South Africa vs Sri Lanka Live Score, U19 World Cup 2026: South Africa opt to bat against Sri Lanka

Michael Kruiskamp to Viran Chamuditha, Good length and on middle, Viran Chamuditha gets behind the line of it and keeps it out.

Michael Kruiskamp to Viran Chamuditha, Oh..that could have been nasty! Back of a length and on middle, does not bounce much. Viran Chamuditha ducks under and tries to sway away, but sees that the ball is not that short and is in line with the stumps, he just gets his bat away and somehow manages to stab it onto the pitch.

Michael Kruiskamp to Viran Chamuditha, Michael Kruiskamp begins with a full delivery, on off, Viran Chamuditha leans on and drives it through covers for a couple of runs.

Michael Kruiskamp to share the attack.

JJ Basson to Dimantha Mahavithana, An in-swinging yorker, on middle, Dimantha Mahavithana does well to dig it out. Just one run off the first over!

JJ Basson to Dimantha Mahavithana, Hits the length hard and on off, Dimantha Mahavithana stays back and blocks it out.

JJ Basson to Viran Chamuditha, Pulls his length back, on middle, straightens off the deck. Viran Chamuditha tries to play but gets squared up. It goes off the outer half of the bat towards backward point for a single. Dimantha wants the second but is sent back. Already a bit of hesitation between the Lankan openers. Sri Lanka Under-19 are underway in the chase!

JJ Basson to Viran Chamuditha, Beaten! Fuller again and just around off, shapes away late. Viran Chamuditha looks to push at it but gets beaten on the outside edge.

JJ Basson to Viran Chamuditha, Touch fuller and on off, Viran Chamuditha taps it in front of short cover and wants the run, but is sent back, The fielder gets to the ball but fails to pick it up cleanly, giving the chance to Viran to get back.

JJ Basson to Viran Chamuditha, A beauty to start! JJ Basson lands this on a good length in that channel outside off, gets it to shape away. Viran Chamuditha gets drawn forward to play but the ball zips past the outside edge.

We are back for the chase! The umpires are marching toward the center of the park, and we can see the young Proteas in a huddle near the boundary fence. It looks like skipper Muhammad Bulbulia has a few last words to his teammates before they disperse to take their fielding positions. Viran Chamuditha and Dimantha Mahavithana will open the innings for Sri Lanka Under-19. JJ Basson has the new ball in hand and is raring to start off with two slips in place. Away we go...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

Pitch favouring spinners - However, now things will be interesting as the pitch is surely reactive to spinners, like we have witnessed in the first inning. But if the Proteas pacers somehow pick a couple of breakthroughs in the first Powerplay, the Lankan batters would feel the heat. The openers need to address it slowly and steadily before getting aggressive. So stick around with us, refill your snacks, and join us in a bit as the second essay will commence in a few moments. 

Centurion Jorich van Schalkwyk is up for a chat - Jorich says that he and his partner had a chat that if it's there, they will put it away. Adds that it was good to get a few away early, and they got off to a good start. Mentions that he loves batting with Adnaan, he is the one who goes on the attack more. Says that the wicket was a bit challenging, there was bounce, turn, but he feels they finished well after those wickets in the middle. Ends by saying that they have a good score on the board and they will try their best to defend it.

Van Schalkwyk's ton powers SA - After the fall of the third wicket, Jorich and Mbatha built a decent partnership of 48 runs. Just as the Proteas were attempting to accelerate the score, the Lankans struck back with another wicket. Despite this, Jorich showcased his resilience, eventually scoring an important century. Just after reaching this milestone, he received the green light to take on the bowlers more aggressively. However, Akash managed to dismiss him before he could become too dangerous. The lower middle order of the Proteas stepped up, forming small partnerships that ultimately contributed to a total of 261 runs.

Openers shine, but Lankan spinners turn the tide -  South Africa had 'the perfect start' from their opener, Jorich van Schalkwyk and Adnaan Lagadien. Both of them stole the show as the game progressed, building a strong partnership of 96 runs. However, it was Vigneshwaran Akash who turned the tide by breaking that partnership and taking the crucial wicket of the opposition skipper Muhammad Bulbulia. Following this, the spinners ramped up the pressure on the young Proteas, claiming another wicket. Suddenly, South Africa found themselves in a precarious position, slipping from 96 for no loss to 125-3.

The tug of war - Wow, what an inning it was! After the first half of the inning, we all thought that South Africa Under-19 have a very good chance to post a total over 300, but the Lankan bowlers came back pretty well to close things off. The Proteas have ended the inning with 261 runs on the board and Jorich van Schalkwyk was surely their standout batter, scoring 116 off 130 balls. But we also have another star player from Sri Lanka's camp and that is Vigneshwaran Akash, who just missed his five-fer by a wicket, but his contribution was more than effective for the side. 

Rasith Nimsara to Michael Kruiskamp, A couple of runs to end the innings! Rasith Nimsara goes full again and on middle and leg. Michael Kruiskamp heaves it off the inside half of the bat towards deep square leg and rushes back for the second run. South Africa Under-19 finish on 261/7!

Rasith Nimsara to Paul James, Fuller and just outside of, Paul James goes down across and has a wild slog across the line but misses. However, the batters sneak in a bye.

Rasith Nimsara to Michael Kruiskamp, Run out chance... missed! A good yorker, on off, Michael Kruiskamp jams it out to the leg side and sets off for the run. Rasith Nimsara dives to his left to make a fine stop. He gets up and has a lot of time to take aim but misses his shy at the bowler's end. Kruiskamp was nowhere near the crease.

