Ananda take the plunge

St Peter’s recorded a comprehensive eight wicket win over Ananda in their Under 20 Elephant Lemonade inter-school cricket encounter concluded at Bambalapitiya yesterday.

The writing was on the wall for the Anandians, who escaped defeat last week against Dharmapala, when play concluded on the first day as they were in dire straits with the Peterites holding the whip hand.

When play commenced yesterday Ananda were fighting to save the game struggling on 146 for 6 just after lunch needing another 35 runs to avert an innings defeat. The late order batting delayed the Petes win with Dilshan Silva and Prabodha Seneviratne swinging their bat in an effort to accumulate runs.

But they only succeeded for a short period being bowled out for 223 leaving the Peterites a simple target of 43 for victory. Pacies Umhar Samsudeen and Vinod Perera along with spinners Chanaka Fernando and Lakshan Rodrigo shared the wickets.

Ananda 96 (Udara Peiris 56; Umhar Samsudeen 4 for 16,Vinod Perera 3 for 26, Lakshan Rodrigo 3 for 39) and 223 (Ranganath Wijetunge 40, Dilshan Silva 38, Udara Jayasundara 37, Prabodha Seneviratne 26, Ruchira Herath 25.; Chanaka Fernando 3 for 26, Umhar Samsudeen 2 for 43, Vinod Perera 2 for 45, Lakshan Rodrigo 2 for 80)

St Peter’s 277 for 6 declared (Krishal Magage 91, Mevan Samarasekera 29, Srimantha Wijeyaratne 105 n.o.; Udara Peiris 3 for 101, Malith Gunathileke 2 for 94) and 43 for 2 (Lakshan Rodrigo 15, M. Samarasekera 16 n.o.)

Nalanda rout S. Thomas’
Nalanda routed S. Thomas’ by four wickets in their inter-school encounter concluded at Campbell Place yesterday. The Nalandians were set target of 100 runs but underwent some anxious moments before achieving it.

S. Thomas’ 190 (Devinda Fernando 39, Nisham Mazahir 36, Vishanth Wijesinghe 25, Ashan Peiris 23.; Lahiru Aponso 3 for 24, Amal Atapattu 3 for 35, Namal Gunawardena 3 for 48) and 106 (Ruchira de Silva 26, Devinda Fernando 19, Thilina Nugawela 15.; Lahiru Aponso 4 for 18, Namal Gunawardena 2 for 20, Milinda Weerasinghe 2 for 21)

Nalanda (135/5 o’night) 197 (Nipun Karunanayake 65, Namal Gunawardena 37, Milinda Weerasinghe 21, Supun Narangoda 20.; Dinesh Walpita 4 for 18, Milan Fernando 2 for 40, Ruchira de Silva 2 for 48) and 100 for 6 (Uthpala Bhagya 36, Lahiru Wickramasinghe 20.; Ishantha Dasanayake 2 for 26)

Thrilling win for Trinity
Trinity recorded a thrilling 58 runs win over Wesley in almost the last over of the day in their inter-school encounter concluded at Campbell Park yesterday. The match was poised for an interesting finish at different stages with both sides having a chance for victory.

The Trinitians resuming their second innings were helped by a match saving partnership between Sachith Pathirana and R. Jaleel to recover from 140 for 7 to end their innings on a respectable 235 which left the Wesleyites a target of 232 for victory. Sachith Pathirana’s all round effort turned the game in favour of the Trinitians.

Trinity 136 (N.R. Perera 38, Sachith Pathirana 35.; Dilan Marasinghe 2 for 18, Sachindra Rupasinghe 2 for 29, Tariq Naziar 2 for 35, Dulanjan Wijesinghe 2 for 35) and (44 for 3 o’night) 235 (Sachith Pathirana 81, R. Jaleel 34, W. Munasinghe 17.; Dulanjan Wijesinghe 4 for 81, Tariq Naziar 3 for 69) )

Wesley 139 (Sachindra Rupasinghe 33, Heshan Gomes 26, Jeffery Vandersay 16.; Sachith Pathirana 6 for 53, N.R. Perera 3 for 43) and 174 (Shakthi Siriratne 49, Dulanjan Wijesinghe 23, Sachindra Rupasinghe 21.; A. Bulanawewa 4 for 31, Sachith Pathirana 3 for 65, S. Auwardt 2 for 37)

St Anthony’s dominate
St Anthony’s dominated the first day’s play against Royal in their inter-school match played at Katugastota. They ended the day on a strong 203 for 4 after bundling out Royal for 128. The match will be continued at 9.45 a.m. today.

