Superb century by Mahesh

S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy Sports Correspondent

A match winning knock of 106 with 13 fours and three sixes by Mahesh Nirosha helped Rio Sports Club, Ambalangoda to score a first innings win over Kandy Cricket Club in their P. Sara Trophy cricket tournament match concluded at Katugastota on Sunday.

Batsmen revelled on a wicket which did not favour bowlers.

Kandy CC batting first scored 285 but they could not defend this total successfully. Amith Jayaratne top scored with a hard hit 80 which had 12 hits to the ropes and one over it. Janaka de Silva also batted well to score 73 with 13 fours and 1 six.

Rio Sports Club propped up by Mahesh Nirosha's knock of 106 totalled 336. There was also useful contribution by its batsmen down the line. Malith Abeysinghe bowled well to capture 4 for 93.

Batting a second time Kandy CC made 243 for 9 at close. Kandy CC's Coach Suresh Peiris now playing over 16 years of Club Cricket displayed good by scoring 64 with 5 fours and 2 sixes. In the first innings too he batted brightly to score 26 with 4 fours and 1 six. Dilip Wanasinghe made 64 with 11 fours and 1 six, Sadun de Silva captured 4 for 57.

Kandy CC 285 all out in 59.5 overs (Amith Jayaratne 80, Janak de Silva 73, Nipuna Ratnayake 21, Suresh Peiris 26, Dilip Wanasinghe 37, Lakshitha Pushpakumara 3 for 48, Chandana Rajapakse 3 for 74), and 243 for 9 wickets off 65 overs (Dilip Wanasinghe 64, Suresh Peiris 64, Chamila Ambagaspitiya 32, Sadun de Silva 4 for 57, Tharanga Premaratne 2 for 35).

Rio SC 336 all out in 64.5 overs (Mahesh Nirosha 106, Madhu Tharanga 37, Rienzie de Silva, 38, Ruchiro Banderiya 3 for 38, Malith Abeysinghe 4 for 93).