Bawantha shines in drawn encounter
Bawantha Jayasinghe hit 137 after claiming four wickets for Thurstan in the 57th Battle of the Brothers encounter - Pic by Priyantha Wickramaarachchi
Thurstan College allrounder Bawantha Jayasinghe’s feat of 137 in 133 deliveries and four wickets, against traditional rivals Isipathana College, will be the highlight in the future souvenirs of the ‘Battle of the Brothers’ as its 57th installment ended in a tame draw at the SSC ground in Colombo yesterday.
After claiming four Isipathana scalps on the first day, Jayasinghe walked in as the sixth batsman when Thurstan were struggling to cope up in response to their opponent’s total of 210, and produced a startling performance to sail his team through in style.
With the first innings of both teams restricted to 60 overs, Jayasinghe’s initial patience enabled him to tame Isipathana bowlers before being run out for 137. But by then he had accelerated and faced just 133 deliveries hitting 13 boundaries and two sixes, while guiding the lower order to build up three useful partnerships and help Thurstan post 284-9.
He first associated with Ranesh Silva (17) in a 46-run partnership for the sixth wicket, before pairing with Sanuth Nandinu (18) to add 42 runs for the seventh wicket. But the most striking partnership was the one that came for the ninth wicket – a timely 75 runs with Thineth Prabudda, who remained unbeaten on 37.
Isipathana were comfortable in batting through the remainder of the second day facing 68 overs and reach 205 runs for the loss of 4 wickets at close of play. Ravindu Ratnayake top scored with 87, after facing 140 deliveries and hitting six boundaries and two sixes.
Scores
- Isipathana 210 (59.2) (Savindu Uthsara 70, Leshan Amarasinghe 65, Saveen Dantha 19; Bawantha Jayasinghe 4/53, Dhananja Silva 2/33) and 205 for 4 wickets (68) (Leshan Amarasinghe 25, Ravindu Ratnayake 87, Lisura Vinath 38, Savindu Uthsara 24n.o.; Vishan Thewmika 2/67)
- Thurstan (overnight 131/5) 284 for 9 wickets (60) (Vihanga Jayanama 33, Bawantha Jayasinghe 137, Thineth Prabudda 36 n.o.; Ravindu Ratnayake 3/59, Dinath Dissanayake 3/61)