Naveen and Charana were the Big Match draws
Isipathana captain Sanjula Abeywickrema is caught behind off Navin Gunawardena Pic by Ranjith Perera
Thurstan’s pair left arm spinner Naveen Gunawardena and Charana Nanayakkara shone in the drawn 54th Battle of the Brothers annual big match against traditional rivals Isipathana which concluded at the SSC ground yesterday.
Naveen who ended with a five wicket haul in Isipathana’s first inning grabbed three more wickets to end with a match bag of eight wickets while Charana made twin half tons having rescued Thurstan with a 58 in the first inning and then followed it up with a 55 in the second innings and also bageged four scalps in Isipathana’s first inning.
Though the outcome of the match was visible at the end of the first session of play yesterday the Thurstanites dominated proceedings and had Isipathana struggling for survival.
The second day’s play saw Naveen and Charana running through the Isipathana batting with the duo sharing nine wickets to bowl them out for 141 from their overnight score of 78 for 3.
Thurstan batting the second time going in for quick runs though losing wickets at regular intervals declared their innings on 131 for 7 which left Isipathana a modest chase of 219 runs but they opted to go on the defensive before ending the day on 68 for 6.
Scoreboard
Thurstan 1st innings 228 (Charana Nanayakkara 58, Kasun Abeyratne 43, Navod Samarakoon 34, Nimesh Lakshan 34, Nipun Lakshan 26: Lahiru Dilshan 3 for 47, Neranjan Wanniarachchi 3 for 66)
Isipathana 1st innings (78/3 overnight)
Kalana Perera c A’ratne b N’kara 20
Harsha Ratnayake run out 16
Heshan Fernando c S’koon b G’wardena 10
Pathum Nissanka c Prabash b N’kara 17
Sanjula A’wickrama c Prabash b G’wardena 27
Ayana Siriwardena lbw b N’kara 13
Sanjula Bandara b G’wardena 05
Leashan Amarasinghe b G’wardena 10
Neranjan Wanniarachchi c A’ratne b N’kara 04
Lahiru Dilshan c N’kara b G’wardena 02
Lisura Veenath not out 05
Extras (b1, lb1, nb5, w5) 12
Total (all out: 44.1 overs) 141
Fall of wickets: 1-40, 2-42, 3-72, 4-78, 5-94, 6-101, 7-122, 8-127, 9-136, 10-141.
Bowling: Charana Nanayakkara 19-1-71-4, Nipin Lakshan 4-0-24-0, Yeshan Wickramasinghe 1-0-7-0, Naveen Gunawardena 16.1-4-33-5, Sawan Prabash 4-3-4-0.
Thurstan 2nd innings
Kasun Abeyratne c Nissanka b Dilshan 07
Yeshan W’singhe c Fernando b W’rachchi 03
Imesh Viranga c Nissanka b W’arachchi 07
Prageesha Mendis c Nissanka b S’wardena 12
Charana Nanayakkara b S’wardena 55
Navod S’koon c A’wickrama b W’arachchi 15
Nipun Lakshan c W’arachchi b S’wardena 06
Nimesh Lakshan not out 06
Sawan Prabash not out 07
Extras (b9, nb3, w1) 13
Total (wickets 7 declared: 34 overs) 131
Fall o f wickets: 1-5, 2-13, 3-17, 4-46, 5-102, 6-114, 7-121.
Bowling: Neranjan Wanniarachchi 12-0-59-3, Lahiru Dilshan 12-1-34-1, Ayana Siriwardena 10-2-29-3.
Isipathana 2nd innings
Pathum Nissanka c and b G’wardena 10
Harsha Ratnayake lbw b G’wardena 01
Kalana Perera c sub b G’wardena 09
Heshan Fernando lbw b Madusanka 12
Sanjula Abeywickrama b Madusanka 13
Ayana Siriwardena run out 08
Sanjula Bandara not out 08
Leshan Amarasinghe not out 02
Extras (b1, lb4) 05
Total (wickets 6: 26 overs) 68
Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-18, 3-27, 4-43, 5-54, 6-54.
Bowling: Charana Nanayakkara 3-0-10-0, Naveen Gunawardena 13-3-31-3, Thushal Madusanka 10-4-22-2.