Randev, Harith shine for Royal in drawn match
The right and left arm spin combination of Randev Pathirana, who put in an all-round performance, and Harith Samarasinghe shone for Royal who dominated their drawn Under 19 inter-school cricket against St. Joseph’s which ended at Reid Avenue yesterday.
Randev first cracked a knock of 81 inclusive of six boundaries and four sixes and was involved in a valuable partnership of 102 runs for the fourth wicket with Navin Vidanapathira, who chipped in with 40, helping Royal taking first lease of the wicket make a modest 225.
Later Randev had the Josephians struggling for survival as he sent them reeling to 44 for 4 when play ended on day one. St. Joseph’s resuming on their overnight score had little to offer as they succumbed to Randev who was supported by Akshan Gajaba who grabbed three wickets for a low score of 118. Randev ended with impressive figures of 6 for 11.
St. Joseph’s made to follow on fared better as they frustrated the Royal bowlers for nearly two sessions with their putting in some resistance before left arm spinner Harith ended their innings on 214 with a six wicket haul (6/47) and Randev taking two to finish with a match bag of eight wickets. Royal chasing a target of 118 runs for victory in 13 overs was unfortunate despite Randev hitting an unbeaten 41 as they ended the game with a score of 91 for 3.
Moments before Ananda batsman Nisal Fransisco edged a Tharindu Ratnayake delivery to first slip Madushan Ravichandrakumar (far right) at Mt. Lavinia. Thomian spinner Ratnayake picked four wickets. - Pix by Ranjith Perera
Ananda managed to register a close first inning win over S. Thomas’ in the Under 19 match concluded at Mt Lavinia. Ananda resuming on their overnight score of three for no loss, went on to make a score of 206 with Pasindu Isira making a top knock of 55 in reply to Thomians 204.
Prince of Wales helped by half tons from Gayan Chamara and Shanuka Dulaj recorded a first inning win over Wesley in the match which ended at Campbell Park. The second day’s play saw Wesley resuming on their overnight score of 151 for 7 going on to make 180.
Prince of Wales in their turn made steady progress and made a declaration with the score on 203 for 7. Wesley batting the second time was made to struggle for their runs as they ended the day on 93 for 9 wickets.
D.S. Senanayake College, thanks to a knock of 74 by Harith Maduwantha, too registered a close first inning win over Nalanda in the match concluded at DSS ground in Wijerama Mawatha. DSS in reply to Nalanda’s 175 made 183.
Half tons by Manivanan Sinthurjan, Abraham Anojan, Rajasiripriya Pirishanker and Paramananthan Thuvarakaseelan enabled St. John’s Jaffna to record a comfortable first-inning win over Mahajana College Tellipalai in the match played at St. John’s ground in Jaffna.
The match between Bandaranayake MMV Gampaha and St. Aloysius Galle played at FTZ ground in Katunayake ended in a first inning win for Bandaranayake MMV who made 197 and restricted their opponents to 164.
At Reid Avenue: Match drawn
Royal 225 (Randev Pathirana 81, Navin Vidanapathirana 40, Thiran Dhanapala 29, Akshan Gajaba 25, Umesh Sooriyabandara 17: Fabian Fernando 4 for 62, Arvind Akurugoda 3 for 34, Hasindra Perera 2 for 56) and 91 for 3 (Harith Samarasinghe 22, Randev Pathirana 41 n.o.: Yashan Samarasinghe 2 for 36)
St. Joseph’s (44/4 overnight) 118 (Kalpa Ravihara 28, Trishan Tanuja 27: Randev Pathirana 6 for 11, Akshan Gajaba 3 for 28) and 214 (Dylan Fernandopulle 48, Yashan Samarasinghe 47, Pathum Madusanka 40, Arvind Akurugoda 24 n.o.: Harith Samarasinghe 6 for 47, Randev Pathirana 2 for 66)
At Mt Lavinia: Match drawn
S. Thomas’ 204 (Dhanush Peiris 46, Tharindu Ratnayake 37, Helakamal Nanayakkara 35, Madushan Ravichandrakumar 22: Isuru Gunaselera 5 for 60, Shammu Ashan 3 for 61) and 70 for 5 (Helakamal Nanayakkara 19 n.o.: Tharana Ravindu 3 for 18, Nipuna de Silva 2 for 20)
Royal spinner Harith Samarasinghe in action against St. Joseph’s
Ananda (3/0 overnight) 206 (Pasindu Isira 55, Thamalaka Athulathmudali 25, Dasun Wijesinghe 21, Tharana Ravindu 30 n.o.: Tharindu Ratnayake 6 for 61, Aftab Cader 2 for 27)
At Campbell Park: Match drawn
Wesley (151/7 overnight) 180 (Tharindu Karunaratne 45, Sachin Jayawardena 33, Jonathon Caderamanapulle 24: Gayan Chamara 4 for 37, Thilan Nimesh 4 for 41) and 93 for 9 (Sachin Jayawardena 53: Thilan Nimesh 6 for 21)
Prince of Wales 203 for 7 declared (Gayan Chamara 86, Shanuka Dulaj 51)
At DSS ground: Match drawn
Nalanda (126/5 overnight) 175 (Avishka de Silva 46, Pramud Hettiwatte 44, Senura Amarasinghe 22, Aroshana Kumara 21: Uvin Bandara 4 for 36, Osura Bulathsinhala 3 for 28, Praveen Pitigala 2 for 19) and 66 for 2 (Malinga Amarasinghe 16, I. Samarasinghe 17 n.o.)
