Convincing win for Sri Lanka over Australia

Sri Lanka scored a convincing eight-wicket win over Australia to top Group `D' of the under 19 World Cup competition at the R. Premadasa Stadium Saturday.

Sri Lanka came through the first stage of the competition unbeaten winning all three games to collect the maximum six points. They had earlier accounted for Ireland and Namibia. Australia ended up second with four points from the same number of matches.

Both teams qualified to play in the next stage of the competition - the Super league which starts on Tuesday. Sri Lanka play in Super League 2 and Australia in Super League 1. In a game reduced to 42 overs a side because of overnight rain, Australia winning the toss and batting first were bundled out for 90 off 37.1 overs. Sri Lankan bowlers made use of the overcast conditions to reduce Australia to 21 for 4 in the first six overs, before dismissing them.

Shane Watson made a top score of 25 off 55 balls and Tim Welsford (11) raised the score by 22 in a sixth wicket stand, that produced the only resistance. Sri Lanka had five overs of batting before the lunch break reaching 23 for no loss. Openers Kaushalya Weeeraratne and Ian Daniels put them on course for victory with a stand of 44 off 12 overs. Despite losing Weeraratne for 19 and Jehan Mubarak for eight, Sri Lanka coasted home easily to win in the 28th over.

Ian Daniels unbeaten on 40 took his competition tally to 138 runs without being dismissed. Tilina Kandambi who made the winning hit made 18 not out.