Hicks and Vidler ensure Australia enter Super Six with all-win record

Callum Vidler and Ryan Hicks starred with ball and bat respectively to help Australia beat Sri Lanka and go into the Super Six of the Under-19 World Cup undefeated, with a healthy net run-rate of 2.6.

Quick bowler Vidler started the match by nicking Pulindu Perera off in the first over. Sineth Jayawardena, who had won the toss and batted, moved Sri Lanka forward with a 47-run stand with Supun Waduge, but Vidler and Tom Campbell,  the offspinner, removed them in successive overs to rebuild the pressure.

Dinura Kalupahana,  top-scoring with 64 with nine fours and three sixes, stitched two 40-plus stands in the middle overs with Ravishan de Silva and Rusanda Gamage. But medium pacer Harjas Singh and offspinner Raf MacMilllan cut short the promising partnerships before Vidler’s return took out Kalupahana and left Sri Lanka stuttering at 166 for 6 as the final powerplay got underway.

Campbell and his new-ball partner Mahli Beardman took out the tail as Sri Lanka were all out a ball short of their 50 overs.

Harry Dixon’s flier, comprising three fours and a six off his first 13 balls, allowed Australia to cruise through a 71-run opening stand with Sam Konstas. Left-arm spinner Vishwa Lahiru, the pick of Sri Lanka’s bowlers, dismissed Dixon and Hugh Weibgen in consecutive overs and with legspinner Malsha Tharupathi getting Konstas, Australia were wobbling for a bit.

Hicks ensured it was just that by accumulating a slow but steady 49-run stand with Harjas before joining forces with Campbell. The two shared eight boundaries in their partnership and did not allow the asking rate to rise over five at any point. Their unbeaten 82-run stand took Australia home with seven balls to spare.

Brief scores:
Australia Under 19s  211 for 4in 48.5 overs  (Ryan Hicks 77*, Harry Dixon 49, Sam Konstas 23,  Tom Campbell 33*; Vishwa Lahiru 2-24) beat  Sri Lanka Under 19s 208 in 49.5 overs (Ravishan de Silva 30, Dinura Kalupahana 64, Sharujan Shanmuganathan 21; Callum Vidler 3-28, Mahli Beardman 2-30, Tom Campbell 2-47) by six wickets

(Cricinfo)