Viran Chamuditha's Record-Breaking Performance Leads Sri Lanka to Victory in U19 World Cup
Sri Lanka Dominates Japan in U19 World Cup Clash
Windhoek [Namibia], January 17: In a stunning display of batting, Sri Lankan opener Viran Chamuditha played a pivotal role in securing a remarkable 203-run win over Japan during the 19th match of the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 held in Windhoek on Saturday.
Chamuditha's extraordinary innings of 192 runs earned him the Player of the Match title. Japan, in pursuit of a daunting target of 388 runs, could only manage to score 184 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in their allotted 50 overs.
Hugo Kelly stood out for Japan, scoring an unbeaten 101 runs off 162 balls, which included six boundaries and a six. Unfortunately, his teammates struggled to make significant contributions, leading to a lopsided defeat.
Sri Lanka's bowling attack was effective, with Sethmika Seneviratne, Jeewantha Sriram, Viran Chamuditha, Rasith Nimsara, Vigneshwaran Akash, and Chamika Heenatigala each taking one wicket.
Earlier in the match, a phenomenal opening partnership between Viran Chamuditha and Dimantha Mahavitana set the stage for Sri Lanka, as they posted a formidable target of 388 runs for Japan U-19.
The duo established a record-breaking opening stand of 328 runs, marking the highest partnership for any wicket in the tournament's history, surpassing the previous record of 303 runs set by England's Dan Lawrence and Jack Burnham against Fiji in January 2016.
Dimantha Mahavitana also made a significant contribution, scoring 115 runs off 125 balls, which included 11 fours.
Viran Chamuditha's innings not only led to a historic win but also set a new record for the highest individual score in the ICC U19 World Cup, as he scored 192 runs off just 143 balls, featuring 26 fours and one six against Japan.
The 17-year-old surpassed the previous record held by his fellow countryman Hasitha Boyagoda, who scored 191 runs off 181 balls against Kenya U19 in January 2018.
Additionally, Vimath Dinsara contributed a quickfire 44 runs off 24 balls, including two sixes and a four, helping Sri Lanka finish with a total of 387 runs for 4 wickets in 50 overs. For Japan, Timothy Moore was the standout bowler, claiming three wickets for 43 runs in six overs.