Notts Academy bowler Jake Ball took 5-64 as England Under 19s defeated Sri Lanka U19 by six wickets at Scarborough to tie ther series 1-1.

England U19 bowled their opposition out for 317 in the first innings with opening batsman Karunanayake top scoring with 90. In reply half centuries from Luke Wells (54) and Jack Manuel (57) with useful contributions from Ateeq Javid (33) and Paul Best (37) helped England to 321.

Ball and Adam Payne bowled superbly in their opening spells reducing Sri Lanka to 20-4 in their second innings before Withanage (53) and Fernando (49) helped calm Sri Lankan nerves. Best, captaining the side, picked up three wickets and Sri Lanka were bowled out for 224 leaving England needing 221.

Despite slipping to 25-3, a fourth wicket partnership of 174 between Daniel Bell-Drummond, who finished unbeaten on 88, and Ateeq Javid (89) helped England to within 22 runs of victory. It was appropriate that Bell-Drummond, joined by Manuel at the crease, hit the winning run off the 197th ball he faced to conclude an innings that spanned more than four and a half hours.

England U19 coach Adrian Birrell was delighted with the result: "I'm very pleased. We let ourselves down in the first test and paid the ultimate price, but here we absorbed pressure, applied pressure to Sri Lanka and the guys showed great character to pull the team through. For Daniel to do that was outstanding, it will be something he can draw on in the future. It will be invaluable."

England U19 will travel to Durham for two match T20 series against Sri Lanka U19 at Emirates Durham ICG on August 2 & 3.