DSS 183 (Harith Maduwantha 74, Akeel Inham 24, Thimila Vidyasekera 27, A. Inham 24: Madawa Fernando 5 for 48, Lahiru Wijeratne 2 for 15, Malinga Amarasinghe 2 for 33)
At Jaffna: Match drawn
Mahajana College Tellipalai 139 (T. Diloshan 47, K. Piranavan 22, T. Sarangan 17, P. Risoth 15: Raviendran Lohathieswar 8 for 35) and 105 for 6 (J. Mayooran 23, K. Piranavan 22, T. Sarangan 17: Raviendran Lohathieswar 2 for 25)
St. John’s Jaffna 289 for 6 declared (Manivanan Sinthurjan 67, Abraham Anojan 61, Rajasiripriya Pirishanker 55, Paramananthan Thuvarakaseelan 53, Sajenthiran Kabilaraj 30,: S. Pirashanth 2 for 12, P. Risoth 2 for 35, J. Mayooran 2 for 45)
At FTZ Katunayake: Match drawn
Bandaranayake MMV Gampaha 197 (Pasindu Jayasinghe 89, Sasiri Adhikari 55: Tharaka Gunawardhane 5 for 57, Ashan Madusanka 2 for 14) and 141 (Pasindu Madhusanka 57, Sasiri Adhikari 22, Vinod Srivinda 21: Chathuranga Kumara 3 for 39, Ashan Madhusanka 3 for 40, Tharaka Gunawardhane 2 for 37)
St. Aloysius Galle (116/5 overnight) 164 (Ashen Bandara 47, Navindu Nirmal 40, Ruchika Sandakelum 36: Dhanuka Lakshitha 2 for 2, Bhathiya Hettiarachchi 2 for 19, Minoi Senanayake 2 for 20, Rathsara Vithana 2 for 45, Wageesha Wanniarachchi 2 for 45) and 119 for 5 (Navindu Nirmal 33, Ashan Madhusanka 26: Dinindu Samodhana 3 for 33)
Dharmaraja beats St. Anthony’s on first innings
A brilliant defensive innings of 76 not out by Sapumal Tennekoon and a last wicket partnership of 75 between him and Venuka Galahitiyawa enabled Dharmaraja to score an exciting first innings win over St. Anthony’s at Katugastota.
Replying to the Antonian total of 198, the Rajans had declined to 154 for 9 when Tennekoon and Galahitiyawa began the rescue operation. Tennekoon, in particular, showed great maturity and controlled the situation admirably.
For the most part, the Antonian attack was in the hands of skipper Gunasinghe and left armer Mahindaratne. But neither could deliver the last crucial blow.
St. Anthony’s 198 and 31 for 3 (Pulasthi Bandara 16 n.o, Tennekoon 3 for 11)
Dharmaraja 18 for 1 contd 229 in 90.5 overs (Sapumal Tennekoon 76 n.o, Deeshan Gunasinghe 18, Ramesh Ranasinghe 19, Chandimal Silva 17, Jayapadma Tennekoon 21,Tharusha Weragoda 20, Venuka Galhitiyawa 24; Nimesha Gunasinghe 3 for 64, Uditha Mahindaratne 3 for 53, Kavinda Udapola 2 for 23) – AK