NIKITHA GRERO CHALLENGE TROPHY TAKES UP RESIDENCE AT NUGEGODA
The Nikitha Grero Challenge Trophy took up residence at Nugegoda when Lyceum International School (LIS), Nugegoda defeated LIS Panadura in their second Annual ‘Big Match’ by 106 runs at the De Soysa Stadium. Panadura skipper Nesanda Weerasekera, did his side a great service when he beat Dewmin De Alwis to the toss. However, he virtually gifted the game to his opponents when he opted to field first.
The left handed duo of Gamitha Pawan and Vihanga Abeypitiya laid the foundation for a mansion of runs with an opening stand of 80. But both were dismissed with the score at 99 and it looked as if Panadura were regaining lost ground. However, right handed Vice Captain Pasindu Rajapakse found an ally in left handed Gayana Preethimal.
While Preethimal put the shutters up at one end, Rajapakse treated the vast crown to a magnificent batting display. His entertaining knock of 53 runs was inclusive of seven hits to the ropes and two soaring sixes. These two brought the Nugegoda score from 99 to 165 with a stand of 66 runs for the third wicket. Skipper De Alwis with an unbeaten 31 and Nisal Hettiarchchi with 19 added more muscle to the Nugegoda score before they ran out of overs to finish with a match winning total of 288 for nine wickets. The pick of the Panadura bowlers were, Vice Captain and left arm spinner Sithira Tennekoon (3/51) and right arm spinner Nimantha Ransilu (2/30).
Chasing that distant 289 for victory, Panadura got off to a disastrous start when they lost their first three batsmen for ‘ducks’ and the scoreboard read 3/10.
However, a stand of 65 runs between Isuru Perera (30) and Nesanda Weerasekera, the captain, boosted the score to 65 for the fourth wicket, when the weather gods decided to open up and play had to be stopped at 3.40pm with the Panadura total on 60 for three in the 20th over.
Play resumed at 4.20pm and Panadura were given a revised target of 245 runs to chase in 45 overs according to the Duckworth/ Lewis method. But the game was virtually over for the Panadura lads and the rest of the batting caved in for 139 runs to give Nugegoda a 106 run win and with it the Nikitha Grero Trophy.
The organisers left no stone unturned to a make the match a tremendous success. It was played in the true spirit of sportsmanship before a very large and appreciative crowd.
Brendon Kuruppu, the former Sri Lanka Test cricketer who honoured both teams by officiating as match referee, had no hesitation in picking Pasindu Rajapakse of Nugegoda as the Man of the Match. Nesanda Weerasekera of Panadura was adjudged the Best Batsman. Gayana Preethimal of Nugegoda won the award for the Best Bowler and Vihanga Abeypitiya of Nugegoda was the Best Fielder.
LIS Nugegoda 299 for 9 in 50 overs (G. Pawan 25, V. Abeypitiya 27, P. Rajapakse 53, G. Preethimal 17, D. De Alwis 31 n.o., N, Hettiarachchi 19, S. Tenekoon 3 for 51, N. Ransilu 2 for 30)
LIS Panadura 139 for 9 in 45 overs (Isuru Perera 30, N. Weerasekera 38, N. Kalupahana 20, L. Rajaratne 2 for 13, G. Preethimal 3 for 36, N. Hettiarachchi 2 for 22). (BM)