Nimesha props up Antonians

S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Correspondent

Nimesha Gunasinghe stroked a brilliant 105 with 11 fours and 2 sixes off 176 balls helped St. Anthony’s College, Kandy to score 233 on the opening day of their schools under 20 cricket tournament match against Thurstan College, Colombo which began at Katugastota yesterday. The match will be continued today at 9.30 a.m.

The Antonians taking first lease of the wicket ran into early trouble before they were rescued by a third wicket partnership of 153 between Nimesha Gunasinghe (105) and Kavinda Pullekuttiarachchi 69 (2 sixes, 7 fours). But the batsmen who followed failed to consolidate as they failed against the left arm spin of R.S. Perera who took 6 for 50 supported by D.R. Lakshan from the other end.

At close Thurstan College had replied with 77 for 2.

Nimesh Gunasinghe became the first cricketer this season to get a hundred in the opening inning of a school cricket match.

His century came two hours after Chandimal de Silva of Dharmaraja College scored his century in the pre-lunch session of the second day of their match against St. Thomas college, Matale yesterday.

St. Anthony’s College 233 all out in 59.3 overs Viraj Deepal 27, Nimesha Gunasinghe 105, Kavinda Pullikuttiarachchi 69, D.R. Lakshan 2 for 37, R.S. Perera 6 for 50.

Thurstan College 71 for 2 in 17 overs (M. Jaleel 22, H.D. Kulasekera 26 not out R. Hamran 1 for 24).