Windhoek, January 17, 2026
Sri Lanka’s Under-19 openers delivered a record-shattering performance at the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in Windhoek, as Dimantha Mahavithana and Viran Chamuditha carved Japan apart to etch their names permanently into Youth ODI history.
After Japan captain Kazuma Kato-Stafford won the toss and opted to field at the Namibia Cricket Ground, Sri Lanka wasted no time in asserting dominance. The opening pair blended classical strokeplay with ruthless intent, steadily building pressure before accelerating into uncharted territory.
Their partnership of 328 for the first wicket is now the highest for any wicket in the history of Youth ODIs. In passing the previous mark of 303, set by England’s Dan Lawrence and Jack Burnham at the 2016 Under-19 World Cup, Mahavithana and Chamuditha created only the second triple-century stand ever recorded at this level.
Mahavithana’s role was one of control and assurance. He anchored the innings with a well-paced 115 from 125 balls, striking 11 boundaries before being run out by Taylor Waugh. His dismissal finally broke the stand, but by then the contest had been pushed far beyond Japan’s reach.
Chamuditha, however, was the defining presence. Batting with remarkable composure for a teenager on the global stage, he went past 191, the previous highest score in an Under-19 World Cup held by Hasitha Boyagoda. Chamuditha eventually fell for a majestic 192 from 143 deliveries, an innings featuring 26 fours and a six. Only Jorich van Schalkwyk’s 215 in 2025 stands above it in Youth ODI history.
Sri Lanka powered their way to 387 for 4 from 50 overs, their second-highest total in Youth ODIs, scoring at an imposing rate of 7.74 runs per over. Timothy Moore was the pick of the Japanese bowlers with 3 for 43, while captain Vimath Dinsara provided a late flourish with an unbeaten 44 from just 24 balls.
The scale of the achievement is best reflected in the numbers, with Sri Lanka now dominating multiple historical lists at Youth ODI level.
Record partnership in Youth ODIs
Highest partnerships in Youth ODIs
| Runs | Wicket | Batters | Team | Opposition | Venue | Year | World Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 328 | 1st | Dimantha Mahavithana, Viran Chamuditha | Sri Lanka | Japan | Windhoek | 2026 | Yes |
| 303 | 2nd | Dan Lawrence, Jack Burnham | England | Fiji | Chattogram | 2016 | Yes |
| 273 | 2nd | BJ Watling, Brad Wilson | New Zealand | Scotland | Savar | 2004 | Yes |
| 270 | 2nd | Mayank Agarwal, Mandeep Singh | India | India | Hobart | 2009 | No |
| 250 | 2nd | Nathan McSweeney, Jason Sangha | Australia | Australia | Lincoln | 2018 | Yes |
Highest individual scores in Youth ODIs
| Score | Batter | Team | Opposition | Venue | Year | World Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 215 | Jorich van Schalkwyk | South Africa | Zimbabwe | Harare | 2025 | No |
| 192 | Viran Chamuditha | Sri Lanka | Japan | Windhoek | 2026 | Yes |
| 191 | Hasitha Boyagoda | Sri Lanka | Kenya | Lincoln | 2018 | Yes |
| 180 | Jakob Bhula | New Zealand | Kenya | Christchurch | 2018 | Yes |
| 179* | Theo Doropoulos | Australia | England | Sydney | 2003 | No |
