Sri Sumangala to meet Mahanama in final
Sri Sumangala College XI and Mahanama College XI qualified to play in the final of the second successive Schools Old Boys Cricket Twenty20 Championship conducted at the Panadura Esplanade yesterday.
The star-studded Twenty20 tournament which featured a galaxy of national cricketers who represented and are in the present squads of the national stream, was represented the five leading cricket-playing schools from the Panadura area during their school career. At the time of going to press the final encounter played under lights for the Upali Suraweera Challenge Trophy was still in progress.
Royal Panadura XI players celebrate the wicket of Sri Sumangala XI player Kaushal Silva. - Pic by Amlia Gamage
Sri Sumangala XI booked their berth in the final after recording a thrilling 2-run win against Royal College Panadura in a low-scoring semi-final which went to the last wire. Batting first Sri Sumangala managed to post 114-9 with Dilruwan Perera top scoring 40 but a decent bowling display by off-spinner Buddhi Perera helped them in defending the total. Royal Panadura were restricted to 112-8.
The second semi-final too featured the similar excitement as the first clash as Mahanama College Panadura secured a thrilling 4-run victory against St. John’s College Panadura despite a superb bowling effort by off-spinner Thilanga Sudharshana who picked six wickets. Mahanama batting first were bundled out for 138 runs with 25 deliveries to spare. A hurricane knock of 60 runs by Nayana Priyanjana helped Mahanama reach a total which eventually became too challenging for St. John’s. Despite a good knock of 54 runs by former national cricketer Charitha Buddhika, St. John’s fell short of the victory target as they were restricted to 134-8 in the end. Mahanama earlier had to play a qualifying match against the fifth team of the competition; St. Anthony’s College Panadura and recorded a thumping 9-wicket win. St. Anthony’s batting first were bowled out for 56 runs. Mahanama made 62 for 1 in 5.2 overs to reach the semi-final stage.
Semi-final 1: Sri Sumangala XI beat Royal Panadura XI by 2 runs
Sri Sumangala XI 114 for 9 wickets (20) (Dilruwan Perera 40, Buddhi Perera 15, Chathura Silva 13, Anjula Perera 3 for 28)
Royal Panadura 112 for 8 wickets (20) (Chamara Silva 16, Sampath Deshabandu 21, Anjula Perera 16, Dinesh Sanjeewa 16, Buddhi Perera 4 for 24)
Semi-final 2: Mahanama XI beat St. John’s XI by 4 runs
Mahanama 138 all out (13.5) (Nayana Priyanjana 60, Hemantha Kumara 14, Thimira Nuwan 18, Thilanga Sudharshana 6 for 15, Yadeesha Diluk 3 for 19)
St. John’s 134 for 8 wickets (20) (Charitha Buddhika 54, Champika Udithakumara 22, Namal Jayalath 22, Sadeera Kumara 15, Hemantha Kumara 2 for 18, Kasun Madushanka 3 for 25)
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