Lalith Athulathmudali Trophy takes up residence at CIS

Colombo International school defeated Wycherley school by 43 runs in their annual Big Match that was played for the 21st consecutive year at the D.S. Senanayake ground on Saturday and with it the Lalith Athulathmudali Challenge Trophy takes up residence at the CIS for this year.

Wycherley were hoping to win this year’s match as well as the were winers in 2015 and 2016 and this year’s win would have given them a hat-trick.

Winning the toss and taking first lease of the turf, CIS posted a respectable 210 for nine wickets before the run-out of overs.

Ashan Gonagala 34, Adavan Pushparaj 45, Akmal Hassan 21 and Gaveen Amunugama 34 played themselves in but failed to stay long enough to builtdbigger score.

Given a target of 211 to chase for victory, Tariq Hanif 21, Nusrif Nisthar 29 and Rasaraad Rushdi put Wycherley on track, but then came three suicidal runouts Abdulla Faiz, Breford Fernando and Shennon Ruhunehewa) that virtually presented the game to CIS.

When the last wicket fell, CIS run-out winners by a comfortable 67 runs.

Of the four special awards that were up for grabs CIS players were awarded three. Advan Pushparaj (best batsman), Akmal Hassan (best bowler) and Amrie Hassan (the player of the final).

Shennon Ruhunuhewa of Wycherley was adjudged the best fielder. At the awards ceremony, Tariq Haniff of Wycherley was awarded a special trophy for having played in seven consecutive Big Matches. CIS 210 for 9 in 50 overs (Ashan Gonagala 34, Gaven Nanayakkara 12, Nethan Nimalasiri 15, Advan Pushparajah 45, A. Siddiqui 15, Akmal Hasan 21, Gaveen Amunugama 34, Shuhail Yaseen 2 for 31, Shennon Ruhunuhewa 2 for 27). Wycherley 143 in 42.1 overs (Tariq Hanif 21, Nusrif Nishtar 29, Rasaraad Rushdi 26, Abdul Faiz 12, Amrie Hassan 2 for 23, Akmal Hassan 3 for 32) -BM