Openers help Royal enter quarterfinals

Chris Dhambarage

A tremendous batting performance from Ramith Rambukwella and Kithruwan Vithanage guided Royal College to a rousing 106 run victory over Dharmapala MV Pannipitiya in their Munchee inter school under 19 knock out limited overs cricket tournament quarterfinal match worked off at the CCC ground in Maitland Crescent yesterday.

The Royal opening combination of Rambukwella and Vithanage gave a fine exhibition of batting as they put on a massive 208 runs that helped the Reid Avenue school pile up a formidable 269 runs.

Skipper Bhanuka Rajapaksa then ripped through the Dharmapala MV batting with a five wicket burst as the lads from Pannipitiya were skittled out for a modest 163 runs in the 40th over.

But the day belonged to Rambukwella and Vithanage who took the game away from Dharmapala with a powerful batting display. The former went on to smash an 83 ball 113 which was studded with as many as eight sixes and seven boundaries.

Sri Lanka Under 19 vice captain Vithanage however was dismissed for a well compiled 88 from 73 deliveries inclusive of half a dozen of sixes and eight boundaries.

Dharmapala MV never looked like making a match of it and lost wickets regularly before folding up for a disappointing 163 in the 40th over. Rajapaksa did the early damage with a superb five wicket haul and made certain that there will be no contest at the end.

Royal: 269 in 49.3 overs (R. Rambukwella 113, K. Vithanage 88, C. Bogoda 25, H. Nirmal 5 for 20).

Dharmapala MV: 163 in 39.2 overs (P. Ratnayake 28, T. Gamlath 24, N. Pavithra 21, B. Rajapaksa 5 for 26, C. Rajaratne 2 for 39)

Mahinda win on faster run rate

Mahinda College Galle edged out Trinity College Kandy by seven runs on the Duckworth and Lewis scoring method in their Munchee inter school under 19 knock out limited overs cricket tournament quarterfinal match worked off at the Moors SC ground in Braybrooke Place yesterday.

The Mahindians finished on 137 for 4 from 32 overs when bad light halted play after Trinity College had rattled up a competitive 228 for 9 from their 50 overs.

Dashing left hander Nirvantha Theekshila (49) and Nisala Tharaka (46) gave Mahinda a solid start and they were able to stay ahead of the run rate throughout the innings.

Theekshila hoisted one six and struck six boundaries while Tharaka had eight boundaries before Sri Lanka Under 19 cap Rumesh Buddhika added the finishing touches with a quickfire 21.

Earlier vice captain Kaushalya Wedisinghe snapped up four wickets for 40 as Mahinda College restricted Trinity College to 228 for 9. Middle order batsman Wanniarachchi hit a top score of 52 inclusive of one six and six boundaries.

Mahinda College will now meet either their home town rivals Richmond College or Nalanda College in the semifinals. Trinity: 228 for 9 in 50 overs (S. Wijesuriya 87, H. Wanniarachchi 52, R. Jalil 35, U. Jayashanka 3 for 27, K. Wedisinghe 4 for 40)

Mahinda: 137 for 4 in 32 overs (N. Theekshila 49, N. Tharaka 46, R. Buddhika 21)

Nalanda face stiff competition today

Nalanda College will face stiff opposition when they take on Richmond College Galle in their Munchee inter school under 19 knock out limited overs cricket tournament quarterfinal match at the Moors SC ground in Braybrooke Place today.

The Nalandians had the better of Basilica College Ragama and Moratu MV in the first round and pre quarterfinals respectively. Richmond College defeated Thurstan College in the pre-quarterfinals having overcome St. Servatius College Matara in the first round.

Meanwhile D. S. Senanayake College will confront Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa in the last quarterfinal match of the Munchee inter school under 19 knock out tournament at the CCC ground in Maitland Crescent today.

D. S. Senanayake College are fresh after their stunning win over Ananda College in the pre quarterfinals after they had defeated Vidyartha College Kandy in the first round.