Richmond cruise to their sixth outright win
Richmond cruised through to their sixth outright win of the ongoing Under-19 inter-school cricket season with a crushing innings and 53 runs win over St. Aloysius Galle at the Sooriyawewa Stadium yesterday. The writing on the wall was there for the Alosysians when play ended on the opening day as after being bowled out for a meager 65 runs and Richmond ending the day on 187 for the latter to secure a 122run lead.
St. Aloysius, left with the daunting task of erasing the 122-run deficit, came no near as skipper and left arm spinner Charith Asalanka along with Saveen Nanayakkara and Avindu Theekshana wrecked the Aloysian to bundle them out for another meager score of 69 runs.
Royal outclass Prince of Wales’
Royal outclassed Prince of Wales by an innings and 83 runs in the Under-19 match concluded at Moratuwa. The foundation for their win was laid by Hasitha Samarasinghe, Geeshanth Panditharatne and Navin Vidanapathirana who cracked half tons which saw them taking first lease of the wicket to make a score of 284 for 5 declared.
The second day’s proceedings belong to the Royal bowlers who succeeded in taking 19 wickets in the three sessions of play. Lasith Embuldeniya was in top form as he ended with a match bag of 9 for 53.
Prince of Wales’ continuing from their overnight score of 20 for 1 went down meekly to the bowling combination of Harith Samarasinghe, Lasith Embuldeniya and Helitha Vithanage being bowled out for 85.
Prince of Wales’, made to follow on with a deficit of 199 runs fared no better as Lasith along with Sahan Tennekoon sent the home team reeling to another low score of 116 to ensure them a convincing win.
Dharmaraja down Revatha MMV
Dharmarajah defeated Revatha MMV by an innings and 11 runs in the match concluded at Balapitiya. Dharmaraja having dominated proceedings on day one was too good for the home side.
The Rajans taking first lease of the wicket was propelled by a career best knock of 157 from Kavindu Ratnayake enabling them put up a massive score of 349 for 8 declared and then had Revatha MMV struggling on 152 for 9.
Revatha MMV was unable to make headway on the second day as they were bowled out for 153 and then made to bat again failed to avoid an innings defeat after being restricted to a score of 177 with Tharusha Weragoda doing the damage.
Nipuna shines as S. Thomas’ dominate
Nipuna Gamage shone with an unbeaten knock of 117 which laid the foundation for S. Thomas’ to gain a first inning lead over Trinity in the match played at Mt. Lavinia.
Nipuna’s knock came off 142 balls that included 11 boundaries and a six as he was associated in a valuable 142 runs stand for the third wicket with Chenutha Wickramaisnghe who made 65 enabling the Thomians taking first lease of the wicket make a formidable score of 309 for 3 declared.
Trinity having ended day one on 80 for 1 despite a knock of 62 by Nushan Weerasinghe was restricted to a score of 222 with Sajana de Silva doing the damage.
St. Benedict’s on first innings
St. Benedict’s having shot out the strong St. Joseph’s batting for a low score of 79 ended with a score of 189 to take a first innings lead in the match played Darley Road.
Harith 114, DSS prevail
Harith Maduwantha cracked a 114 and was supported by half tons from Geeth Perera and Kavin Bandara helping DSS taking first lease of the wicket amass a score of 333 against Zahira who was restricted to a score of 248 in the match played at Maradana.
De Mazenod put up a spirited performance to gain a comfortable first inning win over Ananda in the match concluded at Kandana while St. Sebastian’s fought back to get the better of Wesley in the match which ended at Campbell Park.
Shamsul 50 wickets
Shamsul Muneer of St. Anthony’s Wattala reached the 50 wicket milestone in the match against Karandeniya Central which began at Wattala. The Antonians taking first lease of the wicket made an imposing 312 for 9 declared and Karandeniya Central in their turn ended day one on 105 for 2.
Gurukula fail by one run
There was plenty of excitement at the Campus grounds in Peradeniya where Gurukula took up the challenge of scoring 200 runs in 34 overs to beat Vidyartha and failed by one run.
Gurukula took a three-run lead on the first innings. Vidyartha’s batsmen found some form late in the day and made 201 for 6. There were forties from Chanaka Ratnayake and Roshan Jayatilleke and a thirty from opener Krishantha Jayasuriya.
The Gurukula run-chase was powered by Udara Ravindu (61 not out) and Janith Pramod who added 104 for the third wicket. But it was Tharindu Tharaka who really smashed the bowlers around making 63 off 3o balls.
Vidyartha 137 and 201 for 3 dec in 55 overs (Krishantha Jayasuriya 31, Roshan Jayatilleke 45, Chanaka Ratnayake 41, Namal Perera 21, Bavantha Bandara 23 n.o; Lahiru Chamara 3 for 34)
Gurukula 96 for 5 contd, 140 in 47.2 overs (Rakitha Nimesh 32, Janith Pramod 23, Lisula Lakshan 19, Udara Ravindu 8; Chanaka Ratnayake 5 for 29, Bhavantha Bandara 3 for 39) and 199 for 5 in 34 overs (Udara Ravindu 61 n.o,Tharindu Tharaka 63, Janith Pramod 58; Cghanaka Ratnayake 2 for 76)