England's Under-19 cricket team secured a resounding victory in the second Youth Men's Test against Sri Lanka at Cheltenham, triumphing by an innings and 53 runs. Resuming their second innings on 246 for 7, Sri Lanka faced an insurmountable task of saving the game.
England's spinners, Farhan Ahmed and Charlie Barnard, proved instrumental in dismantling Sri Lanka's batting lineup. Ahmed, a Nottinghamshire off-spinner, claimed impressive figures of 4 for 59 from 26.5 overs, including seven maidens. Barnard, a Lancashire slow left-armer, contributed with 2 for 55 from 21 overs.
Sri Lanka's resistance crumbled in the morning session as Vihas Thewmika fell for 18, offering a return catch to Barnard. Manuja Chanthuka was dismissed lbw to Ahmed for one, bringing England closer to victory. Ahmed sealed the deal by pinning last man Sheshan Marasinghe on the front foot.
England's dominance in the match was evident throughout. They posted a mammoth 477 in their first innings, with centuries from Hamza Shaikh (107), Andrew Flintoff (106), Joe Denly (91), and Sachith Fonseka (76). Sri Lanka's response of 153 and 271 fell well short of England's total.
This victory marked a complete turnaround for England after being held to a frustrating draw in the rain-affected first Test at Wormsley. The Young Lions stamped their authority on the series, showcasing their all-round strength and securing a well-deserved 1-0 series win.
Tags: #EnglandU19s, #SriLankaU19s, #YouthMen'sTest, #Cricket, #Cheltenham
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