Sri Lanka’s Under-17 cricket team lost its five-match one-day series against Pakistan after suffering a 93-run defeat in the fourth match at Multan on Wednesday, leaving the hosts with an unassailable 3-1 lead.
Pakistan scored 273 for nine in 50 overs before dismissing Sri Lanka for 180 in 42.3 overs.
The defeat followed another unsuccessful run chase on October 19, when Sri Lanka were bowled out for 159.
With only one match remaining, Pakistan have secured the series regardless of the result of Saturday’s final game.
Pakistan captain leads from the front
Pakistan captain Azan Ahmed scored 82 from 61 deliveries, including nine fours and one six.
Mohammad Yousaf contributed 60 from 91 balls, while opening batter Daud Tauqeer Rana made 44 from 62 deliveries.
The hosts finished on 273 for nine after batting their full allocation of 50 overs.
Tharuka Samanjith was among Sri Lanka’s leading bowlers, taking two wickets for 41 runs.
Kalindu Sachinthana claimed two for 42, while Sashith Bandara finished with two for 47.
The Sri Lankan bowlers prevented Pakistan from batting without interruption, but the hosts still established a target of 274.
Reshon Solomons scores 64 in unsuccessful chase
Reshon Solomons was Sri Lanka’s leading scorer with 64.
Stevon Peiris contributed 33, but the visitors were unable to build a successful chase around those innings.
Pakistan dismissed Sri Lanka for 180 with 45 deliveries remaining.
Ammar Khan led the bowling effort with three wickets for 44 runs from his ten overs.
Fahad Iqbal claimed two wickets for 31 runs, while Mohammad Saim took two for 34.
Pakistan completed a 93-run victory and secured the series with one match remaining.
Two innings end before the 50th over
Sri Lanka’s batting difficulties were also evident in the previous match on October 19.
In that game, the visitors were dismissed for 159 in 44 overs.
Sandaru Malshan scored 52 and Methuka Gunarathne contributed 49, but Pakistan reached the target with five wickets remaining.
Two days later, Sri Lanka again failed to bat through its full 50-over allocation.
The team scored 180 in 42.3 overs during the fourth match.
19 October: 159 all out in 44 overs.
21 October: 180 all out in 42.3 overs.
Combined runs: 339.
Unused deliveries: 81 across the two innings.
Calculations by Lakbima News show that Sri Lanka had 81 deliveries unused across the two matches.
The team lost all ten wickets on both occasions, preventing the remaining deliveries from being used.
Batting through the full allocation would not automatically have produced enough runs to win either match.
The unused deliveries nevertheless provide a measure of how early Sri Lanka’s innings ended during the two defeats.
Pakistan secure the series before final match
Pakistan entered the fourth match with a 2-1 series lead.
The October 21 victory extended that advantage to 3-1.
The fifth and final one-day match is scheduled for October 24 at the Multan Cricket Stadium.
The tour has also included a three-day match, giving the two youth teams experience in both longer and limited-overs cricket.
The series forms part of the international playing opportunities available to young cricketers preparing for higher levels of competition.
In Sri Lanka, school cricket remains a major route into representative cricket. Lakbima News previously reported on the distribution of cricket fitness equipment to 500 schools under a national development programme.
The Pakistan series has provided Sri Lanka’s Under-17 players with competitive experience away from home.
The final match on October 24 will be an opportunity to finish the tour with a victory, although the series result has already been decided.
