Sri Lanka Win Plate Championship, England Finish Fifth

Sri Lanka Win Plate Championship, England Finish Fifth

England beat the West Indies courtesy of a Sam Wood century.

©ICC/Ian Hitchcock. Picture Supplied by Getty Images

Sri Lanka made up for their disappointing showing in the group stage of the Under-19 World Cup to win the plate championship final against Afghanistan in Brisbane. They restricted them to 194 for nine as Lahiru Madushanka again starred with the ball, taking three for 34. Mohibullah Paak was the highest scoring Afghanistan batsman, with a 64-ball 44, while Amila Aponso continued his impressive tournament, taking two for 19 from 10 overs. In reply, Sri Lanka were never really troubled as wicket-keeper Niroshan Dickwella hit an unbeaten 76 from only 87 balls and opener Pabasara Waduge made 33. They got home with seven wickets and 11 overs to spare.

England finished their disappointing tournament on a high by winning the fifth place play-off against the West Indies in Townsville. Nottinghamshire all-rounder Sam Wood hit 104 in England’s total of 241 for nine. He found little support from the rest of the batsmen as Daniel Bell-Drummond completed his miserable tournament by being caught for 18, and number 11, Reece Topley, was the next highest scorer with an unbeaten 26.

Topley removed West Indies opener Sunil Ambris in the first over of the run chase, but John Campbell made a century from number three. He was seventh man out with the score on 206 to give Topley his second wicket, however, and West Indies ended short – being bowled out for 228 in the penultimate over.

There was more woe for Pakistan as they were relegated to an eighth place finish by a brilliant century from Bangladesh captain Anamul Haque in Townsville. Haque shared a second-wicket stand of 179 with opener Liton Das (53 off 98 balls) to help his side record a five-wicket win with more than three overs to spare. Pakistan had earlier recovered from the shaky position off 118 for six to post 235 for eight thanks to a superb 82 off 86 balls from all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz.

Ruiadhri Smith took three Irish top-order wickets to help Scotland to an 11th place tournament finish in Brisbane. Tyrone Kane hit 78 to help Ireland post a defendable total of 182, but most of Scotland’s batsmen contributed and they ran out winners by five-wickets with more than eight overs remaining. George Dockrell was again the pick of the Ireland attack with one for 22 from his ten overs, while opener Ross McLean top-scored with 47 for the Saltires.

Tomorrow sees New Zealand and South Africa do battle in the third place play-off ahead of Sunday’s final, which pits tournament hosts Australia against pre-tournament favourites India.

© Cricket World 2012