Sri Lanka and South Africa progressed to the quarterfinals of the ICC Under 19 World Cup after recording contrasting victories, here today.
Sri Lanka overcame 1998 champion England by one wicket at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in a match of fluctuating fortunes to become the first side from Group D to progress to the knock-out stage.
South Africa recorded a comfortable 45-run victory over Canada at Abu Dhabi Oval 1 to seal a place in the next round from Group C.
In the other results of the day, the West Indies outplayed Zimbabwe by 167 runs and New Zealand outsmarted the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by 112 runs.
In one of the closest finishes in the history of the age-group competition, Sri Lanka sealed victory with one wicket and seven balls to spare. This was after Sri Lanka had looked down and out in its 231-run chase when it collapsed to 160 for seven in 35 overs and then needed nine runs for victory with one wicket remaining.
Number-seven batsman Thilaksha Sumanasiri (43) and number-nine AK Tyronne (20) put on 53 runs for the eighth wicket to take the score to 213 before Sumanasiri perished with Sri Lanka still requiring 18 runs off 35 balls.
Tyronne followed Sumanasiri nine runs later to leave his side needing nine runs from 17 deliveries. But Anuk Fernando (10 not out) and Lakshan Jayasinghe (four not out) got the required runs with seven balls remaining, with a winning single coming after Jonathan Tattersall missed the wicket at the non-striker's end.
Earlier, Sadeera Samarawickrama played some fine shots in an elegant 89-ball 82 that included 10 boundaries and put Sri Lanka on track for victory. He added 46 runs for the first wicket with Hasahn Dumindu (17), 38 runs for the fourth wicket with Priyamal Perera (22), 36 runs for fifth wicket with Binura Fernando (19) and another 37 runs for the sixth wicket with Sumanasiri.
A gutsy 95 by Jonathan Tattersall saved England's blushes when it slipped to 43 for four before recovering to 230 for nine. Tattersall, who was out on the penultimate delivery, faced 120 balls and hit three fours and two sixes.
