Joes rout DSS to record third successive win

St. Joseph’s routed DSS by eight wickets in their Under 20 Elephant Lemonade inter-school cricket encounter concluded at Wijerama Mawatha yesterday. In the process they recorded their third straight win in the ongoing schools cricket season.

When play stopped for tea the match was heading for an inevitable draw but the Josephians rattled their opponents as the pace and spin bowling combination of Sri Lanka’s Under 19 skipper Angelo Mathew and Rajeewa Weerasinghe sent the DSS batting reeling for 67 with Angelo being the best of the two taking 5 for 22 and Rajeewa 4 for 5.

Earlier in the day the Josephians resuming from their score of one for no loss went on to make 171 for 9 before declaring with Rajeewa Weerasinghe making an unbeaten 50. From then onwards they took control of the game to bundle DSS out for 67. Set with a target of 87 to win, the Josephians reached the desired score in the 14th over. Once again Angelo Mathew paved the way with an unbeaten 48.

DSS - 192 (Dimuthu Samarakkody 54, Isuru Udana 43, Gayashan Weerasekera 24, Dilum Harischandra 17.; Angelo Mathew 3 for 51, Anton de Livera 2 for 19) and 67 (Lahiru Weragala 18.; Angelo Mathew 5 for 22, Rajeewa Weerasinghe 4 for 5)

S. Joseph’s - (1/0 o’night) 171 for 9 declared (Anton de Livera 27, Nirmal Rajapakse 23, Angelo Mathew 21, Rajeewa Weerasinghe 50 n.o.; Isuru Udana 4 for 73, Madhawa Perera 2 for 46) and 87 for 2 (Angelo Mathew 48 n.o., Roshane Silva 12 n.o.)

Royal began their Under 20 Elephant Lemonade cricket season in style when they crushed the hapless Sri Rahula Katugastota by an innings and 25 runs in the inter-school cricket encounter at Reid Avenue yesterday. The Royalists were home for tea with the match coming to an end at 2.00 p.m.

The win was initiated by a quick fire 113 in 112 balls, inclusive of eight boundaries and six towering sixes by Banuka Rajapakse who helped the side to take the upper hand on day one and a match bag of 10 for 45 by right arm leggie Haroon Mowjood who ripped through the opponents batting.

The Royalists having taken first lease of the wicket on day one, scored a modest 218 for 7 before declaring and then had Sri Rahula struggling on 78 for 8. Sri Rahula resuming on day two folded up tamely for 80 and made to follow on fared a little better but were unable to prevent the Royalists from gaining an easy victory.

Royal - 218 for 7 declared (Banuka Rajapakse 113, Sahan Hettiarachchi 52, Feroz Ahamed 23.; Chamara Kodituwakku 4 for 45, C. Dikkumbura 2 for 59)

Sri Rahula - (78/8 o’night) 89 (Rasika Udayakumara 41.; Haroon Mowjood 5 for 28, Charith Fernando 2 for 13, Dilan Nanayakkara 2 for 21) and 104 (Haroon Mowjood 5 for 17, Dilan Nanayakkara 2 for 24)

Match drawn at Moratuwa

The Under 20 Elephant Lemonade cricket encounter between St. Sebastian’s and Kalutara MV concluded at Moratuwa yesterday ended in a draw. The highlight of the match was the half centuries by Rajitha Mendis who was unfortunate to miss a deserving ton and Sachinta Cooray.

St. Sebastian’s - 133 (Jerald Bennett 45, Sachintha Cooray 18.; W. Perera 3 for 28, A. Abeysekera 2 for 14, M. Perera 2 for 34) and 254 for 3 declared (Rajitha Mendis 99, Sachintha Cooray 80, Trevin Fernando 34, Randika Fernando 24 n.o.)

Kalutara MV - (49/4 overnight) 119 (S. Silva 34, M. Silva 17; Randika Fernando 3 for 33, Ayeshan Perera 2 for 33) and 103 for 3 (R. Silva 50 n.o.)