Right Royal humble pie
St. Peter’s recorded a thrilling eight-wicket win over Royal in their Under-19 Inter-School cricket encounter concluded at Bambalapitiya yesterday.
Royal batting duo Naveen Vidanapathirana and Geeshanth Panditharatne almost denied the Peterites’ victory with their stubborn batting while facing an innings defeat, but right-arm off-spinner Vinu Mohotti’s bowling stood in their way. Mohotti bagged a haul of 6 for 85 while Thaneesha Weerakone put the icing on the cake by finishing with figures of 3 for 35.
The poor batting performance by the Royalists, who made only 138 runs in their first innings, gave St. Peter’s, who made a challenging score of 284 the edge on day one.
Left-am spinner Ashanth Malka claimed four scalps for St. Peter’s as Royal succumbed to an away defeat
Royal’s batting debacle began on day one when they lost three wickets with just 19 runs on the board. They never recovered when play began on day two.
St. Peter’s standing on a lead of 154 runs sent the Royalists to bat again. Even though they fared a bit better the second time around their late order batting crumbled in the latter stages despite a fighting knock of 85 coming from Panditharatne. They were bowled out for 193.
This left the Peterites a run chase of 48 runs from 11 overs which they achieved in 4.5 overs as Chandula Jayamanne guided them with an unbeaten knock of 25.
Thurstan cruised through to their fourth outright win with a crushing ten-wicket win over Maliyadeva in the match concluded at the Thurstan ground.
It was their left-arm spinner Naveen Gunawardena’s six-wicket haul which laid the foundation for their win on day one and he was supported by right-arm spinner Ayesh Weeraratne, who impressed with a six-wicket haul on day two.
Besides the two bowlers they were spearheaded by skipper Thimira Jayasinghe who slammed a ton. Isuru Fernando and Charana Nanayakkara also batted well to post half centuries. D.S. Senanayake was too good for President’s Rajagiriya whom they outclassed by an innings and 54 runs in the match concluded at Wijerama Mawatha.
The writing was in the wall for President’s Rajagiriya when play ended on the first day as they were badly placed on 61 for 5. The resumption on day two saw Thimila Vaidyasekera along with Shifran Muthaliph and Uvin Bandara combining to bowl them out for just 118 runs.
The opening day’s play saw DSS taking the first lease of the wicket helped by half tons from Uvin Bandara, Thimila Vaidyasekera and Akeel Inham making a score of 320 for 9 declared.
President’s Rajagiriya made to follow on with a daunting task of erasing a 202 runs found Shifran Muthaliph, who ended with figures of 7 for 37, too hot to handle and succumbed to a score of 148.
Ananda had to be satisfied with a first innings win over Dharmaraja in the match concluded at Ananda Mawatha. Ananda taking first lease of the wicket on the opening day ended their innings with a score of 311 for 9 declared with Nipun Chandimal and Dilanka Sandaken making half tons.
Nalanda had a narrow escape against S. Thomas’ in the match concluded at Campbell Place. The highlight of the second day’s play was the eight-wicket haul by Thomian spinner Tharindu Ratnayake,
Carey registered a close first inning win over Anuradhapura Central in the match concluded at Dalupotha. Carey batting first made 220 and then restricted their opponent’s to a score of 201.
Mahinda have already taken a first innings lead over Dharmapala on day one at Galle while Ramindu Nikeshala made a 122 which helped Devapathiraja MV post a formidable score of 395 against Sri Sumangala Panadura who ended day one on 22 for no loss in the match began at Panadura Esplanade.
At Bambalapitiya: St. Peter’s beat Royal by 8 wickets
St. Peter’s 284 (Basil Rodrigo 66, Chandula Jayamanne 66, Didulana Medis 57, Manelka de Silva 31: Chamika Karunaratne 3 for 26, Himesh Ramanayake 2 for 27, Randev Pathirana 2 for 52) and 48 for 2
Royal (19/3 overnight) 138 (Naveen Vidanapathirana 43, Harith Samarasinghe 34, Tiran Dhanapala 25: Ashanth Malka 4 for 47, Chandula Jayamanne 3 for 21) and 193 (Naveen Vidanapathirana 85, Geeshanth Panditharatne 37, Randev Pathirana 21: Vinu Mohotti 6 fo 85, Taneesha Weerakoon 3 for 35)
At Thurstan: Thurstan beat Maliyadeva by 10 wickets
Maliyadeva 174 (Sachintha Peiris 61, Keshan Wijeratne 41: Naveen Gunawardena 6 for 38, Thimira Jayasinghe 2 for 26, Ayesh Weeraratne 2 for 34) and 113 (Prabath Keppetipola 36: Ayesh Weeraratne 6 for 50, Naveen Gunawardena 4 for 48)
