Zahira emerge champs in their own tournament
It was a memorable day for Zahira College Maradana who is celebrating their 12th year of existence when they emerged champions in their own Zahira Invitation Six a Side schools cricket tournament when they defeated Wesley by 22 runs in the final played at Zahira ground Maradana yesterday.
The comfortable win was initiated by opener Nizki Ahamed who slammed a 15 ball knock of 58 inclusive of a boundary and seven towering sixes and also put on an opening stand of 68 runs with Mohamed Zaman which helped the home team make a formidable score of 70. Wesley in their run chase were no where near the target as they lost two quick wickets in the first two overs which saw them falling back and were able to muster only 48 runs in the allotted five overs.Nizki for his sterling performance in the two day tournament was fittingly awarded the best batsman and the man of series award while his team mate Mohamed Ilham was adjudged the best fielder and Wesley’s Migari Wickramasinghe taking the best bowlers prize. Yesterday’s Results: Second Round - Thurstan 48 for 0 in 4.2 overs (Minhaj Jaleel 33 n.o., Kavindu Kulasekera 15 n.o.) beat St Joseph’s 46 for 4 in 5 overs (Sadeera Samarawickrama 19 n.o.: Rajitha Perera 2 for 11). Wesley 50 for 4 in 5 overs (Ashel Kariyawasam 15: Shifan Muthaliph 2 for 6) beat DSS 37 for 3 in 5 overs (Harith Maduwantha 14). President’s Rajagiriya 39 for 2 in 4.1 overs (Viraj Dananjaya 27 n.o.: Shehan Chathuranga 2 for 4) beat Maris Stella 36 for 3 in 5 overs (Ashan Madusanka 14). Veluwana MV 55 for 0 in 5 overs (Usith Upamal 31 n.o., Samila Nadesh 22 n.o.) beat Prince of Wales 54 for 2 in 5 overs (Sudika Fernando 25, Kusal Mendis 14 n.o.). Zahira ‘A’ 43 for 2 in 5 overs (Nikzi Ahamed 20, Mohamed Zaman 14 n.o.) beat St Benedict’s 21 for 5 in 4 overs (Mohamed Ilham 2 for 1, Nizki Ahamed 2 for 2).
Quarter Finals – Richmond beat Lumbini MV on bowl out system after the match was called off due to bad light. President’s Rajagiriya 47 for 2 in 5 overs (Viraj Dandeniya 23: Achintha Kalpana 2 for 4) beat Thurstan 44 for 1 in 5 overs (Minhaj Jaleel 18). Wesley 46 for 0 in 2.2 overs (Migara Wickramasinghe 24 n.o.) beat Veluwana MV 35 for 5 in 5 overs (Migara Wickramasinghe 2 for 6, Basith Muzammil 2 for 8).
Semi Finals – Wesley 53 for 3 in 3.5 overs (Tharindu Karunaratne 22 n.o.) beat Richmond 49 for 3 in 5 overs (A.K. Tyron 20). Zahira ‘A’ 82 for 4 in 5 overs (Nizki Ahamed 45, Shehan Weerasinghe 14) beat President’s Rajagiriya 45 for 5 in 4.1 overs (Mohamed Raihan 2 for 13).
Final – Zahira ‘A’ 70 for 2 in 5 overs (Nizki Ahamed 58) beat Wesley 48 for 3 in 5 overs (Migara Wickramasinghe 23: Shehan Weerasinghe 2 for 2)