School Cricket Review:

Morale boosting innings win for Thomians

CHRIS DHAMBARAGE

S. Thomas’ College warmed up for this week’s clash against St. Joseph’s College while recording a good morale boosting innings and 21 run victory over Wesley College in their annual inter school encounter worked off at Mount Lavinia.

The Thomians were simply outstanding throughout the game as they completely outplayed their opponents in all departments of the game.

Their batsmen set the pace for another marvellous performance by piling up a huge 304 for 9 in their first innings.

The Thomian batting was spearheaded by all rounder Naveed Ghani who stroked an unbeaten century with the experienced Tahir providing the back up support.

But their real matchwinner was Milan Fernando who had a memorable game with a matchbag of ten wickets.

The left arm spinner completely mesmerised the Wesleyites with a seven wicket haul and then added three more scalps to his tally in the second innings to give the home side an easy victory at the end.

The Wesleyites of course made a sound start with the openers Samarasekera and Gomes putting on a good partnership in the first innings. But thereafter they simply succumbed under pressure and were bowled out for under two hundred runs in both innings.

St. Peter’s v Dharmaloka MV

Meanwhile St. Peter’s College bounced back in style with a smashing eight wicket victory over Dharmaloka MV in their inter school encounter played at Bambalapitiya.

The Peterites had a close call in their previous outing against Prince of Wales College at Moratuwa where they were forced to follow on following a poor batting display.

But this time they completely reversed their fortunes with an improved performance with middle order batsman Anuk Silva leading the way.

The Peterites of course are really feeling the absence of two of their better players fast bowler Chatura Peiris and top order batsman Angelo Perera who are on national duty with the Sri Lanka under 19 team.

As a result the team has struggled a bit but now they seem to have found a good combination that could help them in the remaining matches in the current season.

Apart from Anuk Silva, middle order batsmen Srimantha Wijeratne and Rodrigo also made useful contributions that helped the side to build up a commanding first innings lead.

In the bowling department leg spinner Thivanka Silva made his presence felt with a superb five wicket haul and snapped up three wickets in the second innings to complete an easy victory.

Prince of Wales v Richmond

Prince of Wales College continued with their dominance this season while outplaying Richmond College Galle by an innings and 41 runs in their annual encounter played at Moratuwa.

The Cambrians came closer of overcoming Peterites in the previous week following a tremendous all round performance.

But this time they made no mistake as they dismissed their opponents for a mere 67 runs and 180 runs in their two innings respectively.

The Cambrians were very much in control of the situation from the moment they rattled up 288 for 6 in their first innings.

The innings was boosted by half centuries from Shashan Silva, Lahiru Lakmal and Dilan Chandima.

The Cambrians then consolidated their position with a fine display on the field where they reduced Richmond College to 35 for 8 at one stage. They recovered to a certain extent in the second innings by scoring a respectable 180 in the second innings.

Kingswood v Maliyadeva

Kingswood College powered their way to their second successive victory while defeating Maliyadeva College Kurunegala by four wickets in their annual inter school fixture worked off at the University grounds in Peradeniya.

The Kingswoodians who beat Wesley College in the previous week produced a repeat performance as they cruised to an exciting victory with three overs to spare.

Their success of course was the balance until the end because they were left with a tough target of making 156 runs from 36 overs.

The Kingswoodians however accepted the challenge and raced to their target with middle order batsman Madhuranga scoring a quick fire 49 following his first innings knock of 48.

In addition spinner Chalitha Dharmaprema also had an outstanding game while claiming a matchbag of eight wickets.

St. Sylvester’s v Ibbagamuwa Central

St. Sylvester’s College cruised to their fourth victory this season when they defeated Ibbagamuwa Central College by seven wickets in their inter school encounter played at Ibbagamuwa.

The Sylvestrians took the initiative with a fine performance on the field where they dismissed their opponents for just 98 runs in the first innings.

St. Sylvester’s of course failed to capitalise on this and managed to score only 171 runs in reply.

But their bowlers certainly made amends with another fantastic display as they bundled out their opponents for 138 in the second innings.

Nalanda v Dharmaraja

Meanwhile the annual inter school clash between Nalanda College and Dharmaraja College Kandy ended in a high scoring draw at Campbell Place last week.

Only two innings were completed in this game as both teams took the opportunity to display their batting prowess.

The Nalandians also produced a centurion in the form Nipuna Karunanayake who hammered a splendid 103 with B. Perera and M. Warnapura also joining in the run spree. The Rajans also concentrated more in occupying the crease and rattled up a formidable 243 runs in their first innings.

Prasad Amarakoon and Tharindu Perera led the run chase with two good half centuries as they frustrated the Nalandians with some fine stroke making.

Trinity v St. Joseph’s

St. Joseph’s College took major honours in their annual inter school encounter against Trinity College which ended in a draw at the Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy.

The game certainly turned out to be a memorable one for the Josephian openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Ruwantha Fernandopulle who were associated in a massive partnership of 263 runs. Both went on to make centuries as the visitors piled up a huge 321 for 7 in their first innings.

Trinity of course had earlier compiled a healthy 246 following some useful contributions from Dilan Gangoda, Wasika Munasinghe and S. Wickrema.

But they suffered a minor batting collapse in the second innings before fresher Kithmal Wimalaweera rescued them with a fighting unbeaten half century.