Battle of Kotte ends in a draw

Sampath BANDARA

The 33rd ‘Battle of Kotte’ between St. Thomas’ College and Sri Jayawardenapura Maha Vidyalaya ended in a draw at NCC grounds yesterday.

Man of the match and hero for Sri Jayawardenapura Maha Vidyalaya was fourth year coloursman Navod Illukwatte who scored 61 including five fours and captured one wicket for 41 runs.

Third year coloursman and opening batsman Akila Weerasinghe scored an unbeaten 64 with eight boundaries for St. Thomas College. St. Thomas skipper Michael Van Hoff (who established a school cricket record for the highest score of 365 runs against Lalith Athulathmudali MV) scored an unbeaten 54 runs including three fours and one six.

Milroy Perera’s contribution was 48, and Gihan Benedict collected 31 runs in St. Thomas total of 204. Sri Jayawardenapura MV captain Mithun Jayawickrama who was named best bowler bagged five wickets for 24 runs. Akila Weerasinghe was adjudged best batsman.

St. Thomas College 1st innings 118 (Sanjith Peiris 26, Mithun Jayawickrama 5 for 24, Malith Wickremasinghe 2 for 37, Chamara Jayasekera 2 for 22.

Sri Jayawardenapura MV first innings 147 for 8 wickets (Navod Illukwatte 61, Gihan Benedict 4 for 54, Riyaz Allang 3 for 44).

St. Thomas College second innings 204 for 3 (Akila Weerasinghe 64, Michael Van Hoff 54, Milroy Perera 48, Gihan Benedict 31).

Sri Jayawardenapura MV second innings 52 for 2 (Navod Illukwatte 12, M. Wickramasinghe 13, T. Maduranga 20 n.o.).