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Sports

Wesley thwart Royal
By Bernie Wijesekera
Wesley, facing a first innings deficit of 83 runs were struggling at 135 for 6 at tea, but their lower order supported by a determined seventh wicket stand of 77 runs between Avishka Liyanage who made a stubborn 31 and Sajith Colombage, a spicy 46 (with seven fours and a six) helped the Campbell Park school to total 220 all out to thwart Royal of an outright win in their annual Sir (Dr.) Frank Gunasekera Memorial Shield match continued at Reid Avenue yesterday.

Wesley in the first innings made 121 and Royal replied with 204 for 7 declared. Royal skipper Rochana Wijeratne, winning the toss, invited Wesley to take first lease of the moisture laden pitch. Taraka Kottehewa, the lanky medium pace bowler exploited the conditions to rip through the Wesley top order - 5 for 56. But a fighting knock of 66 from skipper Ferveez Mahroof helped the visitors to total 121.

Royal in reply made 204 for 7. Royal who were 142 for 3 overnight were steered - thanks mainly due to an opening stand of 99 between V. Arumprakash (35) and fresher Dinitri Siriwardena (51), with six fours and a six in 102 balls.

Wesley in their second essay were 32 for 3 at lunch. Maharoof again performed the rescue act. He batted with confidence until he fell leg before to Kottehewa for 29. He stood his ground before he made his slow trek back to the pavilion.

At tea they were in dire-straits with the top order gone - 135 for 6 facing an imminent outright defeat. But Colombage (46) and Liyanage (31) batted with grim determination and fought back to repair the innings. Finally Wesley were all out for 220 runs in the ninth mandatory overs - leaving Royal to make 138 in eight overs. Royal were again helped by medium pacer Kottehewa, who bowled to a nagging line and length, earned him seven wickets for 38 and a match bag of 12 for 77 and bagged the best bowler's award too.

Royal last won outright the Sir Frank Gunasekera Shield in 1995 under Nalliah Rajan. Wesley was skippered by Kushal Siriwardena. Wesley won the trophy in 1969 under Amresh Rajaratnam, Royal was skippered by Eardley Lieversz.

Principal of Wesley Mr. M.A.P. Fernando gave away the shield to Royal skipper Wijeratne.

Royal travel to Kandy today to play their postponed game against against St. Anthony's on Monday and Tuesday (February 16 and 17) at Katugastota.

Wesley - 121 (F. Mahroof 66, K. Seneviratne 20, Taraka Kottehewa 5 for 39, P. SriJayaprakash 4 for 20) and 220 in 76.5 overs (N. Samith 29. Avishka Liyanage 31, D. Kodikara 32, Sajith Colombage 46, K. Seneviratne 11; T. Kottehewa 25-9-38-7, D. Edussuriya 2 for 21)

Royal - 142 for 3 overnight contd. - 204 for 7 dec in 54 overs (V. Arumprakash 35, Dimitri Siriwardena 51, Rochana Wijeratne 21,T. Edirimuni 16 n.o, G. Ratnayake 17; F. Mahroof 2 for 68, Nuwan Samith 2 for 24, A. Kumara 3 for 39) and 45 for 1 in 8 overs (Dimitri Siriwardena 28 n.o, T. Edirimuni 7 n.o)

Antonians force draw
By Shamseer Jaleel
The Inter-School cricket match between St.Peter's and St. Anthony's, Katugastota ended in a draw at Bambalapitiya yesterday. In this encounter St. Peter's scored a comfortable first innings win of 118 runs.

Batting ffor a second time, the Anthonians fared much better than the first innings by scoring 254 with Rizlan making a brisk 73.

St. Anthony's - 96 (T. De Silva 23, A. Ariyaratne 26 n.o; S. Wijetunga 6 for49, N. Wijeratne 4 for 32) and 254 (M. Rizlan 73, T. De Silva 49, P. Withanage 41, A. Ariyaratne 47; N. Wijeratne 4 for 57)

St.Peter's - 214 for 7 dec (D. Randika 50 n.o, G. De Silva 37)
Sebs. on 1st innings
By M. Shamil Amit
St. Sebastian's College Moratuwa had to be satisfied with a first innings win over St Sylvester's in the Elephant Lemonade Cup inter-school cricket match concluded at Moratuwa yesterday.

The Sebs having made an imposing 335 for 5 declared bowled out the Sylvesterians for 102. Made to follow on they were 81 for 5 when stumps were drawn.

