Isuru and Niroshan excel at Asgiriya

S M Jiffrey ABDEEN, Kandy Sports Correspondent

Royal College made 237 all out but Trinity College lost the grip to some extent in the final two overs of the day in their inter-school cricket match which began at the Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy yesterday. The match will be continued today at 9.30 am.

Isuru Gunatilleke made a fine 76 with 6 fours and 2 sixes and batted for 251 balls. Towards the end he enjoyed the luxury of hitting spinner Lakshan Jayasinghe for two sixes in one over when he was running short of partners.

Earlier, Isuru Gunatilleke and Imal Liyanage 56 (11 fours, 104 balls) put on an 81 for the third wicket which lifted the score from 46 for 2 to 127. He also put on 53 for eighth wicket with Poorna Aluthge (25).

Lakshan Jayasinghe bowled best to capture 4 for 52 with the Trinitians operating only one pacie.

When Trinity College batted Niroshan Dickwella was as usual in a very aggressive mood. But he appeared to be a man in a hurry as he had scored 914 runs during the season and needed 86 more to reach 1,000 runs for season. He nearly made it but paid the penalty in the end. When on 84 stepped out to drive spinner Poorna Aluthge and was stumped. Four balls later, Trinity lost another wicket of Heshan Wanniarachchi for a duck and the total from a healthy 120 for 1 slumped to 120 for 3 in the final two overs of the day.

Royal College: 237 all out in 84 overs (Ranaka Alangama 24, Isuru Gunatilleke 76, Imal Liyanage 56, Poorna Aluthge 25, Gaurav Deva 23 n.o, Lakshan Jayasinghe 4 for 52, Janishka Premasinghe 2 for 46, Alwin Fernando 2 for 54, Akila Jayasundera 1 for 23).

Trinity College: 120 for 3 in 16 overs (Niroshan Dickwella 84, Ron Chandragupta 26 n.o, Poorna Aluthge 1 for 23, Chamika Karunaratne 1 for 24, Anupa Tillekeratne 1 for 33).