Bowlers dominate opening day of 3rd Under-19 Test

Sri Lanka seamer Akalanka Ganegama bowled his side into a commanding position with six for 43 as England were dismissed for only 112 on the first day of the crucial third Under-19 Test at Worcester.

Although the home side bounced back immediately, reducing Sri Lanka to six for four, the tourists ended the day 12 runs ahead with three first-innings wickets standing.

Essex left-armer Justin Bishop did the damage for England, taking three wickets in the first four overs of the Sri Lanka innings.

Had left-hander Jehan Mubarak not got himself out for 49 just before the close, cutting Chris Tremlett straight to point, Sri Lanka would have been in a stronger position.

Ganegama picked up four of the last six England wickets and was instrumental in reducing England to 46 for eight before Hampshire all-rounder Tremlett, on his England Under-19 debut, helped add 66 for the last two wickets and remained unbeaten on 39.

Play did not begin until 12.15 because of damp patches on the square but Sri Lanka made up for lost time, reducing England to 26 for five at lunch.

Before the match, England replaced Mark Wallace as captain with Ian Bell. Bell had skippered the side for the three one-day internationals and the first Test when Wallace, the appointed captain, was injured. England won all four games and Bell led the side well whereas Wallace had a poor match at Northampton in the second Test, which Sri Lanka won by 151 runs.