Suranga Moratota paves the way
By S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy South Group Correspondent
TRINITY scored a thrilling one-wicket win over Royal College in their inter-school cricket match concluded at the Asgiriya Stadium yesterday in a nail-biting finish.
Being outplayed in the first five sessions of the game, Trinity set a victory target of 206 runs in 40 overs, the lions reached their target with one ball to spare. Their win coming after 53 years.
Trinity last won against Royal in 1945 under A. P. Fernando at the Asgiriya Stadium. The Royal captain was V. S. de Kretser.
Royal though beaten were never disgraced as they brought life into the game by two declarations. Thushan Amarasuriya scoring a brilliant 119 with 13 fours, 3 sixes while Jehan Mubarak scored twin fifties - 77 (11 fours) 61 not out (8 fours, 1 six, 68 balls).
Royal declared their second innings closed 111 for 3 leaving the lions to get 206 to win in 40 overs and the latter stuck to their task through a belligerent display of batting by Suranga Moratota who scored 98 in just 77 balls with the aid of 16 fours and 1 six and he was out trying to force the pace.
Royal College 259 for 7 decl and 111 for 3 declared in 31 overs (R. Jayasooriya 15, Jehan Mubarak 61 not out, S. Perera 30 not out, K. Weeraratne 2 for 20).
Trinity College 85 for 7 contd 165 all out in 44.5 overs (Angus Jayasena 20, Suranga Moratota 81, Umesh Gunawardena 5 for 35) and 206 for 9 wkts in 39.5 overs (C. Molligoda 34, Suranga Moratota 98, Kaushalya Weeraratne 32, U. Gunawardena 3 for 27, H. Rajakaruna 2 for 28).
Zainudeen bowls Wesley to 9-wkt win
A FINE spell of right-arm medium pace bowling Musadiq Zainudeen who took five wickets in each innings for 107 runs helped Wesley beat Carey by nine wickets in their inter-school cricket encounter at Health grounds Castle Street yesterday.
In reply to Wesley's first innings score of 307 for 4 declared, Carey were 97 for 3 overnight with Sameera Vithanage - Carey's main stay unbeaten on 61. He carried his good work on resumption completing a valiant 94 with fourteen fours and two sixes to reach the 800 run mark in the current season but could not prevent his side in following on after being dismissed for 144.
Carey batted for the second time with a deficit of 163 runs but with the help of another fine innings of 95 by Yuri Roshen avoided the ignominy of an innings defeat.
Wesley needing 47 runs to win in 22 overs scored the required runs in 4.3 overs with Darshika Jayakody the first innings centurion paving the way with a rapid 39.
Wesley 307 for 4 declared and 49 for 1 (Darshika Jayakody 39).
Carey 97 for 3 overnight 144 (Y. Jayawardena 21, Sameera Vithanage 94, V. Bandara 10, Musadiq Zainudeen 5 for 42, H. Hisham Ziard 3 for 40, M. de Silva 2 for 20) and 209 in 53.3 overs (Y. Jayawardena 10, V. Bandara 12, Sameera Vithanage 25, Yuri Roshan 95, Tariq Zuhair 23, Dilina Perera 11, D. Seneviratne 16, Musadiq Zainudeen 5 for 65, Hisham Ziard 2 for 28, Brian Senadeera 2 for 13).
First innings declarations but match drawn
By Moratuwa Sports Correspondent
St. Sebastian's drew with St. Anthony's, Katugastota in the schools cricket match ended at Moratuwa yesterday. The Sebastianites declared at 254 for 9, while the Antonians declared at 209 for 9. The Sebastianites in their second turn were 132 for 5 at close.
Two half centuries by R. Wickremapala (65) and P. D. Ranawaka (60) of St. Anthony's and the good bowling performance by Sebastianite Nuwan Fernando (5 for 29) were the main highlights of yesterday's play.
St. Sebastian's 254 for 9 declared and 132 for 5 at close (M. Fernando 32, Manjula Fernando not out 38, Kasum Fernando 2 for 18).
St. Anthony's 209 for 9 declared (R. Wickremapala 65, P. D. Ranawaka 60, S. Basnayake 20, Nuwan Fernando 5 for 29, Tharaka de Mel 2 for 27).
Peterites scramble to safety
By Richard Dwight
A FIGHTING partnership of 48-runs for the sixth wicket by Asitha de Silva (not out 45) and I. Fonseka (12) rescued St. Peter's from a certain defeat and helped them to draw their schools cricket match with S. Thomas' at Mount Lavinia yesterday.
St. Peter's made 198 in their first innings, while the Thomians declared at 290 for 5 before the luncheon break with Upekha Fernando stroking a superb 134 with 18 boundaries and two sixes.
The Peterites in their second turn were badly placed at 69 for 5 before De Silva and Fonseka came to the rescue with their match saving partnership which helped them to make 135 for 6 at close. But they faced 71 overs.
St. Peter's 198 and 135 for 6 at close (N. Perera 19, N. Warnapura 26, A. Fonseka 11, Asitha de Silva not out 45, I. Fonseka 12, M. Pieris 2 for 1).
S. Thomas' 290 for 5 declared (Janaka Siriwardene 31, S. Caldera 31, Upekha Fernando 134, Nilanka Pieris 26, Gihan Fernando not out 35, Naren Ratwatte not out 13, N. Warnapura 2 for 39, N. de Silva 3 for 106).
Cambrian - Nalanda game drawn
By Dilwin Mendis - Moratuwa sports correspondent
THE Prince of Wales vs Nalanda schools cricket match ended in a tame draw at Moratuwa yesterday. Nalanda made 241 for 8 declared in their first innings while the Cambrians too declared at 239 for 5. Nalanda in their second turn were 120 for 5 when stumps were drawn.
The highlight of yesterday's play was a fine knock of 56 by Cambrian C. Sampath.
Nalanda: 241 for 8 declared and 120 for 5 at close. (A. de Silva 47, P. Hedigala 38, Kelum Fernando 2 for 25, D. Gamage 2 for 25).
Prince of Wales: 239 for 5 declared (Kelum Fernando 40, P. Ranaweera 46, C. Sampath 56, J. Wanakuwatte 21).
Thurstan beat Mahanama by 115 runs
THURSTAN helped by two fine bowling performances by Suresh Perera (5 for 57) and Gihan de Silva (5 for 17) beat Mahanama by 115-runs in their schools cricket match at Thurstan Road yesterday. Thurstan made 238 in their first innings while Mahanama replied with 201. In the second turn Thurstan declared at 211 for 4 and then bundled out Mahanama for 133.
Among the other good performances were half centuries by Thurstan's Indunil Wickremasinghe (52) and Tharindu Wickremasinghe (69 not out), while Mahanama's Sasith Rajapakse made 72.
Thurstan: 238 (Indunil Wickremasinghe 52, Anjuna Dayananda 43, Tharindu Wickremasinghe 28, P. Satyapala 5 for 68) and 211 for 4 declared (Tharindu Wickremasinghe not out 69, Dhammika Premadasa 38, S. Rajapakse 2 for 51).
Mahanama: 201 (Sasith Rajapakse 72, G. Fernando 34, A. Asela 24, Suresh Perera 5 for 57, Shimal Aponso 2 for 37) and 133 (Y. Gamlath 28, L. Sumedha 36, Gihan de Silva 5 for 17, Tharindu Wickremasinghe 2 for 4).