St Sebastian's - 335 for 5 declared
St Sylvester's -102 (B. Karunaratne 26; D. Abeydeera 3 for 18, S. Cooray 3 for 24, M. Silva 2 for 35) and 81 for 5 (S. Najimudeen 30 n.o.; M. Silva 3 for 20, N. Perera 2 for 14)

DSS make 269
Three half centuries by skipper Kanchana Gunawardena (51), Yasith Mihiranga (51) and Pubudu Perera (76 n.o.) enabled DSS to make an imposing 269 on the first day of the Elephant Lemonade Cup inter-school cricket match played at Wijerama yesterday. Thurstan were 60 for 2 at close.

DSS - 269 (K. Gunawardena 51, Y. Mihiranga 51, S. Soysa 27, P. Perera 76 n.o.; T. Massmulla 2 for 68, A. Umayangana 2 for 32)
Thurstan- 60 for 2 at close (T. Massmulla 23, D. Indika 16 n.o., C. Wickramaratne 14 n.o.).-MSA

St. Mary's 169/4
St. Mary's Kegalle were 169 for 4 in reply to Asoka Vidyalaya's score of 201 in the Elephant Lemonade Cup inter-school cricket match which began at the Kegalle Esplanade yesterday.

Asoka Vidyalaya - 201 (D. Hettiarachchi 28, C. Perera 30, M. Farhan 21, K. Weerasinghe 57, A. Handsey 23; M. Hettiarachchi 5 for 80)
St Mary's - 169 for 4 at close (K.D. Gunasekera 40, G. Senaratne 37 rtd, S. Karunatileke 32, C.P. Wijeratne 47 n.o.)-MSA

Isipathana 321, Thurstan 11/1
In the Mini Battle between Thurstan and Isipathana which began yesterday at the Thurstan grounds. Isipathana taking first lease of the wicket helped by three half centuries from Kaushik Kumarasinghe (81), Isuru Vindana (76) and Suren Dinendra (60) made a massive 321. In reply Thurstan were 11 for 1.

Isipathana - 321 (K. Kumarasinghe 81, I. Vindana 76, S. Dinendra 60, V. Kaluwitharana 13, A. Isurendra 28, P. Piumantha 26 n.o.; C. Perera 3 for 69, C. Thusantha 3 for 32, O. Perera 3 for 50)
Thurstan - 11 for 1 at close.-MSA

Rajans first win
Two good spells of bowling (6 for 38) and (4 for 41) by left arm spinner Amal Ekanayake guided Dharmaraja to their first win of the season at the Police Grounds in Kandy yesterday.

The unlucky losers were Maliyadeva, whose batting came apart twice, being bowled out for a meagre 123 and134.

Big scoreswere conspicuously absent. Half centuries by Karunayake (Maliyadeva) and Wijesiri (Dharmaraja) were the batting highlights.

Dharmaraja - 229 for 9 dec (M. Wijekoon 34, U. Wijesiri 59, C. Kapugoda 17, K. Ariyadasa 45, A. Ekanayake 26, C. Nadunge 12; S. Karunanayake 2 for32, N. Pushpakumara 4 for 77) and 31 for 2 (M. Weerasuriya 13 n.o; S. Karunanayake 2 for 18)

Maliyadeva - 123 (S. Soyza 24, S. Karunanayake 43, D. Malmeewala 15, M. Dissanayake 12; A. Ekanayake 6 for 38, C. Kapugedera 2 for16) and 134 (C. Jayabandara 27,S. Karunanayake 54, D. Malmeewala 15; A. Ekanayake 4 for41, M.Rajapakse 2 for 31, C. Kapugedera 2 for 28) - A.K.

Royal-Thomian duo take title
In an All Lankan boys doubles final of the 20th ITF Junior Tennis Championship concluded at the SLTA tennis courts in Greenpath yesterday. The Royal-Thomian duo of Franklyn Emmanuel and Nishendran Sivendran outplayed Amrit Rupasinghe and Harshana Godamanne 6/4, 6/3 to clinch the ITF title.

The duo combined splendidly playing some scintillating tennis with the crucial first set lasting an hour. Third seeds Amrit and Harshana both ITF singles title winners last year made the first service break in the fifth game and went on to take a 4/2 lead. But the winning combination produced some top class tennis to break service in the eighth and tenth games to win 6/4. The winners seeded fourth had no difficulty when winning the second set in just 30 minutes.

The girl's doubles final was won by Indians Marutha Devi and Vandana Murali who overcame the Thai-Indonesian combination of Ratchaya Chaihandchaichdrn and Denise Harijato 1/6, 6/0, 6/4.

Earlier in the day the boys singles was won by India's top seed Chantwinder Singh who outclassed second seed Japanese Tsubasa Morizane 6/2, 6/2. The game lasting only one hour. In a one sided game the girl's singles title went to third seeded I-Hsuan Hwang of Taipei who defeated second seeded Vandana Murali of India 6/3, 6/2. The winner had earlier accounted for top seeded Maruthi Devi in the semi final.-MSA

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