Viran Chamuditha’s 94-ball 110 helped Sri Lanka Under 19 chase 262 and keep their hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals of the Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2026 alive. Sri Lanka will now have to hope Afghanistan lose to Ireland; otherwise, Afghanistan will go through. South Africa  on the other hand, have lost all four of their games and are placed fifth in the six-team group.

The day began well for South Africa Under-19,  who won the toss, chose to bat and added 96 for the first wicket. Once Vigneshwaran Akash got Adnaan Lagadien, Jorich Van Schalkwyk  – the other opener – had to do the bulk of the scoring, with regular wickets falling at the other end.

Akash finished with a four-for and Kavija Gamage got two. There was a missed chance off Van Schalkwyk in the 21st over off Gamage, when he was on 50.

Van Schalkwyk made Sri Lanka pay with a 130-ball 116, featuring 13 fours and two sixes. After he fell, Paul James (37* off 36) and Michael Kruiskamp (21* off 15) gave South Africa a good finish, with an unbeaten 40-run stand off 31 balls.

Sri Lanka’s chase started shakily as Dimantha Mahavithana fell cheaply to Kruiskamp. Chamuditha then began a match-defining 143-run stand off 130 balls with Senuja Wekunagoda. Chamuditha contributed 85 of those run, and brought up his century during his stand with captain Vimath Dinsara, who chipped in with 32 off 38 balls.

Chamuditha finished with 13 boundaries and a six. After he fell, there were two handy partnerships of 31 and an unbeaten 28 between Chamika Heenatigala and Dulnith Sigera, which took Sri Lanka home with four overs to spare.

Brief scores:

Sri Lanka Under 19s  265 for 5 in 46 overs  (Viran Chamuditha 110, Senuja  Wekunagoda 48, Vimath Dinsara 32; M8chael Kruiskamp 2-59, Come Botha 2-37) beat South Africa Under 19s  261 for 7 in 50 overs (Jorich Van Schalkwyk 116, Adnaan Lagadien 46, Paul James 37* ;  Vigneshwaran  Akash 4-64, Kavija Gamage 2-61) by five wickets

Akash Vigneswaran celebrates a wicket with his team-mates, South Africa vs Sri Lanka, Under-19 World Cup, Bulawayo, January 29, 2026 (Cricinfo)

(Cricinfo)

Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Dr Harini Amarasuriya said  that she hoped that the first day of school becomes a beautiful and lasting memory in the lives of our beloved children as they take the important step from their homes and parents into the care and guidance of their teachers and wished them every sucess in the journey ahead.

The PM’s message:

“Dear children and parents,

We hope that the first day of school becomes a cherished memory in the lives of our children. With this in mind, we are making every effort to improve school environments and strengthen the teaching–learning process, so that children can experience their school years in a safe, joyful, and meaningful manner.

We are committed to reducing the burden of heavy schoolbags, while ensuring that children continue to develop the knowledge, attitudes, and skills needed for their future and for their eventual entry into the workforce.

Dear Parents, our goal is to provide every child with a rich education in a prosperous and just society. We firmly believe that a child’s educational opportunities should not be determined by the economic circumstances of their family, and that no child should be excluded from education. Accordingly, the Government has taken responsibility for putting in place the necessary measures to guarantee equal access to education for every child. We value the constructive ideas and suggestions of all stakeholders as we work towards this shared objective.

We are committed to engaging with these ideas openly and constructively, and to making the learning experiences of children who grow through play, movement, and curiosity more practical, meaningful, and engaging, while ensuring that classrooms remain spaces of happiness and encouragement.

My dear children, as you step beyond the comfort of your mother’s embrace and place your trust in your teachers and parents, I wish you success, confidence, and fulfilment in all that lies ahead.