Western Province South made to fight for their win
Western Province South though dominating proceedings and taking a comfortable first inning lead was made to made fight hard for an outright win by Eastern Province before recording a two wicket win in the Under 23 Inter-Provincial cricket encounter concluded at the Police Park yesterday.
Western Province South chasing a score of 119 runs underwent some anxious moments before racing to the target with two wickets to spare.
Earlier in the day Eastern Province fought back after being bundled out for a meager 84 runs in the first innings and when made to follow on was guided by a fine knock of 112 by Sachitha Jayatilleke and a 77 by Ramesh Nimantha which helped them erase the deficit 170 runs to end with a score of 288.
Sandakan Pathirana did the damage in Eastern Province’s first inning when he ended with a seven wicket haul. The day Helakamal Nanayakkara 5 for 34, Chandula Weeraratne 3 for 15) (Helakamal Nanayakkara 69: Asitha Fernando 3 for 34, Sachintha Peiris 3 for 43)
(Himasha Liyanage 75, Akeel Inham 53: Mohamed Shiraz 4 for 55, Lakshan Fernando 4 for 60) Ron Chandragupta 62 n.o.) Nissanka 70) (Thanuka Dabare 67 n.o.,
(Navindu Nirmal 64, Meedum Dineth 37, Navindu Nirmal 46 n.o.: Binura Fernando 5 for 20) (Pathum
An allround performance of 5 for 34 and a 69 by Helakamal Nanayakkara helped North Central Province take a first inning slead over North Western Province when play ended on day one in the match played at the Army ground in Panagoda.
Helakamal’s five wicket haul enabled North Central Province to bowl out their opponents for a low score of 104 and his knock of 69 saw North Central Province end their innings making 158.
Unbeaten half tons by Thanuka Dabare and Ron Chandragupta helped Central Province end day one making a bold reply of 183 for 1 in reply to Western Province Central’s score of 249 in the match played at the CCC ground.
A five wicket haul by Binura Fernando and a half ton by Pathum Nissanka helped Western Province North end day one in a strong position against Uva Province in the match played at the Sooriyawewa Stadium.