Fine performance by Sasith Gunasekara

S M Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy Sports Correspondent

Dharmaraja College's left-arm spinner Arvinda Withanarachchi took a step closer to becoming the first Rajan to capture 100 wickets in a season by reaching 97 wickets in their cricket match which ended in a draw at Lake View on Saturday.

Before the commencement of this match Arvinda Withanarachchi had taken 93 wickets and needed seven more to reach this milestone. He tried hard and luck was not with him and he succeeded in capturing on four wickets in the match.

Perhaps he is destined to achieve this feat on a bigger occasion and before a larger crowd at the 106th Big Match against Kingswood College which is due to commence next Friday at Pallekele. This youngster, just 16 years, richly deserves this honour.

Highlight of the match was a fine knock of 73 with 11 fours and one six off 96 balls by junior national player Sasith Gunasekera.

Maliyadeva College: 221 all out in 62.5 overs (W D Dhanushka 40, T N Karunaratne 34, Deneth Lanka 3 for 45, Lakshan de Silva 3 for 54, Arvinda Withanarachchi 2 for 78, Dhanushka Prabath 2 for 4). And 151 for 7 in 36 overs (T N Karunaratne 50, P de Silva 46, Leo Francisco 39, W D Dhanushka 10, Arvinda Withanarachchi 2 for 61, Deneth Lanka 2 for 41, Lakshan de Silva 3 for 31).

Dharmaraja College: 170 for 6 declared in 49 overs (Sasith Gunasekera 73, Deneth Lanka 27, Oshan Samarakoon 23, N Dhanushka 2 for 21, R Jayaratne 2 for 39).