The Sylvestrians began their tune up for next month’s Big Match with a good performance against the more fancied Sebastianites at Peradeniya yesterday.
Skipper Ruwantha Ekanayake (92) and his deputy Waruna Wijesinghe (83) guided the home team to a formidable 314 for 9.
Left arm spinners Nimesh Mendis and Sumedha Dissanaike rubbed it in by bowling the Sebs out for 161 – a deficit of 153.
At 80 for 3, St. Sebastians were a bit wobbly. But skipper Amila Aponso (78 n.0) and Anuk Fernando (65 n.o) warded off the danger through a splendid partnership of 147 and saved the day for the bemused Sebastianites.
The ball took a back seat and the bowlers came to the fore as Ananda sweated out to a draw against Dharmaraja at Lake View.
The Anandians came back into the game, after being forced to concede a lead of 54, by bowling out the home team for a very modest 107. Left arm spinner Isuru Gunasekera was the pick, getting 6/31, while skipper Pasindu Madusanka bagged the other four.
The target was only 162 but the Ananda batting came a cropper for the second time and were struggling at 92/7. Off spinner Deneth Lanka and seamer Nuwan Karunaratne formed the core of the Rajan attack.
The Antonians scored their second win for the season when they overcame D.S. Senanayake by 126 runs at Katugastota.
The architect pf the win was little off spinner Nimesha Gunasinghe who scalped 5/28.
This was after the Antonians, who led by 76 runs on the first innings, played attacking cricket to speed to 178/9 before declaring. Viraj Deepal stroked a splendid 50 with 7 fours.
The target was 255 in 58 overs, but the visitors were never in the hunt and were dismissed for a meager 128. All-rounder Supun Madusanka stood out for the D.S. Senanayake lads with eight wickets in the match and two useful knocks.
At Peradeniya: Match drawn
St. Sylvester’s 314 for 9 dec in 102 overs (W. Wijesinghe 83, R. Ekanayake 92, D. Malalasena 32, F. Ahmed 30, S. Dissanayake 15; S. Gunawardena 3/64, A. Aponso 2/69, S.de. Mel 2/26)
St. Sebastian’s 161 in 42 overs (L. Jayawardena 40, A. Aponso 48, A. Fernando 22, S. de. Mel 20; W. Wijesinghe 2/47, S. Dissanaike 3/49, N. Mendis 4/48) and 227/3 in 62 overs (L. Jayawardena 17, A. Perera 47, A. Aponso 78 n.o, A. Fernando 65 n.o; W. Wijesinghe 2/47).
At Lake View: Match drawn
Dharmaraja 183 in 58.5 overs (R. Ranasinghe 59, N. Karunaratne 32, V. Karaputugala 29; P. Madushan 6/43) and 107 in 54 overs (R. Ranasinghe 19, S. Gunasekera 18, C.de. Silva 15; I. Gunasekera 6/31, P. Madusanka 4/44)
Ananda 129 in 43 overs (D. Madushan 42, D. Wijesinghe 17, T. Wijesinghe 17; D. Vithanachchi 5/31, D. Prabath 4/25) and 92/7 in 32 overs (D. Madushan 23, T. Samarakoon 14, T. Samarasinghe 14; D. Lanka 4/32, N. Karunaratne 2/15).
At Katugastota: St. Anthony’s beat DSS by 126 runs
St. Anthony’s 167 in 47.4 overs (V. Deepal 28, N. Gunasinghe 29, S. Rajaguru 23; S. Madusanka 4/32, S. Karunaratne 3/44) and 178/9 dec in 33.5 overs (Y. Woods 17,V. Deepal 50, N. Gunasinghe 21, K. B. Ranaraja 37, K. Pulikuttiarachchi 28; S. Madusanka 4/32)
DS Senanayake (44/4 contd.) 91 in 36.1 overs (L. Abeyratne 22, S. Cyril 20, S. Madusanka 18; S. Bulathsinghala 6/35) and 128 in 48 overs (K. Bandara 24, S. Madusanka 28, L. Abeyratne 19, S. Karunaratne18; N. Gunasinghe 5/28, B. Wijetunga 2/25) |
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