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Sports

Achala helps Ananda rout St Anthony's by innings
By M. Shamil Amit
Ananda College recorded their third outright win for the season when they routed St. Anthony's College Katugastota by an innings and 17 runs in their Elephant Lemonade Cup inter-school cricket match concluded at Ananda Mawatha yesterday. The architect of their win was the fine bowling by left arm leg spinner Achala Ranasinghe who had the Antonian batting in tatters with figures of 7 for 27.

The Anandians were sitting pretty at the end of the first day's play by bowling out their opponents for 138 with the damage being done Charitha Jayaweera who captured 5 for 36 and then ending the day on 240 for 6 thanks to half centuries from Thilina Kumarasinghe who made 76 and Janudika Sriyapala 65.

Resuming their innings on day two they went on to make 273 for 9 before declaring. The Antonians going into bat the second time with a deficit of 135 runs were not allowed to settle down and they found spinner Ranasinghe unplayable, losing wickets at regular intervals. Only two batsmen Mohamed Rizlan and Pramod Fernando gave some resistance but they did last long and ended their innings on 118. The Anandians are going great guns this season and their next assignment will be the toughest they will be facing when they meet table leaders St. Joseph's on February 11 and 12 at Ananda Mawatha.

St. Anthony's - 138 (Mohamed Rizlan 24, H.N. Riyaz 25; Charith Jayaweera 5 for 36, Rakitha Wimaladharma 3 for 32, Achala Ranasinghe 2 for 44) and 118 (Pramod Fernando 35, Mohamed Rizlan 25; Achala Ranasinghe 7 for 27) Ananda - 273 for 9 declared (Thilina Kumarasinghe 76, Janudika Sriyapala 65, Rakitha Wimaladharma 29, Pashan Boteju 19, A. Athulathmudali 24, C. Herath 18 n.o.; J. Fernando 4 for 76, P. Illangakoon 2 for 61)

Ranga Prasad 102
Hat trick by PushipkaA hat-trick by Lumbini MV right arm pacie Pushipka Aravinda and a century by Ranga Prasad was the highlight of the Elephant Lemonade Cup inter-school cricket match concluded at the BRC yesterday where Lumbini MV defeated Maris Stella Negombo by 165 runs. Maris Stella chasing a victory target of 255 runs were bundled out for 90.

Lumbini MV - 238 (Ranga Prasad 102, Sharma Peiris 16, Malinda Pushpakumara 18, Maduranga Soysa 33, Sujith Nikathena 20, Mohamed Askar 22; Sameera Madurangoda 6 for 69, Isuru Perera 3 for 58) and 156 (Maduranga Soysa 24, Sharma Peiris 43, Malinda Pushpakumara 16, Sujith Nikathena 20, Mohamed Askar 25; Isuru Perera 7 for 52)

Maris Stella - 139 (Thilina Silva 27, Rajitha Fernando 23, Isuru Perera 68 n.o.; Maduranga Soysa 3 for 35, Pushpika Aravinda 3 for 19, Malinda Pushpakumara 2 for 34) and 90 (Thilina 26; Pushpika Aravinda 3 for 47, Maduranga Soysa 3 for 11, Malinda Pushpakumara 3 for 18, Hasantha Chaturanga 2 for 2)-MSA

Raddoluwa MMV 223, St Aloysius 32/2
St Aloysius were 32 for 2 in reply to Raddoluwa MMV's score of 223 at the end of the first day's play concluded at Galle yesterday.
Raddoluwa MMV - 223 (Lakshan Ranasinghe 25, Namal Silva 31, Lakmal Sanjeewa 45, Heshan de Silva 19, Gayan Fernando 31, Chamikara Silva 24; B. Prasad 4 for 66, H. Jayasekera 3 for 33)

St. Aloysius - 32 for 2. -MSA
Nalanda retains trophy
Fourteen-year-old Lahiru Weragala with his wily left arm-spin bowling with a match-bag of 8 for 71 helped Nalanda to a first innings points win to retain the Bandula Warnapura Trophy in their traditional school match against Dharmaraja, Kandy continued at Malalasekera MV yesterday.

Last year old boys of both schools agreed to play this annual game for the Bandula Warnapura trophy. It was played in Kandy and Nalanda won the match on the first innings to emerge first winners.

