika Heenatigala 30 and a crucial, unbeaten 20 from Sethmika Seneviratne, who held his nerve in the dying stages to guide his team home.
The West Indies bowlers, led by Carter’s 3 for 42 and a double strike from all-rounder Boodoo with 2 for 27, threw everything at the visitors, creating intense pressure that very nearly forced a two-nil lead in the series.

The teams will go at it again on Thursday in the third game of the series at the same venue.