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Sports

Stadium set ablaze with Dimitri's flamboyance
Completes his third century for the season
By Bernie Wijesekera
Royal skipper Dimitri Siriwardena - the batsman in form - scored a stroke-filled 135 (six sixes and 11 fours) in 149 balls to steal the limelight in their drawn cricket encounter against St. Benedict's College, Kotahena at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.

The match was evenly contested on day one. Royal winning the toss elected to bat first and were bundled out for 189 with Siriwardena top scoring with a fluent 58, with three sixes and five fours. For St. Benedict's off spinner Prabath Maldunnearachchi bowled best to return figures of 4 for 48.

The Kotahena school in reply were 63 for 3 at the end of the first day. Resuming their inning last morning St. Benedict's lost two quick wickets for 12 runs and were struggling at 75 for 5 at one stage. However their lower order batsmen led by Chanaka Wijewardena, who scored a solid 41 (with 5 fours), helped them to a recovery of sorts. At lunch the Bens were 164 for 8. Finally a last ditch stand of 22 between Eranga Karunaratne 29 n.o. (with 3 fours) and Arul Pragash (zero n.o) helped the Bens to declare at 190 for 9.

For the lads from Reid Avenue paceman Krishan Vidanagamaarachchi bowled accurately to return best figures of 5 for 72 in 21 overs.

Royal in their essay lost 2 wickets for 17 runs. But lanky Siriwardena the batsman in form, coming at No. 4 with Feroz Ahamad, repaired the innings with a determined third wicket stand. At tea the Reid Avenue school were 81 for 2 with Dimitri on 39 and Ahamad 16 n.o.

Batting on a perfect batting strip, Siriwardena cut drove and pulled effortlessly to reach his 50 and put on 117 runs for the third wicket. Meanwhile his partner Ahamed who batted with assurance fell leg-before to Chandawita for 33. Siriwardena continued his onslaught to complete his third 'ton' for the season in 113 balls. Earlier he made 100 not out against Richmond and 107 against Isipathana, bring his tally to 504 runs.

Chief Scores:
Royal - 189 in 62.3 overs (Dimitri Siriwardena 58, Malinga Maliyagaspe 35, Gayan de Silva 23, D. Nanayakkara 35, D. Nanayakkara 20, Lakmal Rajapakse 19; Prabath Maldunnearachchi 4 for 48, C. Wijewardena 2 for 32, Eranga Karunaratne 2 for 48) and 257 for 6 in 52 overs.(Dimitri Siriwardena 135, Feroz Ahamad 33, Malinga Maligaspe 31, Lakmal Rajapakse 21 n.o., A. Chandawita 2 for 54.)

St. Benedict's ( 63 for 3 cont.) 190 for 9 dec. in 66 overs. (P. Palihakkara 18, Chanaka Wijewardena 41, Oshande Silva 29, Eranga Karunaratne 29 n.o; Krishan Vidanagamaarachchi 21-5-72-5, Roshan de Silva 2 for 26).

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