Thimira Jayasinghe's 111 steered Thurstan to their fourth outright victory - Pix by Ranjith Perera
Thurstan (129/2 overnight) 281 for 5 declared (Thimira Jayasinghe 111, Isuru Fernando 75, Charana Nanayakkara 58: Lakshan Somaweera 2 for 21) and 8 for no loss
At Wijerama Mawatha: DSS beat President’s Rajagiriya by innings and 54 runs
DSS 320 for 9 declared (Uvin Bandara 87, Thimila Vaidyasekera 81, Akeel Inham 73: Sakuna Fernando 3 for 29, Chamod Wickremasuriya 3 for 78)
President’s Rajagiriya (61/5 overnight) 118 (Kanishka Perera 29: Thimila Vaidyasekera 4 for 54, Shifran Muthaliph 3 for 1, Uvin Bandara 3 for 3 for 55) and 148 (Kanishka Perera 53: Shifran Muthaliph 7 for 37)
At Ananda Mawatha: Match drawn
Ananda 311 for 9 declared (Nipun Chandimal 62, Dilanka Sandaken 55: Wenuka Galahitiyawa 4 for 131, Ruchira Pupullewatte 3 for 71)
Dharmaraja (37/1 overnight) 190 (Kavinda Ratnayake 77: Sammu Ashan 4 for 63, Isuru Dileepa 3 for 35) and 125 for 9 (Deshan Gunasinghe 40: Sammu Ashan 5 for 45, Isuru Dileepa 2 for 32)
At Campbell Place: Match drawn
S. Thomas’ 286 (Nipuna Gamage 80, Yohan Mendis 50, Tharindu Ratnayake 42, Sachitha Jayatilleke 23, Shenal de Silva 23, Kanishka Perera 20: Malinga Amarasinghe 4 for 63, Ayantha de Silva 3 for 47, Lakshitha Rasanja 2 for 29)
Nalanda (26/5 overnight) 80 (Dasun Seneviratne 27: Helakamal Nanayakkara 3 for 9, Shenal de Silva 3 for 35, Tharindu Ratnayake 2 for 22) and 156 for 9 (Thanura Hettiarachchi 32, Malinga Amarasinghe 25: Tharindu Ratnayake 8 for 70)
At Dalupotha:
Carey (203/8 overnight) 220 (Sachin Madusanka 90: Chandula Bandara 5 for 61, Rasika Prabath 2 for 7)
Anuradhapura Central 201 (Buddika Dharmasena 62: Ranush Deemantha 4 for 55)
At Galle:
Dharmapala 144 (Himasha Liyanage 51, Tharindu Maduwantha 39: Pasindu Dilshan 5 for 40, Sachika Udara 3 for 34)
Mahinda 174 for 5 (Ishara Akalanka 50, Pasindu Menaka 37, Tharuka Samarawickrama 34, Sachika Udara 22 n.o.: Pasindu Keshan 3 for 33)
At Panadura:
Devapathiraja MMV Ratgama 395 (Ramindu Nikeshala 122, Umesh Kasun 40, Thisara Dilshan 40, Prasanna Karunawansa 30, Sasindu Sathsara 25, Nilanka Rukshitha 20, Raveen Yasas 17: Nipuna Deshan 3 for 46, Sewinda Sulakshana 2 for 90, Lahiru Vimukthi 2 for 125)
Sri Sumangala Panadura 22 for no loss
St. Anthony’s down St. John’s Panadura by nine wickets
By Aubrey Kuruppu
The Anthonians scored their second win of the season when they defeated St. John’s Panadura by nine wickets at Katugastota. In achieving it, the winners made do with a moderate first innings total of 225.
The Antonian heroes were off spinner Dilan Bandara and left armer Uditha Mahindraratne who had match bags of 9 for 83 and 7 for 60 respectively.
Sithum Telpe was the shining light for the Panadura team with a determined 125 ball knock of 64. He had four fours and a six.
Following on 105 runs behind, the visitors had to thank Kavindu Kularatne (44) andNadun Dharshan (36) for taking the match into the last hour.
St. Anthony’s 225 and 15 for 1 in 6.3 overs
St. John’s Panadura 120 in 47.5 overs (Sithum Telpe 64; Uditha Mahindaratne 2 for 18, Dilan Bandara 5 for 42, Buvaneka Wijetunga 2 for 14) and 119 in 57.1 overs (Kavindu Kularatne 44, Nadun Dharshan 36; Uditha Mahindaratne 5 for 42, Dilan Bandara 4 for 41)
Isipathana hold Trinity to a draw
A highly motivated Isipathana team batted back to hold Trinity to a draw and thus put an end to their latter’s sequence of wins.
Trinity, resuming at 106 for 6 were able to get a lead of30 on the first innings. Pacie Shehan Sandaruwan and left armer Chameera Dissanaike bagged 4 and 3 respectively.
Pramud Maduwantha (76, 7 fours) and Sanjula Abeywickrema (33) dug in and fought back tenaciously to take their team to a position of safety. Later Visad Randika made a neat 27.
Raveen Sayer took the bowling honours second time around with 4 for 88. He had a match bag of 6 for 130. Trinity had no time to go after the target of 183, and in the ten overs that were played they rushed to 48 for no loss.
Isipathana 119 in 47 overs (SalindaVishan 34, Vishad Randika 23, Chameera Dissanaike 18; Duvindu Tillekeratne 4 for 46, Raveen Sayer 2 for42, Lahiru Kumara 2 for 29,Pramodaya Abeykoon 2 for 30).
Trinity 106 for 6 contd, 149 in 46.4 overs (Naveen Ekanayake 23, Raveen Sayer 20;Shehan Sandaruwan 4 for 42, Chameera Dissanaike 3 for 33)
Isipathana 212 in 75 overs (Pramud Maduwantha 76, Sanjula Abeywickrema 33, Vishad Randika 27; Raveen Sayer 4 for 88, Lahiru Kumara 2 for 20, Dilan Jayalath 2 for 1) and 48 for no loss in 10 overs (Nushan Weerasinghe 14 n.o, Arjuna Jayasinghe 22 n.o.)