Devin and Milan excel for Royal

Thushan JAYASURIYA

Royal’s Left arm leg spinner Devin Pathmanadan and wicket keeper batsman Milan Abeysekara stole the limelight on the second day of the under 19 inter school cricket match between Royal and Mahinda which ended in a draw at Reid Avenue yesterday.

Lanky Left hander Milan Abeysekara who came to the crease with Royal precariously placed at 32 for five in their second innings played a superb innings to steer them to safety. He had eight boundaries in his fine knock of 86 and was involved in a sixth wicket stand of 76 runs with Devin Pathmanathan (30). Later Geesath Panditharatne played a fine innings of 46 not out to help Royal score 207 for nine wickets in their second innings.

Earlier Mahinda resuming their first innings, did well to score 228 runs conceding a 14 run lead to Royal on the first innings. They were helped by two fine innings by Nirvantha Thakshila (71) and Hashan Kumuditha (69). Nirvantha had eleven boundaries and two sixes in his knock while Hashan Kumuditha had 11 hits to the ropes. Left arm leg spinner Devin Pathmanathan turned in a fine display of bowling to capture five wickets for 34 runs including a hat-trick.

Royal: 242 and 207/9 wickets (Milan Abeysekara 86, Geesath Panditharatne 46 n.o., Devin Pathmanathan 30, Chalana De Silva 3 for 71, T.M.Lakshan 2 for 23, Hashan Kumuditha 2 for 35).

Mahinda (First Innings): 228 (Nirvantha Thakshila 71, Hashan Kumuditha 69, Sohan Kariyawasam 25, Devin Pathmanathan 5 for 34, Dhanushka Ranasinghe 2 for 28).