Batsmen dominate high-scoring draw

Sri Lanka Under-19s 415 (Rajapaksa 149, Gregory 3-54) and 324 for 6 (Aberathne 97, Parsons 4-93) drew with England Under-19s 532 (Rossington 113, Rajaguru 3-110)
Scorecard

The first Test between Sri Lanka and England's Under-19 teams at Galle ended in a high-scoring draw, with neither side's bowlers able to wrest the initiative as the batsmen prospered in helpful conditions. Seven half-centuries and two hundreds scored in the course of the four-day game, Sri Lankan captain Bhanuka Rajapaksa top-scoring with 149 on the first day.

Rajapaksa's decision to bat first appeared to be vindicated when his side racked up a mammoth 376 for 4 by stumps on the first day, with opener Dhananjaya de Silva contributing 84 and Yasoda Lanka striking 12 fours in an aggressive 80. Rajapaksa was in an even more dominant mood during his innings, which included 18 fours and four sixes.

England fought back almost immediately on the second day, however, when Duleeka Thissakuttige was dismissed by Tom Milnes three deliveries into the day's play. His departure sparked a lower-order collapse and the home side were bowled out before lunch for 415.

A team effort from England's batsmen, with wicketkeeper Adam Rossington's 113 well-supported by half-centuries from captain Lewis Gregory and Adam Ball and contributions from every player, took England to a first-innings lead of 117 as they were bowled out for 532 on the third day.

There was still an outside chance of a result to the game at that stage, but Sri Lanka's batsmen once again cashed in and only offspinner Jack Parsons, with 4 for 93, had any luck as they reached 324 for 6 before the game was called a draw.