Kavindu and Ramesh help St. Servatius to 24-run first innings lead
116th Battle of the Blues in Matara
A determined 80 runs off 125 balls with ten boundaries by wicket keeper batsman Kavindu Umesh and a half ton by Ramesh Nimantha helped St. Servatius College to a twenty four run first innings lead over St. Thomas’ College Matara in the 116th Battle of the Blues.
St. Thomas’ were 48/2 at the end of the second days play and the Servatians who have been starved of a win since 1971 would be looking forward to force a win by bundling out the Thomians for a low score when the match resumes today.
On being invited to bat first the gritty Thomians batted out more than two sessions to post a first innings score of 230. Chanuka Dilshan was the most successful Servatian bowler and was rewarded with a five wicket haul while Thilan Kumara captured two wickets.
The Servatians continuing from their overnight score of 37/2 were bowled out for 254 after tea. Praveen Madushan and Hashin Dilmal captured four wickets each.
STC 230 in 68.1 overs (Raminda Pravinath 83, Tharusha Kavindya 45, Nimantha Kavishwara 38, Mihisal Amodha 19, Akila Thiwanka 14, Chanuka Dilshan 5/73, Thilan Kumara 2/33) and 48/2 in 31 overs at stumps (day 2) (Ishan Jayawardena 13, Akila Thiwanka 17n.o, Nipun Achalanka 15 n.o.)
St. Servatius 254 in 67.5 overs (Sandaru Nethmina 20, Ramesh Nimantha 58, Kavindu Umesh 80, Ashen Deemantha 18, Rajantha Chandula 21, Chamil Dhananjaya 18, Hashin Dilmal 4/77, Praveen Madushan 4/91) – PDdeS