Defiant Ashen, Dewmina save St. John’s from defeat
Thimira Malshan of Ananda Sastralaya made an elegant 73 - Pic by Priyantha Wickramaarachci
A fighting unfinished seventh wicket partnership between Dewmina Ekanayake (11 n.o.) and Ashen Milinda (20 n.o.) deprived Ananda Sasthralaya, Kotte of their 3rd victory in the Battle of Sri Jayawardenapura series at the R. Premadasa International Stadium yesterday.
In the 22nd cricket encounter between St. John’s College, Nugegoda and Ananda Sasthralaya, Kotte commenced on Friday with St. John’s posting 188 (65.5 overs) in their first innings. Skipper Nuraj Prasanga top scored with an elegant 84 which included seven hits to the ropes. Sanjaya Selvakumar played a good supporting role to the skipper to score 36. It was left-arm spinner Venuk Hettiarachchi who enjoyed a good match bagging six wickets for 28. He received a good support from the other end from Isuru Avinda capturing three for 55. Hettiarachchi ended the match with a match bag of ten wickets for 77 runs.
Ananda Sasthralaya continued their innings from their overnight score of 3 for 73 went on to put on a respectable score of 278 in 65.3 overs. Sonara Karunatunga, a stylish left-hander top scored with 83 off 57 deliveries consisting of ten hits to the ropes and one six. Thimira Malshan played a captain’s role to contribute 73 coming off in 60 balls including five fours and four sixes. Mithila Pooranajith and Thanusha Sandaruwan bowled best to capture 3 for 61 and 3 for 62 respectively.
Batting second time with 90 runs behind the Johnians were badly placed with 6 wickets down for 80 runs. Then came the match saving partnership by Dewmina Ekanayake and Ashen Milinda who carried on till play was called off with six mandatory overs remaining. Venuk Hettiarachchi was the most successful bowler again to capture 4 for 49. St. John’s were 114 for 6 when play called off due to bad light in the 13th mandatory over.
Chief Scores
St. John’s-188 (65.5) (Nuraj Prasanga 84, Sanjaya Selvakumar 36, Venuk Hettiarachchi 6 for 28, Isuru Avinda 3 for 55) and114 for 6 (Theshan Malinda 22, Dewmina Ekanayake 11 n.o., Ashan Milinda 20 n.o. Venuk Hettiarachchi 4 for 49, Chamindu Sathmina 1 for 7)
Ananda Sasthralaya 278 for 9 (65.3) (Sonara Karunatunga 83, Isuru Avinda 27, Kushan Dabare 21, Thimira Malshan 73, Mithila Poorajith 3 for 61, Thanusha Sandaruwan 3 for 62)