Off spinners excel in drawn match

S. M. Jiffrey ABDEEN Kandy sports correspondent

Off spinners from both teams excelled in the schools under 19 cricket tournament match between Vidyartha College, Kandy and St. Thomas College, Matara which ended in a draw after rain brought an early end to the match at police grounds, Kandy yesterday.

The Matara Thomians were set a victory target of 181 in 30 overs and rain stopped play after they had faced only 2.3 overs.

It was a match which was dominated by off spinners from both teams. Two off spinners from St. Thomas College - K. Attanayake 5 for 58 and A. Ranasinghe 5 for 36 bowled well in the first and second innings respectively.

When the Thomians batted it was Vidyartha’s off spinner Thillina Rupasena who wrought havoc to restrict them to 129 for the home team to gain a first innings lead.

Vidyartha College 164 all out in 47 overs (Sameera Abeyratne 42, Chamil Chandra Chandrasiri 46, Tilina Rupasena 21, Thirantha Dissanayake 12, K. Attanayake 5 for 58, A. Ranasinghe 2 for 49, R. Punchihewa 2 for 24) and 145 all out in 48.1 overs (Thirantha Dissanayake 37, Niluksha Galapitige 12, Kasun Wijekoon 51, Heshan Gamage 11, A. Ranasinghe 5 for 36, R. Punchihewa 3 for 41.

St. Thomas College, Matara 129 all out in 43.3 overs (N. Nadeeka 14, A. Ranasinghe 25, R. Punchihewa 34, I. Kanishka 13, S. Kumara 11, Tilina Rupasena 5 for 30, Dinusha Gunatilleke 2 for 15) and 22 for no loss in 2.3 overs.