Inaugural Ruhunu Maya encounter ends in a draw

Rahula Matara Vs Dharmapala Pannipitiya:

Priyan de Silva Matara Sports Corespondent

The inaugural big match between Rahula College Matara and Dharmapala College Pannipitiya ended in a draw at the Uyanwatta stadium on Sunday.

Rahula opted to bat first on winning the toss and declared their innings with the score at 242 for 9 wickets after 68.1 overs were bowled.

Sukitha Dinusanka and Harsha Rajapaksa scored 40 runs each while Kushan Jayalath captured 4 wickets for 69 runs. Dharmapala were 63/2 at close of play on day one and went on to score 189 in 66.3 overs skipper Yasith Lakshitha was unlucky to be run out for 48.

Ashan Jayasanka 33 and Himasha Liyanage 32 batted well. Lasindu Nimsara took three wickets for 46 runs.

Rahula declared their second innings after 20 overs with the score at 140 for 2. Harsha Rajapaksa was unbeaten on 71 off 54 balls (nine fours and a six) and skipper Vihanga Kalhara 63 not out from 54 deliveries (five fours and three sixes).

Dharmapala with a victory target of 189 to be scored in 17 overs were 37/1 when play was called off after the ninth over due to bad light conditions by umpires Asoka de Silva and Prageeth Rambukwella.

Rahula: 242 for 9 (Tharindu Narasingha 32, Piyushan Kulathunga 24, Shehan Kahandugoda 20, Vihanga Kalhara 36, Harsha Rajapaksha 40, Sukitha Dinusanka 40, Himasha Liyanage 3 for 35, Kushan Jayalath 4 for 69, Vimukthi Radella 2 for 45) and 140 for 2 dec. (Harsha Rajapaksha 71 not out, Vihanga Kalhara 63 not out)

Dharmapala: 189 (Himasha Liyanage 32, Ashan Jayasanka 33, Yasith Lakshitha 48, Sahan Chamikara 23, Lasindu Nimsara3 for 46(Mayura Galappaththi 2 for 350) and 37 for 1