Rasith Nimsara to Michael Kruiskamp, FOUR! Poor delivery and punished! Back of a length and around leg. Michael Kruiskamp picks it up and just helps it over the short fine leg fielder for a boundary.

Rasith Nimsara to Paul James, Pitched up and outside off, Paul James drills it to deep point for a run.

Rasith Nimsara to Michael Kruiskamp, Low full toss, outside off, Michael Kruiskamp lofts it towards long off for a single.

Sethmika Seneviratne to Paul James, Gets away with it! Another slower one, on a length and around off. Paul James decides early to go for the reverse scoop but misses.

Sethmika Seneviratne to Paul James, Low full toss again, outside off, takes pace off. Paul James comes down the track and forces it down to long off and comes back for the second run. The throw comes in at the bowler's end, where Sethmika collects it and throws it back to the stumps, but no one really appeals for anything. Oh..no! Sethmika has overstepped here and it is called a No Ball. Free Hit to follow now. Also, 250 up for South Africa Under-19. Wow, to make things worse for the Lankans, the replay after the over shows that Kruiskamp does not even attempt to drag his bat inside the crease, and when the stumps were broken, his foot and bat both were in the air. If there was an appeal, it would have been out.

Sethmika Seneviratne to Michael Kruiskamp, A low full toss, outside off, keeping it away from the arc of the batter. Michael Kruiskamp moves across early but has to adjust to the line and steers it through point for just one. Good bowling!

Sethmika Seneviratne to Paul James, Slower one, full and on middle, Paul James goes down and slogs it down to long on for another run.

Sethmika Seneviratne to Paul James, A low full toss, outside off, Paul James reaches out and drills it wide of long off for a couple of runs.

Sethmika Seneviratne to Michael Kruiskamp, Sethmika Seneviratne sees the batter move across, bowls the wide yorker, outside off. Michael Kruiskamp squeezes it out to deep point for a run.

Sethmika Seneviratne to Paul James, Good length and around off, Paul James opens the face of his bat and steers it wide of short third. The fielder dives to his right and saves a certain boundary here. A single taken.

Senuja Wekunagoda to bowl the penultimate over. 

Rasith Nimsara to Michael Kruiskamp, SIX! Where has that come from, then? Rasith Nimsara tries the slower one, but lands this back of a length that sits up nicely, on middle. Michael Kruiskamp reads it early, clears his front leg away and whacks it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie. That has gone into the trees outside the ground. Is this the shift in momentum that the Proteas needed going into the last two overs?

Rasith Nimsara to Paul James, Right in the blockhole, outside off, Paul James jams it out towards backward point for one.

Rasith Nimsara to Paul James, In the air...SAFE! Short of a length and angling into the body of the batter. Paul James gets inside the line of it to hook but mistimes it in the air. It falls safely wide of deep square leg, were Dimantha Mahavithana runs to his right and slides to stop it well. Two taken.

Rasith Nimsara to Paul James, A loopy low full toss, outside off, Paul James waits for it and drills it to deep point for a brace.

Rasith Nimsara to Paul James, Nails the yorker, on middle, tailing in, Paul James gets his bat down in time to dig it out but it hits his boot and goes nowhere.

Rasith Nimsara to Michael Kruiskamp, Hard length and around off, Michael Kruiskamp bunts it out towards mid off for a single.

Vigneshwaran Akash to Michael Kruiskamp, No fifer for Akash, but an incredible spell of bowling! Another wrong'un, full and on off, Michael Kruiskamp looks to work it away but gets a leading edge towards long off for one. Vigneshwaran Akash finishes with figures of 10-1-46-4.

Vigneshwaran Akash to Paul James, A big shout for LBW, but turned down! This is another googly, full and on middle, turns in. Paul James gets forward to block but misses and gets hit on the pads. It looks close but the umpire does not think so. The ball rolls towards cover and the batters decide late to take the run. The fielder throws it to the keeper's end, where the stumps are broken but the replay shows that Kruiskamp is in. Can Akash get a fifer on the last ball of his spell?

Vigneshwaran Akash to Michael Kruiskamp, Flighted, full and around leg, Michael Kruiskamp goes down and swipes it to deep square leg for another run.

Vigneshwaran Akash to Paul James, Flatter, full and on off, Paul James drills it to long on for a run.

Vigneshwaran Akash to Michael Kruiskamp, Floated, full and outside off, Michael Kruiskamp slices it through covers for a single.

Vigneshwaran Akash to Michael Kruiskamp, Ripper! A googly, full and on middle, grips and turns away sharply. Michael Kruiskamp looks to flick it to the leg side but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Viran Chamuditha to Paul James, Slows it up, full and on off, Paul James strides out to work it across the line but gets a leading edge as the ball rolls away to the off side.

Viran Chamuditha to Paul James, Short and on middle, Paul James nudges it with soft hands through mid-wicket and comes back for the second runs. Good running!

Viran Chamuditha to Michael Kruiskamp, Floated, full and on off, Michael Kruiskamp lobs it towards long off for a run.

Viran Chamuditha to Michael Kruiskamp, A high full toss, on middle, Michael Kruiskamp only manages to bunt it back to the bowler. That really should have been put away.

Viran Chamuditha to Michael Kruiskamp, Flatter, short and around off, angling away, Michael Kruiskamp stays back to punch it away but misses.

Viran Chamuditha to Paul James, Floated, full and on leg, Paul James paddles it to short fine for a single.

Michael Kruiskamp walks out to bat now.