Big Match: 7th Ruhunu-Maya Big Match ends in tame draw

The 7th Big Match encounter between Rahula College Matara and Dharmapala College Pannipitiya ended in a draw at the Uyanwatta Stadium. 

Rahula who were in a strong position at stumps on Day One, were unable to build on the advantage and force a draw.

Electing to bat first Dharmapala got off to a good start with Malith Sandakelum and Amila Dayanaka contributing with an opening stand of 71 runs but Sasith Manuranga 6 for 25 and Sajitha Rajapaksa 4 for 36 were able to restrict them to 126.

Rahula powered by an opening stand of 95 runs, between Binara Sankth (55) and Sahan Bandara 53 were 124 for 3 at stumps on Day One but Chamindu Samarasinghe bowled captured eight wickets to see the Rahula team in the pavilion for 181.

The Rahula bowlers could not repeat their performance of the first innings as Amila Dayanaka got the better of them to score a match saving 96 for Dharmapala which helped  them declare their second essay at 144/5. 

Rahula set a victory target of 90 in a minimum of eight overs were 21 for the loss of a wicket at close of play.

Dharmapala 126 all out in 41.4 overs (Malith Sanddakelum 44, Amila Dayanaka 21, Lakshitha Purasinghe 17, Avishka Hasarinda 16, Sasith Manuranga 6 for 25, Sajitha Rajapaksa 2 for 36) and 144 for 5 wickets decl in 54.3 overs (Amila Dayanaka 96, Sasith Manuranga 2 for 52, Sajitha Rajapaksa 2 for 57)

Rahula 181 all out in 82.3 overs (Binara Sanketh 55, Sahan Bandara 53, Uraj Chalaka 43, Dilshan de Silva 2 for 70, Chamindu Samarasinghe 8 for 57) and 21 for 1 wicket in 9 overs at close (Binara Sanketh 12n.o, Chamindu Samarasinghe 1 for 5)