Inclement weather around the island is hampering the proceedings of the Under 19 inter-school cricket encounters. Most of the matches played during the week ending got off to late starts.
There was only one outright win recorded from the ten matches that were played with St Peter’s achieving that while the other matches ended in either draws or the match being washed out by rain.
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| Gayan Madusanka of Revatha MV loses his wicket. Pic by Amila Prabodha |
In the drawn matches some of them go into account as first inning win as they are tournament matches conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association.
St Peter’s who came out for the first time this season beat the rain and their opponents St Aloysius with a crushing innings and 187 runs victory with the match ending just after the tea break.
The foundation for the win was laid by Lahiru Milantha who cracked a 101 enabling St Peter’s post a formidable score of 285 with left arm spinner Julian de Zylwa doing the finishing touches as he ended with a match bag of 8 for 14 to bundle out the Aloysians for scores under 100 in both the innings.
Of the other matches played S. Thomas’ was unfortunate as they were denied of recording their third outright win when their match against Revatha MMV Balapitiya.
The Thomians held the triumph card when play ended on day one as they had Revatha MMV struggling for survival. But Revatha MMV put up a gallant fight back when play commenced on day two.
With defeat staring at the faces the Balapitiya boys frustrated the Thomian bowlers as they held on for over 70 overs where they went on to avoid an innings defeat.
The Thomians chasing a target of 84 runs to win in 35 overs were cruising well with the score on 70 for 1 in just 12.2 overs, but from thereon bad light along with a slight drizzle put a stop to play at 3.15 p.m.
The light never improved which forced the umpires to call off play much to the disappointment of the Thomian players which denied them of their third outright win.
The top individual score of the week came from Kushal Mendis of Prince of Wales who made an unbeaten 153 in their drawn match against Dharmapala Pannipitiya. Kushal’s knock saw his side making a commanding total of 321 for 3 with Dharmapala who are having a lean season so far being able to muster only 135.
DSS recorded a first inning win over Ananda in a low scoring affair with Ananda making 147 and DSS in their turn making 163. St Anthony’s Katugastota too registered a first inning win over Mahanama Colombo.
The Antonians after bowling out Mahanama for 162 made a score of 216 and had Mahanama struggling the second time on 103 for 7 before the match was called off due to bad light.
Mahinda put in a great fight against fancied St Josephs at Darley Road.
Mahinda after being restricted to a score of 112 fought back to bowl out the home team for 147.
Ananda playing their second match within four days which was against Richmond had little success again. Only a few hours of play was possible on day one while Ananda who was batting on day two were able to face only 16 overs when rain stopped play.
Zahira who began the season on a high note has fallen back which was evident in the match against Maris Stella Negombo. Zahira were nowhere near their early form as they were skittled out for 106 in reply to Maris Stella’s 210.
Gurukula MV Kelaniya playing in the top division for the first time put in a fine display against St Josephs. They surprised the Josephians by making a bold reply of 255 for 7 which came on the back of a 114 made by Hashan Dumindu.
This was in reply to the home sides score of 265 for 8. Gurukula MV will be the one of the lesser known sides to be watched this season. According to their performance they are capable of pulling off some surprises.
The was no play at all on the second day in the match between St Benedict’s and Royal at Kotahena and St Anne’s Kurunegala vs De Mazenod Kandana at Kurunegala.
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