Lancashire trio help Young Lions to victory in Cheltenham
England Under-19s completed dominant victory against Sri Lanka U-19s inside four days at Cheltenham, with three Lancashire youngsters playing key roles.
With the toss going up and being won by England skipper, Hamza Shaikh, the home team decided to insert the visitors.
A decision which was vindicated by the bowling performance of England as the away team were skittled for 153 in the second session of day one. A bowling performance which included two wickets from Lancashire’s own Charlie Barnard. One of his wickets being the dismissal of Weerasinghe, out for 77, top scoring for Sri Lanka.
England’s reply started shakily with the early dismissal of one of the opening batters. This brought to the crease Lancashire Academy player, Kesh Fonseka. Fonseka made a beautifullypaced 74 runs, including 12 boundaries as well as one six while slog sweeping the Sri Lankan leg spinner. A fantastic knock, following his 86 he made in the first test for the England U-19.
Runs in the England innings came from captain Hamza Shaikh with a century, Jaydyn Denly making 91 before being dismissed and a brilliant century from Lancashire’s Rocky Flintoff.
Flintoff scored 106 off 181 deliveries including nine boundaries and two sixes. One of the sixes being a trademark hook shot off the Sri Lankan seam opening bowler, over the head deep square leg all the way for six. An Innings which resulted in England leading by 324 runs.
England rounded off their victory in the third innings of the game as they managed to bowl Sri Lanka out for 271, with the visitors losing by an innings and 53 runs. Lancashire’s Charlie Barnard picked up another two wickets leaving him with four for the match.
This result rounds of an England series win 1-0 in the two-match series.