Thurstan fought their way back to force a draw against Royal thanks to half tons by Shihan Kamileen, Udara Munasinghe and Supun Navaratne in their Under 19 inter-school cricket encounter concluded at Reid Avenue yesterday.

Dilshan Perera of St.Benedicts College in action against St.Annes Kurunegala at St.Benedicts ground yesterday. Pic by Ranjith Perera

The second day’s play saw Royal, after ending the first day’s play on 205 for 6, making a declaration while Thurstan batting a second time with a deficit of 130 runs, ended the day on 211 for 2 when rain stopped play at 4.00 p.m. Openers Udara and Supun led Thurstan’s fightback with an opening stand of 90 runs which was followed by another invaluable second wicket partnership between Supun and Shihan Kamileen.

On the opening day Royal’s right arm pacies Bhanuka Rajapakse and Imran Khan ran through the Thurstan batting with the duo sharing nine wickets between them to bundle out Thurstan for a meager 75. Royal in their turn (helped by an unbeaten knock of 78 from Waruna Dissanayake) were sitting pretty as they ended the day on 205 for 6.

Thurstan 75 (Supun Navaratne 25; Bhanuka Rajapakse 5 for 33, Imran Khan 4 for 6) and 211 for 2 (Udara Munasinghe 56, Supun Navaratne 56, Shihan Kamileen 84 n.o; Imran Khan 2 for 28)

Royal 205 for 6 declared (Kithruwan Withanage 33, Bhanuka Rajapakse 31, Chalaka Bogoda 27, Waruna Dissanayake 78 n.o.)

Leg spinner Dilshan shines in drawn game

A five wicket haul by left arm spinner Dilshan Perera was the highlight of the second day’s play in the Under 19 encounter between St. Benedict’s and St. Anne’s Kurunegala concluded at Kotahena yesterday.
Dilshan ended with impressive figures of 5 for 26 helping his side to bundle out the Annites (who resumed from their overnight score of 43 for 3) to a score of 109.

This was in reply to the Bens score of 268 for 6 declared which comprised half tons by Roy Sheran and Rukshan Weerasinghe. The Annites batting the second time were 131 for 4.

St. Benedict’s 268 for 6 declared (Roy Sheran 62, Sandun Sampath 39, Dinushan Wanigasuriya 25, Waruna Fernando 21, Rukshan Weerasinghe 53 n.o., Imal Fernando 36 n.o; Chanaka Silva 2 for 33, Akila Fernando 2 for 65)

St. Anne’s (43/3 o’night) 109 (Chanaka Silva 35, D. Ashok 22; Dilshan Perera 5 for 26, Sachin Peiris 2 for 34) and 131 for 4 (Chanaka Silva 29, D. Kumarasinghe 62 n.o; Eranga Ratnayake 2 for 35)

Buddika twin half tons

An all round performance by Buddika Alwis who made twin half tons along with a four wicket haul were the highlights of the drawn Under 19 match between Prince of Wales and Dharmasoka MV Ambalangoda concluded at Moratuwa yesterday.

Prince of Wales 251 (Sampath Dharmasiri 69, Buddika Alwis 57, Tharindu Dilshan 50, Isuru Thilina 29: Ramesh Mendis 4 for 98) and 137 for 3 (Buddika Alwis 54 n.o., Isuru Thilina 51 n.o; Ramesh Mendis 2 for 35)

Dharmasoka MV 170 (Yohan de Silva 53, Charitha Madushan 45, Ashen Kavinda 36: Buddika Alwis 4 for 28, Nuwantha Peiris 2 for 12, Hashan Fernando 2 for 22)

Chamikara grabs six

A six wicket haul by left arm orthodox spinner Chamikara Edirisinghe helped Maliyadeva who were bowled out for 120 to restrict the strong Ananda batting to a score of 128 in the Under 19 match which ended in a draw at Kurunegala yesterday.

Maliyadeva 120 (Dilshan Wickremasinghe 26, Hashan Gunatilleke 19, Vajira Kumara 17, Chamikara Edirisinghe 17; Mateesha Perera 4 for 38, Minura Janadhi 3 for 24, Ruvinda Shamen 2 for 35) and 161 for 7 declared (Dharshana Mahawatte 48, Chamikara Edirisinghe 39, Dilshan Wickramasinghe 21, Hashan Gunatileke 20; Sachitra Perera 3 for 44, Chamalka Athulathmudali 2 for 22)

Ananda (0/0 o’night) 128 (Ruvinda Shamen 28, Minura Janadhi 19, Sachin Dewage 19, Chamalka Athulathmudali 16; Chamikara Edirisinghe 6 for 46, Dharshana Mahawatte 2 for 28) and 3 for 1

No decision at Lake View

By Aubrey Kuruppu

Dharmaraja and Zahira figured in a No Decision in a match that was badly affected by rain. The venue was Lake View.

Pratap Silva 55 not out (six fours) and Mohammed Isham 50 (eight fours) took the batting honours for the respective teams. On the bowling front, Imran Rafi (4 for 30) and Rajan skipper Ramesh Yapa Bandara (4 for 31) bowled best.

Dharmaraja 170 in 59.3 overs (S. Weerakkody 23, H. Munaweera 22, P. Silva 55 n.o, S. Kalubowila 13, K. Wijekoon 13, L. Herath 12; I. Rafi 4 for 30, M. Razeen 2 for 18, A. Ahmed 2 for 33, M. Isham 2 for 11)
Zahira 133 for 6 in 44 overs (M. Isham 50, M. Imraz 14, M. Irshad 19, R. Ahmed 11 retd; R.Yapa Bandara 4 for 31)