UNDER 19 T20 SEMI FINALS Akila steers Trinity to the final
An allround performance by Akila Jayasundara helped Trinity defeat Richmond by 35 runs in the first semi final encounter played at the CCC ground yesterday to advance to the final of the Under 19 inter-school T20 cricket tournament.
Akila came to his sides rescue when they were struggling on 39 for 4 in the sixth over with a timely unbeaten knock of 40. His knock which came in just 19 balls comprised two boundaries and three sixes.
Trinity skipper Niroshan Dickwella winning the toss and electing to take first lease of the wicket fell into deep trouble as they lost their first three wickets with just 11 runs on the board.
Trinity recovered after losing one more wicket through a fifth wicket stand of 50 runs between Ron Chandragupta and Dinuk Wickramanayake who made knocks of 30 and 32 respectively.
It was from here that Akila came to their rescue when he along with Rajitha Jayathunga put on a match winning stand of 55 runs for the seventh wicket enabling Trinity make a challenging score of 157 for 7.
Richmond in their run chase lost wickets at regular intervals. At the half way stage of the innings they were well behind the required run rate.
Despite an unbeaten knock of 36 coming from Hasitha Madushan who ran short of partners Richmond in the end were able to muster only 123 with Trinity who are the defending champions succeeding in qualifying to the final for the second successive year.
Trinity 157 for 7 in 20 overs (Dinuk Wickramanayake 32, Janishka Premasinghe 30, Ron Chandragupta 30, Rajitha Jayatunga 17, Akila Jayasundara 40 n.o.: A.K. Tyrone 2 for 19, Savin Nanayakkara 2 for 35)
Richmond 122 for 8 in 20 overs (Pabasara Waduge 31, Hasitha Madushan 36 n.o.: Akila Jayasundara 2 for 23)