Sri Lanka’s Under-19 team turned the Potchefstroom pitch into a batting paradise, courtesy of openers Chamindu Dilshan (142*) and Dinuru Kalupahana (127*), who stitched a world-record 271-run partnership. The result? A towering 317/3 that left Japan shell-shocked, skittled for 114 in a humiliating 203-run defeat.
The duo’s mastery was clinical. Dilshan anchored with elegant drives and punishing pulls, reaching three figures before unleashing. Kalupahana, equally destructive, targeted square leg and midwicket relentlessly. Japan’s captain Habibullah Sherzad tried variations, but the openers milked 17 boundaries and 9 sixes combined.
Chasing, Japan started shakily and never recovered. Sherzad’s 57 was a lone hand amid collapses. Enter Sri Lanka’s spinners: Madushanka’s cunning left-arm tweaks (4/29) and Tharupath’s probing off-breaks (3/21) ripped through the lineup. All out in under 36 overs, Japan waved goodbye to hopes of an upset.
Strategically, this win showcases Sri Lanka’s depth – batting resilience meets bowling nous. As they eye Super Six glory, opponents take note. Japan, meanwhile, gains valuable experience but must shore up their core skills for future battles in this high-stakes youth spectacle.