Aussie U19s cruise to 102-run victory

SCORECARD: Australia U19s v Sri Lanka U19s third ODI

Australia's Under 19s have taken a 2-1 series lead over Sri Lanka with a convincing 102-run success in the third Youth ODI in Hobart. 

After Jack Edwards' 95 laid the foundation for an imposing total of 7-251, Ryan Hadley (4-61) and Lloyd Pope (3-46) did the damage with the ball to rout the visitors for 149, despite an unbeaten 55 from middle-order batsman Jehan Daniel. 

The Aussie innings got off to a rocky start with Matthew Spoors leg before to his first ball, the second of the match, but the home side was quick to steady.

A 103-run partnership between Edwards and opener Ryan Hackney pushed the Australians into a strong position. 

Hackney departed for 39 from 72 but Edwards powered on, hitting seven fours and two sixes in an entertaining knock.

Edwards tried to reach triple figures with a lusty blow, but mis-timed the shot from the spin of Praveen Jayawickrama and was caught at mid-on by captain Kamindu Mendis.

Jono Merlo was run out for nine but Austin Waugh partnered with skipper Will Sutherland as the teens in Aussie gold launched a late-innings assault. 

Sutherland went 6,4,4 at one stage, racing to 49 from 33 balls until he too was caught trying to bring up a milestone with a big hit, caught on the rope at long-off. 

Waugh had played the anchor role to Sutherland's fireworks but exploded with his captain departing, a classic slog sweep boundary befitting the surname followed by a straight six helping him pile up an unbeaten 40 from 54 balls.

For Sri Lanka, Jayawickrama finished with 2-56 from his 10. 

Hadley struck with the third ball of Sri Lanka's innings in reply and the visitors' innings never really got going thereafter. 

The towering NSW quick went on claim another three victims while Sri Lanka at one point slipped to 6-58. 

Leg-spinner Pope continued his wicket-taking form with three scalps of his own as the Australians dominated proceedings to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.