Dharmapala in command

Dilwin Mendis- Moratuwa Sports Corr

The Battle of the Golden Lions the annual second Big match between Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya and Rahula College Matara was worked off at Tyronne. Fernando Stadium, De Soysa Park, Moratuwa.

The Rahula skipper Nadun Tharanga called the coin correctly and invited Dharmapala skipper Sahan Chamikara to take the first lease and Ashan Jayashanka and Imesha Liyanage opened for palians and at the score of 25 Ashan Jayashanka departed and Harsha Gallage joined Liyanage and Put up a valuable Partnership of 55 runs for the second wicket and Gallage had three fours in his innings. Then Pishan Rathnayake joined Liyanage and at the score of 107, Liyange was out for an elegant knock of 66 runs which included seven fours and one six and occuping the crease for 118 minutes and facing 83 balls.

Then Pishan Rathnayake was out at 124 for 26 with one four and the havoc commenced. Then there was another stoppage with Tavindu Maduwantha scoring 27 runs skipper Shan Chamikara was unbeaten on 35 with six fours. This ninth wicket Pair Madushan and Chamikara put on a healthy 69 runs which brought the Palian's score to 233 runs.

Rahula skipper Nadun Tharanga used six bowlers and right arm off spinner. Madura Galappaththi had a fine figures of 8 for 93 a record for the two year series. Piyashan Kulatunga and Harindu Pramadith claimed one wicket each.

In reply at the and of day one Rahula were in trouble with 5 for 56 with their top order batsmen back in the pavilion and only resistance came off the bat of Shehan Kahundugoda who is unbeaten on 27 runs. The Palian skipper Sahan Chamikara and Kushan Jayalath had 2 for 7 and 2 for 8 respectively.

The principal of Dharamapala Vidyalaya K.G. Wimalasena's name will go into the history for commencing two big matches as a principal. The first being Piliyandala Central versus Taxila Central and Dharmapala versus Rahula College Nimal Dissanayake is the principal of Rahula when this big match was commenced.

Dharmapala - 233 in 60.5 overs - Imash Liyanage 66, Harsha Gallage 26, Pishan Rathnayake 26, Kushan Jayalath 12, Jayampathy Bandara 15, Tarindu Maduwantha 27, Sahan Chamikara 35 n/o, Madura Galappatthi 8/93, Piyashan Kulatunge 1/21, Harindu Pramudith 1/38.

Rahula - 56/5 in 29 overs - Tarindu Narasinghe 16, Sehan Kahadugoda 27 n/o, Sahan Chamikara 2/7, Kushan Jayalath 2/8, Imesha Liyanage 1/6.