24TH BATTLE OF KELANIYA Gurukula MV dominate proceedings
Gurukula MV Kelaniya dominated the proceedings in the morning session of play on day two in their 24th Battle of Kelaniya against home town rivals Dharmaloka MV Kelaniya played at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
When play stopped for lunch on the second day Gurukula MV had laid the foundation to record an outright victory as they had Dharmaloka MV struggling for survival with the score on 79 for 4.
The first days saw Gurukula MV restricting Dharmaloka MV to a score of 115 and ending the day on 117 for 5. Gurukula MV resuming from their overnight score went on to make 200.
It was overnight batsman Lisula Lakshan who was unbeaten on 50 who gave his side a substantial lead, Lisula was unfortunate to miss out on a ton making a 84 which came off 158 balls and had eight boundaries.
He also put on a valuable 56 runs stand for the sixth wicket when Gurukula MV was struggling on 103 for 5. This incidentally was the best partnership of the innings. Dharmaloka MV batting the second time with a deficit of 85 runs again underwent almost the same fate as in the first inning. They lost the first four wickets with the score just 46 runs on the board before Sulaj Gayashan and Gayan Geethanjana held on till
the lunch break for a score of 79 for 4.
It was overnight batsman Lisula Lakshan who was unbeaten on 50 who gave his side a substantial lead, Lisula was unfortunate to miss out on a ton making a 84 which came off 158 balls and had eight boundaries
The post lunch session is going to be crucial for Dharmaloka MV as facing the opponents attack for two more sessions comprising of skipper Roshan Anuruddha, Hashan Dumindu, Nalin Perera and Namal Pathum is no doubt going to be a daunting task.
Likewise Gurukula MV who came into the game as favourites will no doubt go all out to fulfill their aim of ending the inter-school on a winning note and that too against their traditional rivals.
Dharmaloka MV Kelaniya 115 (Tharindu Madusanka 29, Janith Madushan 20: Roshan Anuruddha 3 for 29, Hashan Dumindu 2 for 13, Nalin Perera 2 for 15) and 79 for 4 (Tharindu Madusanka 22, Sulaj Gayashan 26 n.o., Gayan Geethanjana 23 n.o.)
Gurukula MV (117/5 overnight) 200 (Lisula Lakshan 84, Hashan Dumindu 20, Nalin Perera 20, Namal Pathum 17: Ravindu Thivanka 4 for 31, Janaka Pathum 2 for 30, Gayan Geethanjana 2 for 46)