Ranaraja guides Central Province

By S. M. Jiffrey ABDEEN- Kandy Sports Corr

A match winning knock of 61 with 8 fours by tail ender and St. Anthony's College Cricketer Kanishka Ranaraja guided Central Province to a thrilling three wicket win over Southern Province in their Sri Lanka Crickets under 19 inter provincial cricket tournament matches played at Air Force grounds at Ratmalana.

Southern Province taking first strike made 195 in 46.1 over with both P. Waduge and Theekshana de Silva top scoring with 42 each Trinity College leg spinner Akila Jayasundera bowled best to capture 3 for 49.

When Central Province batted though they were ahead in the run rate but wickets fell at regular intervals before tail enders Lakshitha Madushan (33) and Kanishka Ranaraja 61 pulled them out of the woods with some fine batting.

Southern Province 195 all out in 46.1 overs (P. Theekshana de Silva 42, P. Waduge 42, P. Tharanga 25, Saranga Rajaguru 2 for 24, Kavinda Jayasuriya 2 for 31, Akila Jayasundera 3 for 49)

Central Province 196 for 7 in 40.5 overs (Niroshan Dickwella 17, Saranga Rajaguru 29, Lakshitha Madushan 32, Kanishka Ranaraja 61, Theekshana de Silva 2 for 27, K. Jayasinghe 2 for 31, T. Ekanayake 2 for 21.