Janith and Duranga steer STC Kotte to four-wicket win
Pahan Kaluarachchi (STC Kotte) in action
Eighty eight runs off 67 balls with sixteen hits to the ropes by skipper Janith Perera and an unbeaten 30 off 65 balls by Duranga Piyushan helped St Thomas College Kotte register a four wicket win over Ananda College ‘B’ in their under 17 division II cricket first round encounter played at Ananda Mawatha.
In a match reduced to 47 overs per side due to damp ground conditions Ananda elected to bat first but were restricted to 182 runs in 36.1 overs. Anuga Jayaweera who opened the innings scored 25 runs while an 84 run 5th wicket partnership between Abhishek Weerage 45 off 40 balls (7 fours and a six) and skipper Senan Godellage 35 off 26 balls (3 fours and 2 sixes) were the main contributors to the score.
Manuja Morawaka bowling right arm medium pace was rewarded with four wickets while Pahan Kaluarachchi and wily left arm spin bowler Jevan David captured two wickets each.
Ananda bowlers had the Kotte Thomians in trouble on 7/2 and 55/4 but a 95 run 5th wicket partnership between Janith and Duranga took them within reach of victory and qualify for the next round. Vinuka Damsith and Abhishek Weerage captured three wickets each.
Ananda ‘B’ 182 in 36.1 overs (Anuga Jayaweera 25, Abhishek Weerage 45, Senan Godellage 35, Pahan Kaluarachchi 2/39, Manuja Morawaka 4/47, Jeevan David 2/16)
STC Kotte 184/6 in 38 overs (Janith Perera 88, Duranga Piyushan 30 not out, Vinuka Damsith 3/30, Abhishek Weerage 3/55)