Thrilling tie at Asgiriya:

Trinity video Isipatana bowlers

S.M. Jiffrey ABDEEN Kandy Sports Corr

The schools under-19 limited knockout cricket tournament match between Trinity College and Isipathana College ended in a thrilling tie at the Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy on Thursday.

But more drama followed when Trinity College supported by video replays lodged a verbal protest with the two umpires and later with a written protest on the bowling action of two Isipathana's bowlers who were responsible for ripping through the cream of Trinity's early batting which had them struggling at 53 for 6 at one stage.

Isipathana College taking first strike were 116 for 7 before the tail wagged a little fit and helped them to total 153 in 43.3 overs. Nibusho Sasanko top scored with 38 which had 6 fours and he was supported by Dinuthri Perera who made 29. There were 23 extras.

Rushan Jaleel took 3 for 33 while left arm spinner Ao Mil Anas was most successful taking 4 for 32. Leg Spinner Akila Jayasundera took 2 for 28.

Chasing a modest total of 154 to win, trinity somewhat miscalculated their approach and were struggling against the left arm spin of Booshana Nibandana and the medium pace of Dinusha Fernando.

They lost their first three wicket for 18 and went for lunch at 32 for 3 off 5 overs.

In the post lunch session more disaster fill as the total slumped 53 for 6 and the Trinitian appeared to have lost the grip on the game were appeared to be heading towards defeat.

But a courageous seventh wicket stand 76 between Kavinda Jayasuriya 49 (6 fours, 68 balls) and Dushan Ranasinghe 26 (4 fours, 30 balls) changed the complexion of the game and brought fresh hopes to the Trinitians.

The score board at this stage read 129 for 6, 25 runs to get with four wickets in hand and not a difficult task.

The total moved to 147 for 7 and 7 runs were needed to win with nearly 20 over left. But all Trinity could do was to equal their opponents total of 153 before Akila Jayasundera the last man to be dismissed was bowled by Booshana Nibandana the result was a tie. Left arm spinner Booshana Nibandana took 3 for 26 while medium pacer Dinusha Fernando had figures of 4 for 38.

But Trinity College who videoed the bowling action of two successful bowler protested to the two umpires during the lunch break to take action accordingly.

But the two umpires took no notice and no action was taken on the grounds it is difficult to 'call' a bowler after viewing with the naked eye.

Trinity College on a perusal of the Tournament rules requested the two umpires to remain in the pavilion to hand over the written protest.

The two umpires waited till 5.30 p.m. and the written protest was handed over to them but they declined to accept or acknowledge it and left the grounds.

The Tournament secretary Nihal Fernando and the general secretary SLSCA M.T.A. Rauf were apprised of this situation and they requested trinity college to forward their written protest with the stipulated for within the stipulated time.

Isipathana College 153 all out in 42.3 over (Nilusha Sasanka 38, Dimithri Perera 29, Harshana Cooray 11, Harith Kalindu 12, Samitha Sulochana 18, Extras 23, Aamil Anas 4 for 32, Akila Jayasundera 2 for 28, Rushan Jaleel 3 for 33)

Trinity College 153 all out in 32.4 overs (Shameera Wijesuriya 15, Kavinda Jayasuriya 49, Dushan Ranasinghe 26, Akila Jayasundera 11, Extras 31, Booshan Nibandana 3 for 26, Dinusha Fernando 4 for 38)