West Indies U19s level Sri Lanka series thanks to brilliant Johnson

DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka (CMC):

LEFT-HANDER JORDAN Johnson hit a stunning 100 and Joshua Dorne and Tarrique Edward carved out contrasting 50s as West Indies Under-19s crushed Sri Lanka Under-19s by 195 runs to level their three-match Youth One-Day International series.

Behind Johnson’s 79-ball 105, West Indies U19s piled up an impressive 320 for eight off their 50 overs yesterday, Joshua Dorne chipping in with a measured 56 from 73 balls and number eight Tarrique Edward lashing a breezy unbeaten 53 from 36 balls.

In the field, Isai Thorne (3-18) Deshawn James (3-30) produced three-wicket hauls and left-arm pacer Nathan Edward claimed two for 17 to wreck the hosts’ run chase, bowling them out for 125 in the 31st over.

The two teams will meet again in the series decider on Friday at the same venue.

Sent in, West Indies Under-19s suffered an early setback when they lost their captain, Stephen Pascal, cheaply for six in the third over with seven runs on the board, bowled by left-arm spinner Vishwa Lahiru.

However, Dorne repaired the damage, first in a 41-run, second-wicket stand with opener Adrian Weir (32) and then in a superb 160-run, third-wicket partnership with Johnson.

Dorne hit a half-dozen fours and Johnson, one of the stand-outs in the recent West Indies Under-19 Championship, belted a dozen fours and three sixes.

249 FOR SEVEN

When both batsmen fell in the space of 11 deliveries, it triggered a slide that saw five wickets tumble for 41 runs to leave the innings tottering on 249 for seven at the end of the 42nd over, off-spinner Sineth Jayawardene the main destroyer with four for 36.

Edward arrived to turn the tide, unveiling an excellent counter-attacking knock with two fours and three sixes, and inspiring a 60-run eighth-wicket stand with Nathan Edward (13).

The 16-year-old James then struck key early blows for the visitors, bowling both Sineth Jayawardene (4) and Ravishan Nethsara (0) in successive overs, and when Thorne removed both Dinura Kalupahana (18) and Sharujan Shanmuganathan (0) to catches at the wicket in the 10th over, Sri Lanka Under-19s were struggling at 34 for five.

Malsha Tharupathi conjured up a last-ditch effort, blasting four fours and four sixes in a 35-ball knock as he put on 46 for the seventh wicket with Supun Waduge (8).

When Edward had Waduge caught at the wicket in the 21st over, however, it created another silde, which saw Sri Lanka U19s lose their last four wickets for 39 runs.