Devapathiraja lasses make their school proud

Devapathiraja College, Ratgama, an allround side led by inspiring leader Pooja Rashmi emerged champions at the inaugural All Island Under 17 Girls cricket tournament, organised by the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association and collaborated by Sri Lanka Cricket at Thurstan Grounds last Wednesday.

In this well organised tournament, Devapathiraja College met Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda in the finals played on a 30-over per side basis. The lasses from the Southern City showed their prowess in all departments of the game which enabled them to score an easy 88 run victory. Never allowing the opponents to take liberty they battled the hardest way in batting, bowling and fielding to dominate the game right from the start.

Having the luck of the coin to take first lease of the wicket Devapathiraja posted a formidable total of 171 in 29.4 overs. “Miss Reliable” Kaveesha Dilhari top scored with a well polished 52 off 51 deliveries and was associated in two fruitful partnerships of 50 runs for the second wicket with Teleshiya Chaturangani (29) and 61 for the fourth wicket with Satya Sandeepani (30).

This elegant right handed batswoman batted with grace placing the ball into the gaps thus rotating the strike and collected her runs with ease. Janadi Anuli was the most successful Anulian bowler to capture 4 for 41 was well supported by Kavindya Dewmini ( 2/ 34) and Amasha Perera ( 2/ 28). Anula would have kept the southern city girls’ total to a reachable target if not for their pathetic fielding display in the last ten overs of the inning.

Chasing a victory target of 171, Anulians never found things easy against an on-the-spot bowling attack and well supported by smart fielding folded up for just 83 runs in 23 overs. Only Sewandi Kumarage showed some comfort in coping the Devapathiraja attack to be the top scorer with 21, looked helplessly to see the other batters departing from the other end at regular intervals. Spinner Satya Sandeepani bowled best to claim 4 for 11 while Sulesha Sathsarani (2/20) and Nilakshana Sandamini (2/9) made run getting difficult for the Anula lasses.

At the conclusion of the match the follow- ing awards were made by the Chief Guests, Kitsiri Liyanagamage, President of the SLSCA and Kushil Gunasekera, Vice President of SLC. – Lakshman Ranasinghe

Pix by Amila Gamage Harshika Madavi Dissanayake (Gotami Balika Vidyalaya) P.D. Satya Sandeepani (Devapathiraja College)

Kaveesha Dilhari (Devapathiraja College)

Janadi Anuli (Anula Vidyalaya)

Chief Scores:

(Teleshiya Chatarangi 29, Kaveesha Dilhari 52, Satya Sandeepani 30, Kavindya Dewmini 2 for 34, Amasha Perera 2 for 28, Janadi Anuli 4 for 41) (Sewandi Kumarage 21, Satya Sandeepani 4 for 11, Sulesha Sathsarani 2 for 20, Nilakshana Sandamini 2 for 9)

Gothami BV 121 for 3 in 15 overs; Vijayabahu MMV 44 for 8 in 15 overs.