Kulasekera empowers Sri Lanka to gain control of Youth Test
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

KARACHI: Sri Lankan teenagers gained control of the first Youth Cricket Test on the second day against Pakistan at Quaid-e-Azam Park Pakistan Steel Township ground here Saturday thanks to brilliant unbeaten hundred.

Responding to Pakistan under-19 first innings total of 251, Sri Lankan reached 385 for the loss five wickets in their first innings at the draw of stumps in the four-day match.

Sri Lankans are leading by 134 runs with their five second innings wickets intact.

Right handed Kulasekera cracked a chance-less undefeated 101 in three hours after facing 156 balls and shared an unbroken 138 runs for the sixth wicket with Kapuagedera, whose contribution was 62 laced with eight hits to the boundary.

Kulasekera and Kapuagedera pair punished Pakistan bowlers allround the ground in the final session.

The touring side reached 149 for 2 at lunch and went for lunch break at 255 for 5.

Opening pair Upul Tharanga and Hatasha Vithane gave their flying start of 99 runs before the later was caught behind for 48 laced with seven 4s.

Left handed Tharanga went after making 69, hitting nine boundaries and a six in his 179 minutes at the crease.

Captain Jahangir Mirza struck the double blow by accounting for K. Silva (32) and Gihan de Silva (36) with his off-breaks.

But Kulasekera and Kapugedera kept Pakistan bowlers under pressure with superb stroke play and clean hitting.

Jahangir Mirza was the most successful bowler with two wickets for 61 runs in 21 overs.●