Trinity in command

S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen Kandy Sports Correspondent

Trinity College held the whip hand at the end of the first day's play in their inter-school cricket match against Royal College which began at the Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy yesterday. The match will be continued today at 9.30 a.m.

Having scored 245, the Lions went out for the kill by dismissing the Royalists for 112 and asked them to follow on 133 runs behind and were 26 for 3 at close. They will have to battle out the whole day and at the same time wipe out the deficit if they are to save the game.

Star performer for the Lions was last year's skipper and off-spinner Rushan Jaleel who top scored with an elegant 68 which had 8 fours off 73 deliveries and also captured 4 for 46.

The other off-spinner Suresh Wickrema was the most successful bowler capturing 6 for 49 bringing his tally to 73 wickets this season.

Trinity College taking first lease of the wicket after a poor start when they lost their first two wickets for 18, their innings was steadied by a third wicket stand of 69 between Heshan Wanniarachchi (36) and Rajitha Jayatunga (55 with 10 fours, 62 balls).

Rajitha Jayatunga and Rushan Jaleel 68 (8 fours, 10 balls), put on 64 for the third wicket.

Another good stand for the 6th wicket between Rushan Jaleel and Kavinda Jayasuriya 21 helped them to total 245. Banuka Rajapakse (4 for 32) and left arm spinner Devin Pathmanathan (5 for 85) shared the wickets.

But Royal in their turn at the wickets fared disastrously losing their first five wickets before they reached hundred. They folded up for 112.

Royal were batting the second time shortly after 4 p.m. Poor batting by them saw them crumble again. In the first innings it was Banuka Rajapakse (36) and Kithruwan Withanage (30) prevented the Royalists from being dismissed for a very low score.

Trinity College 245 all out in 48 overs (Heshan Wanniarachchi 36, Rajitha Jayatunga 55, Rushan Jaleel 68, Kavinda Jayasuriya 21, Mohamed Sajid 23, Suresh Wickrema 16, Banuka Rajapakse 4 for 32, Devin Pathmanathan 5 for 85, R. Rambukwella 1 for 5).

Royal College 112 all out in 32.1 overs (Banuka Rajapakse 35, Kithruwan Withanage 30, Rushan Jaleel 4 for 46, Suresh Wickrema 6 for 49) and 26 for 3 in 15 overs (Chalaka Bogoda 16, Suresh Wickrema 1 for 17, Heshan Wanniarachchi 1 for 0, Rushan Jaleel 1 for 9).