Annites in nail-biting win over Maliyadeva

Chinthana WASALA

CRICKET: St. Anne’s College recorded a nail-biting seven run victory over Maliyadeva College in the 15th Annual limited over cricket encounter for the Janaka Bogollagama Challenge Trophy which concluded at the

picturesque Welagedara Stadium, Kurunegala yesterday.

After gaining major honours in the 28th Battle of the Rocks annual big match yesterday, Devans faced the Annites in the shorter form of the game with confidence.

Annites batted first but did not succeed in their batting as their batting line-up collapsed when the total was 120. The match was going on with a slow run rate as their 120 total came off 46.2 overs.

C. Rodrigo was the highest scorer of their innings with a knock of 30 runs. Madushanka Perera was the other one who played with a bit of responsibility as he scored 28 runs.

The Devans’ skipper Duminda Dassanayake was the destroyer of the Annite innings with a splendid display of bowling with four wicket for nine runs.

The Devans did not show up the batting display the crowd expected. They struggled with the bat as the wickets fell in regular intervals.

Gihan Ayantha, the Maliyadeva wicket keeper made the highest score of the match with 32 runs while Dasun Madumal trying to get near the given target of 121.

But the Annite Deputy skipper Amaranath Wanninayake came up with two wickets for 20, Lahiru Lankeshwara bagged 2 for 31.

At the end the game was open for both teams as there were only 14 runs needed for the Devans’ victory with only one wicket in hand. But the Last man went down giving away the victory to the Annites by seven runs.

St. Anne’s College took away the trophy after being defeated by Maliyadeva for the last three consecutive years. Out of 15 games played, Maliyadeva and St. Anne’s have now won seven matches each.

The award for the best bowler was given away to the Maliyadeva Skipper Duminda Dassanayake and his deputy Gihan Ayantha bagged the award for the best batsman.

Annite captain Prabhath Aravinda was named the best fielder while the St. Anne’s vice captain Amaranath Wanninayake was adjudged the Man of the match.

St. Anne’s College: 120 in 46.2 overs (C. Rodrigo 30, Madushanka Perera 28, Duminda Dassanayake 4 for 09).

Maliyadeva College: 113 in 40.5 overs (Gihan Ayantha 32, Dasun Madumal 23, Lahiru Lankeshwara 2 for 31, Amaranath Wanninayake 3 for 20).