Mahanama enter under 17 final with a 43 run win over Bens

CHRIS DHAMBARAGE

Mahanama College set up a final showdown with Ananda College while outplaying St. Benedict's College by 43 runs in the Lemonade Cup Super 17 division one cricket tournament second semifinal match worked off at the CCC grounds in Maitland Crescent yesterday.

Mahanama College hit up 173 runs after being put into bat with man of the match and opener Dhanushka Gunatilleke stroking a fluent half century inclusive of two sixes and one boundary.

Mahanama College were well placed at 116 for 3 at one stage but lost their last seven wickets for the addition of just 57 runs with Imal Fernando claiming three wickets for 35 from nine overs. However their innings was boosted with the addition of 34 extras which in fact was the second top scorer. The Benedictines were always up against it from the start and were dismissed for 130 in the 46th over. The spinners Tharindu Nipendra and Chanuka Rupasinghe did the damage with three wickets each.

Mahanama College will now meet Ananda College in the final scheduled for Tuesday at the same venue.

Mahanama: 173 in 47.5 overs (Hashan Perera 22, Dhanushka Gunatilleke 50, Aravinda de Silva 20, Imal Fernando 3 for 37).

St. Benedict's: 130 in 45.5 overs (Nisal Fonseka 22, Eranga Ratnayake 26, Dinsuhan Wanagasuriya 23, Tharindu Nipendra 3 for 13, Chanuka Rupasinghe 3 for 24, Randhika Wellikannage 2 for 30).