Ananda hold it out

Ananda recovered to force a draw in their Under 20 Elephant Lemonade inter-school cricket encounter against Dharmapala concluded at Panniptiya. After the home team had dominated the first day’s play and commanded a first innings lead of 113 runs, Ananda batted with more purpose to finish the second day on 231 for 9.

The first day’s play on Friday belonged to Dharmapala’s left arm pacie Osanda Attanayake who had the Anandians back to the walls with a hat-trick in his very first over which was also only the second over of the inning. He claimed the wickets of Ranganath Wijetunge, skipper Malith Gunathileke and Vishwa Wijesuriya in the second, third and fourth ball of his over to send the Anandians reeling. Thereafter the visitors found it hard to recover and were bowled out for 115.

Attanayake ended with figures of 4 for 25 and was supported by right arm pacie Aruna Meemanage who also grabbed 4 for 28. To add salt to the wound Dharmapala’s batsmen Praneeth Hewage and Samin Kandanaarachchi frustrated the Anandian bowlers with knocks of 64 and 62 respectively to give the home team the advantage as they ended the first day’s play on 222 for 7. However in the morning session the home team failed to take the initiative as they were able to add only six more to their overnight score of 222.

The Anandians batting the second time approached the game in a cautious manner with Dinesh Chandimal and skipper Malith Gunathileke contributing useful knocks of 40 and 23 and then Ranganath Wijetunge who made patient 63 to bring some relief to the Ananda camp and reach 140 for 3 at tea. Then in the last session of play the late order batting held on pull Ananda out of the woods when stumps were drawn. Dharmapala’s left arm leggie Tharaka Gunathileke was the successful bowler in the second innings with figures of 4 for 55.

Ananda 115 (Sameera Wijesuriya 37, Dilshan Silva 23.; Osanda Attanayake 4 for 25, Aruna Meemanage 4 for 28) and 231 for 9 (Ranganath Wijetunge 63, Dinesh Chandimal 40, Malith Gunathileke 23, Udara Peiris 23, Sameera Wijesuriya 23; Tharaka Gunathileke 4 for 55, Hasitha Wickramasinghe 3 for 63)

Dharmapala (222/7 o’night) 228 (Praneeth Hewage 64, Samin Kandanaarachchi 62, Tharaka Ginathileke 18, Sithara Perera 18, Nipun Pavithra 17, Maduranga Perera 17.; Udara Peiris 4 for 55, Malith Gunathileke 3 for 72, Ranganath Wijetunge 2 for 28)