Left arm spinner and all-rounder Sachith Pathirana led the fight back of Chilaw Marians as he wrecked the Tamil Union batting with a four wicket haul to give his side a first inning lead at the end of the second day’s play in their Under 23 Division One cricket final at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
Sachith’s impressive figures of 4 for 33 saw Tamil Union who was in a strong position at lunch with 143 for 4 collapsing to 207. This was despite fine 79 coming from Kithruwan Withanage. Kithruwan’s knock had four boundaries and four sixes as Tamil Union lost their last six wickets for only 64 runs being bowled out before the tea break with Sachith who came late into the attack wrapping up the late order batting.
The opening day’s play saw Chilaw Marians being invited to take first lease of the wicket too not performing to their potential being restricted to 247. Chilaw Marians batting the second time ended the day on 129 for 6 and now they have a lead of 170 runs with four wickets in hand. Nevertheless the encounter is now at an interesting stage. The team who takes the lead on the first inning could lay the hands on the trophy. The match is not over and Tamil Union is capable of making a comeback.
But even then Tamil Union will have to record an outright victory if they are to dethrone the defending champions Chilaw Marians who are aiming for their third successive title victory.
Chilaw Marians 247 (Buddi Samarawickrema 66, Sanath Silva 39, Akila Jayasundara 29: Chamod Pathirana 4 for 78, Levan Halambage 2 for 29, Hasitha Illangaratne 2 for 48) and 129 for 6 (Umesh Karunaratne 28, Lahiruu Weragala 26, Buddi Samarawickrama 39 n.o.: Chamod Pathirana 3 for 25, Sashendra Gunatileke 2 for 12)
Tamil Union (49/1 overnight) 207 (Kithruwan Withanage 79, Rashmilan Maduranga 28, Levan Halambage 28, Amith Eranda 26: Sachith Pathirana 4 for 33, Umesh Karunaratne 3 for 50, Madusanka Ekanayake 2 for 41) |
E-mail
