England compled a convincing win over Sri Lanka in the Under-19 `Test'
at Trent Bridge with a day and an innings to spare thanks in the main
to Kabir Ali's accurate seam bowling.
Kabir was backed up by slow left-armer Monty Panesar, who collected
three wickets as the Sri Lankans collapsed for 184 in their second
innings.
Jehan Mubarak, who top-scored on the first day, was again the main run
getter with 44.
But after he was fifth out, the Sri Lankan tail added just 47 more
runs before England won by an innings and 22 runs.
Resuming on 325 for five and a big lead of 114, England's Kadeer Ali,
who had steadied the innings superbly the previous day, fell soon
after the start to a juggling catch at slip having made 59. His
overnight partner Peter Trego, continued however with the same
aggressive strokeplay that had brought him a half century the previous
evening.
After hitting 13 fours and a six, Trego seemed headed for a century
but he was bowled attempting to cut a ball from spinner Ranil
Dhammika. But by now England were 180 runs in front and Kabir hit a
breezy 28 before the innings ended on 417, a lead of 206.
In the second innings, Sri Lanka raced to 25 before Kabir uprooted
opener Ian Daniels' off-stump in his third over. The 19-year-old then
dismissed the other opener, Nimesh Perera, caught at backward point
and Sri Lanka were 42 for two.
The third and fourth wickets also fell before 100 had been registered
but the batsmen continued to adopt aggressive tactics.
Panesar then removed three left-handers, all to edges caught at slip
or by the wicketkeeper and at 156 for eight it was just a matter of
how long it would take England to seal the win.