Dimantha Mahavithana's 155 Powers Sri Lanka U19 Past India Despite Anvay Dravid's Fighting 87

Anvay Dravid produced an impressive knock of 87, but his effort was overshadowed by a superb unbeaten 155 from Dimantha Mahavithana as Sri Lanka Under-19 defeated India Under-19 by eight wickets in the second Youth One-Day International on Monday. The victory helped the hosts chase down a target of 286 with two wickets to spare in 48 overs, levelling the three-match series at 1-1.

Anvay, the son of former India captain Rahul Dravid, continued to showcase his batting promise with a fluent 67-ball innings that featured confident stroke play and helped India post a competitive total of 285. His innings formed the backbone of India's batting effort, giving the visitors hope of taking an unassailable lead in the series after their victory in the opening match.

However, Sri Lanka found a match-winning hero in opener Dimantha Mahavithana, who anchored the chase with a composed and unbeaten 155 off 153 deliveries. Displaying remarkable temperament and consistency, Mahavithana paced the innings expertly, ensuring Sri Lanka remained in control despite the pressure of chasing a sizeable target. His century proved to be the defining performance of the contest.

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Mahavithana received valuable support from his teammates through two crucial partnerships. He first added 103 runs for the second wicket with Senuja Wekunagoda, who contributed a well-made 60. After Wekunagoda's dismissal, Sri Lanka captain Vimath Dinsara joined Mahavithana at the crease, and the pair effectively ended India's hopes with an unbroken 163-run stand for the third wicket. Dinsara remained unbeaten on 56 as Sri Lanka comfortably crossed the target.

India's bowlers struggled to break the momentum created by Sri Lanka's top order on a batting-friendly surface. Despite posting what appeared to be a competitive first-innings total, the visitors were unable to contain Mahavithana, whose innings combined patience with controlled aggression. The lack of regular breakthroughs allowed Sri Lanka to dictate the chase and reach 291/2 with 12 balls to spare.

The result leaves the three-match Youth ODI series finely poised at 1-1, setting up a decisive final encounter between the two sides. While Anvay Dravid's innings reinforced his growing reputation as one of India's promising young batters, it was Mahavithana's outstanding unbeaten 155 that ultimately stole the spotlight, guiding Sri Lanka Under-19 to a convincing victory and ensuring the series will be decided in the final match.

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