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Dharmasoka hold Nalanda
By Harry Jayachandra
In a rather typical David versus Goliath battle, Dharmasoka Ambalangoda held Nalanda to a thrilling draw in their inter school match which ended at Campbell Place yesterday. Dharmasoka were bowled out for 200 in their first innings. Nalanda who were 23 for 0 overnight were given a good start by Lahiru Wickremasinghe (50) and skipper Gehan Rupasinghe (80 n.o). Rupasinghe was in a class of his own as he clobbered his unbeaten 80 which had six sixes and five hits to the ropes, in just 50 balls. Rupasinghe and Madhawa Warnapura were associated in a 77 runs unbroken partnership for the fourth wicket which helped Nalanda to declare at 202 for 3 in just 39 overs.

The Ambalangoda lads were undone in their second innings by a hostile spell of seam bowling by Lahiru Aponso who finished with five for 28 runs. Only a dour sixth wicket partnership of 33 runs between Muditha Kaushalya and Levan Mushin saved the visitors. Kaushalya top scored with 48, while Mushin made 13 runs. Dharmasoka were finally bowled out for 151 leaving Nalanda the daunting task of making 149 runs for victory in a maximum of 11 overs. To their credit, the home team made a fist of it. They finished with 95 for 4, Warnapura was once again a star with an unbeaten 37 with 3 sixes and 2 fours including a spectacular one handed six over long on. It was a measure of Nalanda’s dominance that even when victory was out of reach, Dharmasoka had no less than eight boundary riders.

Scores; Dharmasoka – 200 all out and 152 all out (A. Madushanka 19, L. D. Chandimal 34, M. Kaushalya 48. L. Aponso 5 for 28)
Nalanda – 23 for 0 overnight, 202 for 3 dec. (Lahiru Wickremasinghe 50, Primosh Perera 34, Gehan Rupasinghe 80 not out, Madhawa Warnapura 22 not out. Levan Muhsin 2 for 36) and 95 for 4. (T. Attanayake 19, M. Warnapura 37 not out).

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