Peng Leads The Way As England Go One Up

England defeated Sri Lanka by 16 runs in a superb Under 19 ODI at Cardiff Friday. Outstanding knocks by Nicky Peng and Ian Bell, followed by a composed fielding display late on whilst the Sri Lankans panicked, ensured victory.

England batted magnificently well. Nicky Peng made 98 on his Durham debut earlier this season, and it soon became apparent why he is so highly rated. A stocky right-hander, Peng has a solid, upright defence, and is ferocious on anything short. He opened the batting with John Sadler, who, despite being rather square on, looks a well set-out young cricketer.

Of the Sri Lankan opening bowlers, it became apparent that Kausbal Lokuarachchi was the more threatening. From the other end, Thilina Thushara struggled to come to terms with the conditions. He found it difficult to perfect his run up, and was frequently clattered to the cover boundary by Peng. Sadler too proved he could hit hard through the off side.

England raised the 50 in quick time, and it took one of the two Sri Lankans who have played for the full national side to break the partnership. Kaushalya Weeraratne, who has dismissed Sachin Tendulkar in a One-Dayer before, beat Sadler's edge with some sharp, lifting bowling. Sadler became frustrated, and skied the Sri Lankan skipper to mid off where the catch was easily accepted by Ganegama.

Acting skipper Ian Bell joined Peng, and the two men were happy to compile runs at four or five runs an over. Ranil Dhammika impressed with his left-arm spin, his first seven overs costing just 17 runs. With less than 15 overs to go, and both batsmen well set, England decided to go on all out attack. Bell belted Pushpakumara over mid off for four, then over long on for a massive six. When Sri Lanka reintroduced pace, Peng smashed Ganegama over long on for another six.

Ganegama reaped his revenge soon after, as Peng chopped onto his stumps for a wonderful 89. Rather than consolidate, Bell continued to attack with a full array of strokes. He had made 62 when he was run out following a terrible mix up with Michael Carberry. Instead of sacrificing himself, as he could easily have done, Carberry sprinted to his ground to leave Bell floundering by some 16 yards. Carberry could not make up for his blunder, dismissed soon afterwards. A late flurry from Michael Pratt and Pete Trego, alongside some quick running, gave England an imposing 238-6 from 42 overs. Ganegama and Dhammika were the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers, whilst Pushpakumara was the man England targeted, his six overs going at over a run a ball.

In reply, Sri Lanka set off like a runaway train: a performance which the full national side would have been proud of. Ian Daniels particularly launched at anything full, hitting cleanly through the line of the ball. Even Kabir Ali, the quickest bowler on display wasn't safe from Daniels' flashing blade. He drove fluently, playing on drives which any batsman in the world would have been delighted with. At the other end, Kausbal Lokuarachchi was well caught by a leaping Carberry at point. The wicket didn't bother the Lankans though. Pete Trego came into the attack, and his first two balls were dispatched to the boundary by new man Malintha Gajanayake.

Both Daniels and Gajanayake were run out stupidly, as the Sri Lankans panicked needlessley. Daniels made a superb 43 thanks to a good piece of fielding by Nicky Peng which saw both batsmen at the same end, while Gajanayake was stranded following a direct hit from Kabir Ali.

Thilina Kandamby, together with Pushpakumara put Sri Lanka on course for victory. When he was set, Kandamby began scoring at a pace, launching one ball from left-armer Monty Panesar clean out of the ground.

Pushpakumara was bowled by the off spin of Dalrymple, and Kandamby was brilliantly caught at deep point by Sadler. The skipper Weerartne clubbed a couple of lusty blows, before he was bowled, attempting a huge slog at Trego. Mubarak fell thanks to another run out, as panic pumped like adrenaline through Sri Lankan veins. Tim Murtagh got rid of Ganegama with a yorker, to leave the Lankans 197-8. Sri Lanka had stuttered from 159-4 to 198-8.

From then on, it was almost impossible for Sri Lanka. Murtagh got rid of Dhammika, and Dalrymple removed last man Thushara. It was a slightly tame end to a cracking game of cricket. The teams meet under lights at Hove on Monday.