DSS EMERGE CHAMPS despite Sammu heroics

DS Senanayake College clinched the Singer U19 Schools Limited Over title despite Ananda skipper Sammu Ashan’s swashbuckling knock of 167 with a 42 run win in the final played at the P. Sara Stadium yesterday.

Ashan gave the opponents some anxious moments after DSS had taken things under control with Ananda reeling at 135 for 6 in the 23rd over in pursuit of 318 runs.

Ashan’s blistering knock came off just 103 balls and included 17 boundaries and nine towering sixes. He became the stumbling block for DSS as he took things under control and belted DSS bowling to all corners of the field but to no avail in the end.

From a hopeless position of 135 for 6 Ashan was associated in two fruitful partnerships first of 72 runs for the seventh wicket with Dilanka Sandakan and the other of 56 runs in just 35 balls for the eighth wicket with Asel Sigera.

As long as Ashan was at the crease the Anandians were in the game but his dismissal with the score on 263 hopes faded and as expected they lasted only nine runs being bowled out for 275.

Earlier in the day DSS being invited to take first lease of the wicket was given a flying start by openers Thimila Vaidyasekera and Kavin Bandara who together added 58 runs.

Vaidyasekera joined by Uvin Bandara were associated in another fruitful partnership with the pair putting on 64 runs before being separated with Uvin’s dismissal.

At the halfway stage of the innings DSS was well placed on 147 for 2 going at the rate of just under six runs an over. Vaidyasekera having made a run a ball made 62 that comprised nine boundaries and a six was the third DSS wicket to fall at 152.

Later useful knocks coming from Vishal Amugoda (40), skipper Harith Maduwantha (22), Torin Pitigala (49) and Shifran Muthaliph (25) enabled DSS to make a mammoth score of 317. In fact in the last ten overs DSS thrashed the Ananda bowling attack for 98 runs.

DSS last won the limited over title in the year 2003 under the captaincy of Sudeera Soysa when the side was coached by Sampath Perera who is the present coach of Trinity and spearheaded byAnuruddha Wijesekera chairman of the DSS cricket foundation.

A jubilant DSS coach Pasan Wanasinghe speaking to the ‘Daily Mirror’said that he was confident that the boys would lift the limited over title as they were determined and worked hard with dedication.