Unmukt Chand ton helps India colts to easy win over SL

Skipper Unmukt Chand scored a blistering century to help India register a seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the four-nation Under-19 Quadrangular tournament in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday.

Opting to bat first, the visitors could not negotiate the guile and variation of the Indian tweakers, led by off-spinner Baba Aparajith, as they were bundled out for a mere 196.

Chasing the modest target, Chand and Akhil Herwadkar sent the Islanders on a leather hunt, putting up 121 runs for the opening wicket.

The skipper, in particular, was in devastating mood as he hit the bowlers all around the park during his unbeaten knock of 122 from 91 balls, studded with five sixes and 14 hits to the fence.

Herwadkar also raised his half-century before falling to Pulina Tharanga.

The bowler struck again, dismissing Kumar Deobrat, with the hosts needing another 31 runs to win.

Indians, though, lost another wicket in the form of Smit Patel, who was run-out for just three runs.

Chand then combined with Hanuman Vihari to achieve the target in the 31st over.

Earlier, Aparajith and Vikas Mishra shared eight wickets between themselves to restrict the Islanders to a modest total.

While Tamil Nadu lad Aparajith, who won the man-of-the-match award for his all-round performance against Australia earlier this week, scalped five for 35 from his 10 overs, Mishra had figures of three for 37.

The Lankans had a decent start to their innings, with the openers adding 38 runs for the first wicket before Harmeet Singh dismissed Shehan Fernando.

Niroshan Dickwella then coupled with Lasith Abeyratne to raise his fifty and take the total to 87 before the visitors lost three wickets in quick succession, including that of the half-centurion to find themselves reeling at 88 for 4.

Pulina Tharanga (31) and Tharindu Kaushal (40) then combined to give some respectability to the total, but with Tharanga shown the way to pavilion by Aparajith, it was all but over for the visitors.

A crucial 54-run stand for the eighth wicket between Kaushal and Amila Aponso, however, saw the team reach 194 before the spinners wrapped it up in the 45th over.