Beaton and Maddinson script convincing win

Australia Under-19 182 for 8 (Beaton 59, Maddinson 46) beat Sri Lanka Under-19 164 for 6 (Withanage 47) by 18 runs
Scorecard

Stellar knocks from Tom Beaton and Nic Maddinson got Australia Under-19 off to a winning start in the five-match one-day series against Sri Lanka Under-19. In a match reduced to 25 overs a side by heavy rain overnight, Australia emerged victorious by 18 runs in Darwin.

Sri Lankan captain Chathura Peiris looked to exploit the conditions as he put Australia in but the first breakthrough came only after the openers, Beaton and Ben Dougall, had put on 57 in quick time.

Beaton and Maddinson then went on the rampage, scoring at more than a run-a-ball, and brought up their 59-run partnership in 7.2 overs. Beaton smashed one four and three sixes during his 50-ball 59, and Maddinson scored 46 off 32 balls, including one boundary and four sixes. Peiris and Charith Jayampathi were the successful bowlers for Sri Lanka, picking up two wickets apiece, as Australia finished on an imposing total.

Wicketkeeper Andri Berenger got Sri Lanka off to flier during the chase, smashing six fours during his breezy 30. At 48 for 2, it was Kithruwan Withanage and Banuka Rajapaksha who looked to have turned the tide the visitors' way. They anchored the innings with a 70-run stand, setting up the platform for a late assault. Withanage was in a hurry, hitting four boundaries and two sixes during his 38-ball 47.

Sean Abbott, though, removed Withanage and Danushka Gunathilake off successive deliveries. Sri Lanka never quite recovered from the twin blows and with the middle order gone, it proved too tall an ask for Sri Lanka, who finished 18 short of the target.