Dharmaraja - first innings 184 (G. Wijetilleke 57, C. Kapugedera 35, J. Chandratilleke 21, S. Serasinghe 2 for 41, G. Rupasinghe 3 for 27, Lahiru Weragala 5 for 26) and 206 for 8 at close (in 59 overs) J. Chandratilleke 58, U. Wijesiri 25, C. Monarawila 36, V. Weerasuriya 25 n.o, L. Weragala 3 for 45, G. Rupasinghe 3 for 31)

Nalanda- first innings 145 for 5 (overnight) 263 in 59 overs (Yohan de Silva 41, Ashan Priyangana 51, Yasas Hewawitharane 60 n.o, A. Ekanayake 2 for 70, G. Wijetilleke 4/26)

Pathetic batting by Royal's top order
The Peterites batting first were in trouble losing five for 66 on the first day (Friday) but two fruitful stands for the sixth wicket between Dasun Randika 106 with 13 fours in 165 balls and Sheean Wijetunga 30, realized 63 runs. at Reid Avenue.

An invaluable 98 run stand for the seventh wicket followed this. 98 runs with Dinesh Panditharatne (20) helped them to total 265. Royal in reply were 49 for 2.

Resuming their innings yesterday, their top order was made to look powder-puff when four wickets crashed for 54 runs - 103 for 6. Was it due to fatigue or indisciplined batting which was their downfall in their last two games.

Thanks to a carefree 63 runs in 83 balls by Danushka Edussuriya with ten fours and Taraka Kottehewa (39) helped Royal to get 196 before they were all out. Five Royal batsmen failed to enter double figures.

This attributes to lack of concentration and application played in their own backyard.

The Petes in their second innings were 16 for no loss at tea. Openers Delan Udugamsuriya 23 and Hans Fernando 44 (with 8 fours) put on 79 runs between them.

After the 17th mandatory over, the two respective captains called off the match.
Among the Royal bowlers Nadun Punchihewa in a marathon spell of 28-3-83-5 was at the wickets and paceman C. Somapala was the other successful bowler with 2 for 57.

St. Peter's - 265 (Dasun Randika 106, S. Wijetunga 30, D. Panditharatne 20; Somapala 2 for 57, Naduyn Punchihewa 5 for 83) and 85 for 2 at close in 35 overs (Delan Udugamsuriya 23, Hans Fernando 44).

Royal - first innings (overnight 2 for 49), contd 196 all out in 75 overs (Gehan de Silva 32, N. Dias 14, Danushka Edussuriya 63, Taraka Kottehewa 39, N. Punchihewa 15; Umhar Samsudeen 2 for 52, Shanuka Fernando 2 for 8, Sohan Boralessa 3 for 55)

Trinity gains first innings win
Trinity experienced some doubts and anxieties before claiming a first innings win over Kingswood within last over of their match at Peradeniya. Trinity ground their way to 260/8 before applying closure. Ninety minutes batting in the morning produced a mere 30 runs.

Their tardiness almost cost them dear. Consistent scorers Udumulla and Mendis made half centuries while skipper Fernando showed glimpse of form in his 48. Paceman Ratnapala picked up five wickets.

Only opener Jayasuriya and Minimuthu Dissanaike contributed subsequently with Kingswood reply. Spinner Sachith Pathirana put behind him a lean trot to share 5 wickets and bowl his team to a win.

Trinity - 260-8 dec.(Asiri Udumulla 60, Clifford Fernando 48, Hasantha Mendis 58, A. Ariyaratna 27, M. Muneer 23. P. Ratnapala 5-56.)

Kingswood - 162 (M. Jayasuriya 34, M. Dissanaike 43, P. Ratnapala 14, Asiri Ameresinghe 13, Maduranga Munaweera 4-23, Sachith Pathirana 5-36. )

Tharindu cracks ton as Joes retain Trophy
St. Joseph's College Colombo retained the Gilmour Jayasuriya Memorial Trophy by virtue of their last victory in 1998. The centenary game ended at Mount Lavinia yesterday with Joes winning on the first innings. With this game Joes are leading the series 24-17. Fifty nine games have ended in no decisions.

Highlight of this 100th match was a delightful century by consistent Tharindu Ariyawansa who cracked a quick fire 112 with 18 boundaries. He scored his century off only 103 balls.

The Darley Road school continuing from 108/4 went on the score 224/8 off 44 overs. With a deficit of 52 on first innings Thomians batted very watchfully to force a respectable draw. At stumps they were 221/7 with R. Panduwawala (47) and S. Mendis (28) contributing mostly.

Man of the match and best batsmen was T. Ariyawansa with Christopher Flemming bagging the best bowler's award. S. Thomas' - 172 all out (S. Mendis 36, S. Kularatne 20, C. Flemming 3/37, R. Vedachelam 3/40, R. Perera 2/3)
S. Thomas' - 221/7 at close of play (R. Panduwawala 47, S. Mendis 28, Rodrigo 27

C. De Silva 26, I Warunakulasuriya 26, R. Weerasinghe 2/41)
St. Joseph's - 108/4 (cont) 224/8 dec. (T. Ariyawansa 112, R. Perera 30 not out, A. Livera 21, N. Adams 3/50, S. Kularatne 2/42.)

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