Royal 128 (Kusal Perera 30, Feroze Ahamed 19, Chalaka Bogoda 21 n.o.; Adil Reyal 3 for 6, Selvin Jamion 3 for 41, Peter Samarakoon 2 for 38)

St Anthony’s 203 for 4 (Harshana Medagoda 56, Shamir Munas 29, Subramaniam Sumindan 89 n.o.; Charith Fernando 2 for 36)

Bens hold on
St. Benedict’s with a deficit of 188 runs to avert an innings defeat, held on to force a draw against St. Joseph’s in their inter-school cricket match at Darley Road yesterday

After bundling out St. Benedict’s for a paltry 118 on the first innings St. Joseph’s College went on to score 306 for 4 declared due to a breezy 126 n.o. by Angelo Mathew (143 balls with eight fours and three sixes). St. Benedict’s held on to score 210 for 8 at close in their second essay.

St. Benedict’s 118 in 43.3 overs (P. Palihakkara 27, M. Sirimanne 30; Angelo Mathews 3 for 19, R. Weerasinghe 2 for 34, S. Weerasinghe 4 for 20) and 210 for 8 at close in 84 overs (S.Nandalal 48, R. Liyanage 15, P, Palihakkara 25, Shannon Sirimanne 39, A. Fernando 30 n.o, S. Fernando 18; R. Weerasinghe 3 for 64, S. Weerasinghe 3 for 54)

St. Joseph’s 306 for 4 dec. in 67 mts. Overnight 190 for 3 (R. Fernandopulle 47, Hashan Perera 41, Angelo Mathew 126 n.o, A. de Livera 18, Rajeev Weerasinghe 31,P. Sankalpa 14 n.o; S. Sirimanne 3 for 120) - BW

Spinners give Sri Rahula win
Match bags of 9 for 49 by Chaturanga Dikkumbura (off spin) and Rasika Udaya Kumara (8 for 63) left arm spin and a blazing 55 ball unbeaten 70 by skipper Mangala Jayawardena, paved the way for Sri Rahula Katugastota to defeat Royal Panadura by five wickets at Peradeniya yesterday.

Panadura Royal 174 in 59.3 overs (S. Ranjan 35, K. Dinidu 24, K. Samarasinghe 51,A. Chaturanga 16; M. Bototage 2 for 49, R. Udayakumara 3 for 32, C. Dikkumbura 4 for26) and 129 in 57. 3 overs (S. Chandima 29, M.Kumara 29, S.Rajan 18; R. Udayakumara 5 for 31, C. Dikkumbura 5 for 23)

Sri Rahula 179 in 54.4 overs (M. Jayawardena 42,M. Bototage 48, R. Udayakumara 19, D. Manjula 16, R. Samaranayake 13, D.Gunatilleke 12; D. Fernando 2 for 22, H. Chaminda 2 for 32, A.Chaturanga 3 for 15, D. Manjula 2 for10) and 127 for 5 in 15,1 overs (M.Jayawardena 70 n.o,D. Manjula 17) – AK

SACK in strong position over Royal
The Antonians played themselves to a strong position over Royal by close of play on day one at Katugastota yesterday.
The Antonians earned a lead of 75 by the close thanks to the efforts of Sumindan and Medagoda. Royal 128 in 47.5 overs (K.Perera 30, C. Bogoda 21 n.o, S. Ahmed 19, K. Vithanage 13; S.Jamion 3 for 41, P. Samarakoon 2 for 38, A. Reyal 3 for 6)
St. Anthony’s 203 for 4 in 45 overs (S.Sumindan 89 n.o, H.Meegoda 56,S. Munas 29; C. Fernando 2 for 36) – AK

St. Sylvester’s – Kingswood drawn
St. Sylvester’s were shown the way by a captain’s knock of 121 (4x17, 6x2) by Rajitha Wickremarachchi to overhaul Kingswood’s imposing total of 333 for 9 in their drawn game at the Police Grounds Kandy yesterday.

Kingswood 333 for 9 dec in 85 overs (P. Senaratne 51,A. Amarasinghe 44, S.Atulugama 61 n.o, M. Bandaranaike 56,C. Abeykoon 33, K. Silva 15,S. Weerasinghe 34; R.Jayatissa 3 for 67, C. Ranaweera 3 for 69) and 85 for 4 in 23 overs (A.Amarasinghe 44, P. Senaratne 15, A. Seneviratne 15, C. Ranaweera 3 for 38)

St. Sylvester’s 63 for 1 contd. 352 in 91 overs (R. Wickremarachchi 121,R.Karunaratne 54, R.Jayatissa 34, M. Feshal 43, C. Ranaweera 27, Y. Chanuka 18, N. Mohamed 20, E.de Alwis 18; P. Senaratne 2 for 88, C. Dharmaperuma 2 for 71, Y. Galearachchi 2 for 62)
- AK