Green men hang on to force a draw
Isipathana batsman Thevindu Dickwella drives this one to the boundary -Pic by Ranjith Perera
It was a narrow escape for Isipathana at the 55th Battle of the Brothers at the SSC grounds, yesterday.
Being given the task of making 254 in 57 overs Isipathana were precariously placed at 153 for 7 when badlight stopped further proceedings.
Thurstan was in full control of the proceedings since the first ball was bowled on Friday. They ended day one in a strong position after being invited to take first lease of the wicket by posting a formidable total and then having their opponents in all sorts of problems.
Nevertheless, last year’s captain Sanjula Abeywickrama 79 and skipper Ayana Siriwardena 52 came to the rescue. The pair put on a valuable 128 runs for the fifth wicket to end with a respectable score of 201 for 9 in the 60 overs allotted as agreed by the match organisers.
Isipathana was made to struggle for their runs in the final session of play on day one as they lost four quick wickets with the scoreboard reading 60 for 4 before Sanjula and Ayana saw them through with an unbroken 60 runs stand.
Thurstan right arm spinner Sawan Prabash ran through their batting with a four wicket haul as Isipathana lost four wickets for the addition of just 13 runs to end their 60 over inning which is being introduced for the first time with a score of 201 for 9.
In contrast Thurstan invited to take first lease of the wicket made merry on day one as they sent the Isipathana bowlers on a leather hunt spearheaded by Jayavihan Mahavithana who cracked an unbeaten 125 in only 146 balls that included 12 boundaries and two sixes.
Thurstan standing on a lead of 113 runs going into bat the second time came in with the aim of chalking up quick runs and they did just that. Facing 23 overs they put up a score of 140 for the loss of five wickets.
The run chase for Isipathana of 254 runs was going to be a challenge for batsmen with nearly a session and a half of play remaining. Isipathana got off to a sound start with openers Thevindu Dickwella and Sanjula Bandara putting on 65 runs in even time but the fall of three quick wickets for the addition of 23 runs forced Isipathana to go on the defensive.
Scoreboard
Thurstan 1st innings
Imesh Viranga lbw b Amath 12
Yeshan Wickramaarachchi lbw b Wickramatilleke 14
Nimesh Perera rtd hrt 52
Nimesh Lakshan lbw b Amath 00
Jayavihan Mahavithana not out 125
Sawan Prabash b Dissanayake 50
Nipun Lakshan c Abeywickrama b Siriwardena 38
Pansilu Deshan not out 09
Extras (b1, lb3, nb8, w2) 14
Total (5 wickets: 60 overs) 314
Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-32, 3-33, 4-153, 5-279.
Bowling: Dinath Dissanayake 11-1-77-1, Khaliq Amath 13-2-56-2, Shamilka Wickramatilleke 8-3-23-1, Sanjula Bandara 5-1-15-0, Madushika Sandaruwan 9-1-42-0, Ayana Siriwardena 12-1-80-1, Sanjula Abeywickrama 2-0-17-0.
Isipathana 1st inning (120/2 overnight)
Thevindu Dickwella c Bandara b Wickramaarachchi 10
Sanjula Bandara c Viranga b Lakshan 12
Sanjula Abeywickrama c Deshan b Prabash 79
Leshan Amarasinghe c and b Lakshan 00
Ashen Gunawardena run out 14
Ayana Siriwardena c Mahavithana b Prabash 52
Shamilka Wickramatilleke not out 03
Eshan Fernando c Deshan b Prabash 04
Khaliq Amath lbw b Dias 01
Madushika Sandaruwan c Rahmika b Prabash 01
Dinath Dissanayake not out 00
Extras (b9, lb1, nb12, w3) 25
Total (9 wickets: 60 overs) 201
Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-33, 3-33, 4-60, 5-188, 6-193, 7-199, 8-200, 9-201.
Bowling: Nipun Lakshan 12-0-58-2, Yeshan Wickramaarachchi 6-1-18-1, Janushka Fernando 2-0-8-0, Sawan Prabash 14-3-41-4, Sandaru Dias 17-4-38-1, Ayesh Harshana 9-1-28-0.
Thurstan 2nd innings
Nimesh Lakshan c Amarasinghe b Amath 22
Yeshan Wickramaarachchi c Fernando b Dissanayake 32
Jayavihan Mahavithana c Fernando b Amath 03
Sawan Prabash b Wickramatilleke 08
Nipun Lakshan c and b Amath 14
Pansilu Deshan not out 25
Nimesh Perera not out 16
Extras (b6, lb9, nb2, w3) 20
Total (5 wickets declared: 23 overs) 140
Fall of wickets:1-49, 2-71, 3-78, 4-81, 5-106.
Bowling: Ayana Siriwardena 6-1-38-0, Dinath Dissanayake 5-0-Khaliq Amath 5-0-30-3, Shamilka Wickramatilleke 5-0-27-1, Sanjula Bandara 1-0-3-0, Madushika Sandaruwan 1-0-9-0.
Isipathana 2nd innings
Thevindu Dickwella b Fernando 27
Sanjula Bandara b Harshana 25
Sanjula Abeywickrama c Wickramaarachchi b Harshana 48
Leshan Amarasinghe c Dias b Harshana 05
Khaliq Amath b Harshana 00
Shamilka Wickramatilleke c Lakshan b Fernando 15
Ayana Siriwardena c Prabash b Fernando 00
Ashen Gunawardena not out 05
Eshan Fernando not out 00
Extras (b7, lb5, nb15, w1) 28
Total (7 wickets: 52 overs) 153
Fall of wickets: 1-68, 2-73, 3-88, 4-88, 5-130, 6-131, 7-149.
Bowling: Nipun Lakshan 6-1-12-0, Sawan Prabash 7-1-20-0, Sandaru Dias 7-2-14-0, Ayesh Harshana 19-6-52-4, Janushka Fernando 12-1-42-3, Pansilu Deshan 1-1-0-0.