Sri Lanka U19 opened their ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2026 campaign with a commanding nine-wicket win over Malaysia U19 in the Group B opener at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground (Ministry Turf 2) in Al Amerat on Thursday, 5 November 2026. After winning the toss and choosing to bowl first, Sri Lanka bowled Malaysia out for 88 in 28.1 overs and then chased the target down in 13.5 overs, losing just one wicket.
Kaushika Kumarasinghe was the star of the match, taking 5 for 30, and was named Player of the Match. Rehan Peiris then led the chase with an unbeaten 54 off 45 balls as Sri Lanka completed a comfortable victory to start their tournament on a winning note.
Malaysia U19 Innings: Syamil Aqil Stands Alone
Malaysia’s innings never recovered after Sri Lanka’s bowlers struck early. Syamil Aqil was the only batter to offer prolonged resistance, scoring 51 off 50 balls, but he found little support at the other end as wickets fell around him.
Kaushika Kumarasinghe led the attack with 5 for 30, while Vigneshwaran Akash took 3 for 7 as Malaysia were bowled out for 88 in 28.1 overs. Only captain Nagineswaran Sathnakumaran, with 10, joined Syamil Aqil in double figures, and Sri Lanka’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss was fully justified by their bowlers.
Sri Lanka U19 Innings: Rehan Peiris Seals the Chase
Sri Lanka’s chase was built around Rehan Peiris, who finished unbeaten on 54 off 45 balls. Senuja Wekunagoda supported him with 30 off 35 balls as the pair put Sri Lanka firmly on course for victory.
Sri Lanka reached 91 for 1 in 13.5 overs to complete the nine-wicket win with plenty of time to spare. The only wicket to fall was that of opener Kavindu Sachintha, who made 3, as Sri Lanka’s batters made light work of a small target.
Key Performances
- Kaushika Kumarasinghe — 5 for 30, and Player of the Match
- Rehan Peiris — 54 not out off 45 balls
- Syamil Aqil — 51 off 50 balls for Malaysia
- Vigneshwaran Akash — 3 for 7
- Senuja Wekunagoda — 30 off 35 balls
What the Result Means for Group B
The win gave Sri Lanka two points and a strong net run rate to start their Group B campaign, and it set the tone for a group in which every match matters for semi-final qualification. Malaysia, meanwhile, were left to regroup after a heavy defeat in their opening match.
Sri Lanka’s next match in the group was against Bangladesh, who went on to beat Sri Lanka by 45 runs in Al Amerat on 7 November. Group B also features defending champions Pakistan, who beat UAE U19 in their opening match.
Match Summary
| Match | Sri Lanka U19 vs Malaysia U19, U19 Asia Cup 2026 |
| Date | Thursday, 5 November 2026 |
| Venue | Al Amerat Cricket Ground (Ministry Turf 2), Al Amerat |
| Toss | Sri Lanka U19 won the toss and chose to bowl |
| Malaysia U19 | 88 all out (28.1 overs) |
| Sri Lanka U19 | 91/1 (13.5 overs) |
| Result | Sri Lanka U19 won by 9 wickets |
| Player of the Match | Kaushika Kumarasinghe (5 for 30) |
In the end, it was a one-sided start to the tournament for Sri Lanka, whose bowlers set up the win before Rehan Peiris finished the job with the bat. Kumarasinghe’s five-wicket haul and Peiris’s unbeaten half-century gave Sri Lanka a perfect opening to their U19 Asia Cup campaign, while Malaysia will need a much-improved showing in their remaining Group B matches.
Full scorecard: Sri Lanka U19 vs Malaysia U19 on Cricbuzz
