A disciplined bowling effort by India colts helped them beat Sri Lanka by five runs in a low-scoring final match of the Under-19 quadrangular one-day cricket tournament here on Sunday.
The Indian boys, who had topped the league stage, scored a modest 168 all out thanks to AkshdeepNath's patient 55, who resurrected his side's innings from 37 for five in the 14th over after they were asked to bat.
The bowlers then defended the small total by skittling out the Sri Lankans for 163 with 3.1 overs to spare at the YSRajasekhara Reddy Cricket Stadium.
Pacers Sandeep Sharma (4/23) and Rush Kalaria (3/34) shared the bulk of the spoils while left-arm spinner VikasMishra and off-spinner Baba Aparajith chipped in with a wicket apiece.
Chasing 169 for a win, Sri Lanka made a disastrous start with opener NiroshanDickwella falling to Sandeep in the third ball of their innings. Sandeep and Rush then ran through the Sri Lankan top-order as the visitors were reduced to 27 for five in the ninth over.
DuleekaThissakuttige and LahiruMadushanka - who top-scored with 63 - then stitched a 75-run stand for the sixth wicket from 22.1 overs to take Sri Lanka closer to target before the former was out at team total of 102 for six in the 31st over.
Another wicket fell in the form of PulinaTharanga and Sri Lanka were reduced to 150 for eight soon after. The visitors had enough overs in their hands but they kept losing wickets.
Sandeep polished off the tail by scalping the last two wickets - that of ApilaAponso and Dilshan Dhanushka - in the space of three balls as India won the summit clash and the tournament.
