Pruthivi, Sajith guide WPN to massive win

Half tons by Pruthivi Rusara and Sajith Sameera laid the foundation for Western Province North to record a massive 207-run win over Eastern Province in the Under 19 inter-provincial limited over encounter played at the BRC ground yesterday.

The duo’s knocks helped Western Province North taking first lease of the wicket to end their innings with a formidable score of 286 for 8 while Eastern Province in their run chase found the bowling trio of Sajith Sameera, Chamika Gunasekera and Asel Sigera too hot to handle and succumbed to a score of just 79 runs.

North Western Province secured a 29-run win over Central Province in a high scoring match of the same tournament played at Braybrooke Place. North Western Province batting first made a challenging score of 285 for 9 which came on the back of half tons made by Nipun Dhananjaya and Navodya Imesh and Central Province in their turn were making steady progress and despite half tons coming from Ravishka Upendra and Nimsara Atharagala they were able to muster a score of only 257 runs.

In the other two matches that were played at the NCC and Colts grounds saw Western Province South and Southern Province record identical wins by seven wickets against Northern Province and North Central Province. Results:

At BRC – WPN by 207 runs Western Province North 286 for 8 in 50 overs (Pruthivi Rusara 66, Sajith Sameera 51, Ashan Fernando 41, Kamesh Nirmal 34: Theva Dilakshan 4 for 42, Shehan Nadeeja 2 for 49) Eastern Province 79 in 31 overs (Sajith Sameera 3 for 15, Chamika Gunasekera 2 for 12, Asel Sigera 2 for 15)

At Braybrooke Place – NWP by 28 runs

North Western Province 285 for 9 in 50 overs (Nipun Dhananjaya 64, Kaveen Bandara 49, Kavindu Iresh 34, Navodya Imesh 68 n.o.: Nimsara Atharagala 3 for 55, Vimukthi Nethumal 2 for 26) Central Province 257 in 47.5 overs (Ravishka Upendra 61, Nimsara Atharagala 57, Gajitha Kotuwegoda 36: Nipun Dhananjaya 2 for 25, Pubudu Ganegama 2 for 36) At NCC – WPS by seven wickets Northern Province 127 in 36.3 overs (Salith Fernando 26: Insaka Siriwardena 4 for 16, Thashik Perera 2 for 28) Western Province South 128 for 3 in 28.2 overs (Sanoj Dharshika 30, Nishan Madusanka 25)

At Colts – Southern Province by seven wickets

North Central Province 116 in 33.5 overs (Kavindu Madarasinghe 50, Asanka Kularatne 20: Avindu Theekshana 3 for 19, Sandun Mendis 3 for 32) Southern Province 117 for 3 in 20 overs (Dhananjaya Lakshan 66 n.o.)