S. Thomas’ cruise to third outright win
S. Thomas’ cruised through to their third outright win of the ongoing Under 19 inter-school cricket season with a crushing innings and 37 runs win over President’s Rajagiriya in the match concluded at Mt Lavinia yesterday.
The writing was on the wall for President’s Rajagiriya when play ended on day one as the Thomians was all set for the kill having dominated the proceedings.
Royal College bowler Lasith Embuldeniya who ran through the Mahinda batting in action. Pic by Ranjith Perera.
President’s Rajagiriya lasted only the morning session of play on the second day yesterday as they were bundled out within a space of just under 29 overs.
Resuming from their overnight score of 19 for 5 they were left with a daunting task erasing a further 101 runs with only the tail end batting left. Dual purpose spinner Tharindu Ratnayake who ended with a four wicket haul on day one added another scalp having done the bulk of the bowling.
The President’s Rajagiriya batsmen had little to offer as apart from Malsha Jayawardena and Sakuna Fernando the others failed to make any impression. Tharindu was supported by Sachitha Jayatilleke who bagged two wickets as the duo combined to bowl out their opponents to a score of 83 with the Thomians home for lunch.
The foundation for the Thomian win was laid by pacie Senal de Silva who with a seven wicket haul (7/29) ran through the opponents’ batting in the first innings to skittle them out for 86.
S. Thomas’ in their turn had an inauspicious start as they lost their first wicket in the fifth ball of the first over for no runs. But they were steered by a second wicket stand of 77 runs between Rashmika Opatha and Nipuna Gamage.
Rashmika was the next to go having made a blistering 47 ball knock of 79 inclusive of eight boundaries and five towering sixes. Later Chenutha Wickramasinghe the batsman in form hit a 48 ball 55 with two boundaries and four sixes
The Thomians going in for quick runs lost wickets at regular intervals but even then they made a score of 206 in only 33 overs and put themselves in line to record their third outright win which they achieved it with ease.
Royal too coasted to an innings and 20 runs win over the hapless Mahinda Galle in the match played at Reid Avenue.
The home team was sitting pretty when play stopped for the lunch break on the second day yesterday.
They had the Mahindians struggling for survival after Royal had declared their innings on their overnight score of 155 for 1. Royals score came on the back of two fine knocks by Hasitha Samarasinghe (64) Navin Vidanapathirana (80 n.o.).
Mahinda batting the second time with a deficit of 102 runs was made to struggle for their runs and was badly place on 63 for 6 during the lunch break but succumbed thereafter as they lost the remaining four wickets for the addition of only 19 runs being bowled out for another low score of 82.
Harith Samarasinghe who ended with impressive figures of 4 for 20 along with Lasith Embuldeniya and Himesh Ramanayake who together shared five wickets did the damage.
The first day’s proceedings was hampered by bad light with the match being called off at 3.30 p.m. Mahinda taking first lease of the wicket was mesmerized by the bowling trio Embuldeniya, Himesh Ramanayake and Harith Samarasinghe being shot out for a low score of 53.
At Mt Lavinia – S. Thomas’ beat President’s Rajagiriya by innings and 37 runs
President’s Rajagiriya 86 (Navod Kalansuriya 33: Senal de Silva 7 for 29) and (19/5 overnight) 83 (Malsha Jayawardena 22, Sakuna Fernando 16: Tharindu Ratnayake 5 f or 31, Sachitha Jayatilleke 2 for 11)
S. Thomas’ 206 (Rashmika Opatha 79, Chenutha Wickramasinghe 55, Nipuna Gamage 21, Sachitha Jayatilleke 17: Nethmini Kodippili 4 for 57, Sakuna Fernando 3 for 34, Savindu Gamage 2 for 32)
At Reid Avenue – Royal beat Mahinda by innings and 20 runs.
Mahinda Galle 53 (Lasith Embuldeniya 4 for 22, Himesh Ramanayake 3 for 20, Harith Samarasinghe 2 for 6) and 82 (Harith Samarasinghe 4 for 20, Lasith Embuldeniya 3 for 25, Himesh Ramanayake 2 for 12)
Royal 155 for 1 declared (Hasitha Samarasinghe 64, Navin Vidanapathirana 80 n.o.)