Bandarawela Central earn major honours at 21st Battle of the Gold in Uva
View(s):Bandarawela Central College earned major honuors in the 21st Battle of the Golds in Uva cricket big match played annually against hometown and traditional rivals St. Joseph’s College played at last weekend at the Bandarawela esplanade.
Put into bat first Bandarawela Centeal posted 142 runs in 46.4 with Malsha Gimhan top scoring 31 in a low-scoring affair as right-arm paceman Viboothi Bandara claimed a five wicket haul. Despite having the upper hand, St. Joseph’s failed to capitalise against the heroics of right-arm off-spinner Janitha Gismantha, who picked seven wickets conceding 25 runs in 20 overs.
Both captains sharing the trophy
With an advantage of 42 runs from the first innings, Bandarawela Central declared their second innings at 185 for the loss of 9 wickets, leaving St. Joseph’s a target of 228 runs, a daunting task in a low scoring affair. Minuda Saveen top scored for Bandarawela Central with 63 runs off 116 deliveries, including seven fours and a six. Viboothi Bandara returned to pick three scalps with Chamindu Thejitha and Sarith Malinda picking two wickets each.
Janitha Gismantha returned to pick four wickets, as he completed a match-bag of 11 wickets, while Kavishka Dananjaya claimed three scalps to restrict St. Joseph’s to 99 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in the allotted 30 overs to end the match in a draw. With the first innings advantage, Bandarawela Central walked away with major honours.
Janitha Gismantha - Man of the Match
Viboothi Bandara of St. Joseph’s Collage was named the Best Bowler for taking picking eight wickets in the match, while his team mate Buddhitha Dilshan was named the Best Fielder. Badarawela Central College’s Minuda Saveen was aptly named the Best Batsman for his epic knock of 63 runs in the second innings, while his team mate Janitha Gismantha was crowned as the Man of the Match for his heroic of claiming 11 wickets in the match, including a seven wicket haul in the first innings.
The Battle of Golds in Uva returned to Bandarawela after a lapse of six years, and attracted a large crowd during both days. Former Sri Lanka fast bowler Nuwan Soyza graced the award ceremony as the chief guest, while veteran Sri Lankan athlete, two-time Asian record holder and Olympian S.L.B. Rosa graced the event as a special guest.
Budditha Dilshan - Best Fielder
Minuda Saveen - Best Batsman
Viboothi Bandara - Best Bowler