Hampshire's Rouse Takes Catches for England

Hampshire wicket-keeper Adam Rouse, took three catches for England U19s as his team held their nerve to defeat Sri Lanka U19 by three wickets with four balls to spare.

Hampshire wicket-keeper Adam Rouse, took three catches for England U19s as his team held their nerve to defeat Sri Lanka U19 by three wickets with four balls to spare. Rouse, who made his one-day debut for the Under 19s, was on hand to dismiss Sri Lanka opener, Yasoda Lanka, Kevin Withanage and Akshu Fernando. The result sees England take a 1-0 lead in the five match ODI series.

England captain Paul Best won the toss and elected to put the tourists in to bat and was rewarded in the fourth over when Rumesh Buddika was caught by Alex Barrow (Somerset) off the bowling of Jacob Ball (Nottinghamshire). Matthew Dunn (Surrey) then had Lanka caught behind by Rouse to leave Sri Lanka struggling on 26-2 in the seventh over. Sri Lanka continued to lose wickets regularly and at 116-7, England looked firmly in control.

However an eighth wicket partnership of 91 between Dhanushka Gunathilleke and Sanitha de Mel helped Sri Lanka reach 207-7 from their 50 overs. Gunathilleke top scored, finishing unbeaten on 83 from 102 balls with de Mel adding 29 from 33 balls in support.
 
Needing to score at just over 4 runs an over for victory England's reply began well with Jack Manuel (Worcestershire) playing a typically aggressive innings to reach 23 off 17 balls before being bowled by de Mel.

Joe Root's controlled innings (48) helped England past the 100 mark and Alex Barrow (50) and Luke Wells (Sussex) kept the scoreboard ticking over without taking unnecessary risks.

Even when Barrow was bowled by Buddika in the 44th over, leaving England on 190-5, the home side would have been confident of a comfortable victory. Needing 18 to win England lost two quick wickets and some disciplined bowling by Sri Lanka put the batsmen under pressure. Wells, who finished unbeaten on 39, and David Payne (Gloucestershire) maintained their composure to steer England to their target of 208 with four balls to spare.
 
England U19 captain Paul Best said: "We are delighted to be one up and are looking forward to resuming the ODI series at Arundel on Monday. Today's match was closer than it needed to be and we aim to be more disciplined and ruthless going forward."
 
Both teams travel to Arundel for the second ODI on Monday 9 August. Play starts at 10.45am.

Words: Simon Vincent / ECB - Images: Neil Marshall

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