Nalanda escape with a draw

S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Correspondent

Thanks to rain and bad light which interrupted play on both days, Nalanda College, Colombo escaped with a draw in their schools under 19 cricket tournament against Trinity College concluded at the Asgiriya stadium in Kandy yesterday.

On the first day nearly 25 overs were lost due to bad light and rain on the second day about 15 overs was lost to bad light and rain.

Nalanda College in reply to Trinity’s total of 247 were dismissed for 146 spinner Suresh Wickrema took 5 for 35. Forced to follow on the Nalandians were in dire straits in the second innings with the scoreboard reading 32 for 5 at one stage. But a stubborn unbroken sixth wicket stand of 58 between S. Gunawardena 33 not out and P. Dassanayake 28 not out took the Nalandians to safety. More than the runs it was the time factor which was important for Nalanda’s survival. Suresh Wickrema once again bowled well to capture 3 for 40 to end up with match figures of 8 for 78.

Trinity College 247

Nalanda College 146 all out in 65.1 overs

(T. Vidanapathirana 11, C. Rodrigo 20, D. Jayasinghe 23, S. Gunawardena 11, S. de Silva 12, P. Dassanayake 34, R. Cooray 11, Chinthaka Gokula 2 for 20, Suresh Wickrema 5 for 38) and 90 for 5 in 31.4 overs (P. Dassanayake 28 n.o., S. Gunawardena 33 n.o., Suresh Wickrema 3 for 40).