Western Province Central bags title SLC Under-19 Inter-Provincial Cricket
View(s):Western Province Central beat Western Province North by 15 runs to clinch the Sri Lanka Cricket Under-19 Inter-Provincial Cricket Championship in the final played at the CCC ground last weekend. Western Province Central elected to bat first posted 225 runs and returned to restrict Western Province North for 209 runs in a match that turned out to be a cliffhanger.
Top order batsman Kamil Mishra helped Western Province Central make a perfect comeback after losing a couple of early wickets. Kamil struck 72 runs after facing 98 deliveries inclusive of five boundaries and two massive sixes while associating in a valuable partnership of 98 runs with Pasindu Sooriyabandara for the third wicket. Pasindu on the other hand hit 56 runs with four fours and a six.
Avishka Tharindu captured three wickets while Ravindu Fernando picked two scalps.Chasing a moderate target of 226 in 50 overs WP North had early hiccups and eventually finished off at 209-9 in their allotted 50 overs. Mohamed Samaas top scored for the losers with a fluent 49 and he partnered with skipper Ashan Fernando, who made 34, to put on 86 runs for the second wicket. After the pair was dispersed, WP North lost wickets at regular intervals and were badly placed at 110-5 with 16 overs remaining.
A late strike by Avishka Tharindu and Ravindu Fernando, who put on 53 runs for the seventh wicket and another unbroken stand of 53 runs for the ninth wicket between Chamika Gunasekara and Pasindu Ushetti could not prevent WP North from succumbing to a defeat.
Sonal Dinusha picked four wickets conceding 22 runs and Dunith Wellalage claimed two scalps to help WP Central, record a thrilling 15-run win. Western Province Central 225 all out in 48.4 overs (Kamil Mishara 72, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 56, Avishka Perera 30, Sithara Hapuhinna 15, Avishka Tharindu 3 for 39, Ravindu Fernando 2 for 36, Avishka Tharindu 2 for 47)
Western Province North 209 for 9 wickets in 50 overs (Mohamed Samaas 49, Ashan Fernando 34, Avishka Tharindu 32, Ravindu Fernando 28, Kevin Perera 17, Chamika Gunasekera 16n.o., Sonal Dinusha 4 for 22, Dunith Wellalage 2 for 40)
The victorious Western Province Central team - Pic courtesy SLC