By Aubrey Kuruppu

Trinity pulled off a narrow three run win on the first innings over Maris Stella at Asgiriya, thanks to a defiant knock of 68 by Under 19 World Cup player Rushan Jaleel.

Jaleel, together with paceman Chintaka Gokula who had snapped seven wickets on the first day, added a vital 97 runs for the ninth wicket to get the Lions within sniffing distance of Maris Stella’s 260. A missed chance at 256 for 9 proved decisive.

Maris Stella’s second innings was featured by an elegant unbeaten 59 by another Under 19 squad player Angelo Jayasinghe.

Maris Stella 260 in 84.5 overs (S. Silva 60, S. Dileepa 16, D. Chintaka 44, P. Jayamanne 59, L. Dilshan 16 n.o,C. Gokula 7 for 60, S.Wickrema 2 for 60) and 155 for 2 in 39 overs (V. Kanchuka 26,S. de Silva 36,A. Jayasinghe 59 n.o, M. Samarasekera 17 n.o; R. Jaleel 2 for 42)

Trinity 263 in 66.2 overs (S. Wijesuriya 27, K. Jayasuriya 18, D. Wickremanayake 33, M. Sajid 28, R. Jaleel 68, C. Gokula 35; S. de Silva 2 for 41, M. Wijeratne 2 for 33, V. Kanchuka 2 for 11, S.Dileepa 2 for 48)