Under 19 World Cup Day 1 – Scotland succumb to trial-by-spin

Sri Lanka U19s 218ao (Liyanage 85, Fischer-Keogh 3/56) beat Scotland U19s 178ao (Jarvis 55, Wellalage 5/27) by 40 runs

Scotland made a spirited start to the Under 19 World Cup campaign, but Sri Lanka fought back with a trial-by-spin. Scotland’s 178 was eventually 40 runs short, having bowled Sri Lanka out for 218 at Everest Cricket Club, Guyana.

The Saltires lost the toss and were asked to field first ahead of the Group D opening fixture in Guyana. Scotland immediately got themselves into the game, when Jack Jarvis ran out Sri Lankan opener Shevon Daniel in the 2^nd over. Despite the bright start, Sri Lanka went on to control the opening exchanges. The Sri Lankan top order negotiated the first 9 overs at better than a-run-a-ball.

Jack Jarvis again provided for Scotland, claiming two wickets in the 10^th over. Oliver Davidson then struck in the 11^th to reduce the Sri Lankans to 63/4. Davidson would add a second two overs later, putting Scotland in a strong position after 13 overs.

Sri Lanka went about rebuilding, with Sakuna Liyanage joined by captain Dunith Wellalage. Although offspinner Rafay Khan snared the Sri Lankan skipper with the score on 102, Liyanage counterattacked, making 85 at a-run-a-ball. Whilst Sean Fischer-Keogh eventually dismissed Liyanage, the Sri Lankan score had already passed 200. Fischer-Keogh picked up a total of 3/56, with Scotland bowling out the opposition for 219.

Scotland made a positive start in pursuit of 220, with ‘keeper-batter Charlie Tear striking 3 boundaries in the first 8 overs. However, whilst most of the Scotland top-order were able to get starts, Sri Lanka’s bowlers were able to keep the run rate down and take regular wickets. Tear (17), Davidson (15), Samuel Elstone (13) and Tom Mackintosh (19) all succumbed to the pressure.

It was Jack Jarvis who again provided hope for the Scottish, continuing an excellent debut at the U19 World Cup. Jarvis hit 55 off 61 balls, including 3 sixes, to keep the hope alive in the chase. Lyle Robertson (14) provided support, but when he was dismissed in the 44^th over, the required run rate had reached 10.

Jarvis was out shortly after, and the Scottish tailenders fell victim to the Sri Lankan spinners swiftly. The last 3 wickets put on a combined 13, with Scotland all out for 178, eight balls shy of their allocated 50 overs.

Sri Lanka used 8 bowling options, including 5 spinners who took 8 of the Scottish wickets. Chief among them was their captain, Dunith Wellalage, who scared 5 of the Scottish batters for only 27 runs.

Scotland sit 4^th in Group D after the first games, and play next against hosts West Indies on Monday.

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