Nalanda in quarters beating defending champ Trinity

S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Corr

Nalanda College, Colombo entered the quarter finals of the Twenty 20 Schools Cricket Tournament organised by the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket when they defeated the defending champions Trinity College by four wickets at the Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy on Monday.

It was the batting of the lions which did not reach the expected mark and contributed to this defeat.

Trinity College batting first were 123 for 6 wickets in their 20 overs. But they had the potential to score more.

Opener Bhaghya Pallihawadana scored 37 off 30 balls hitting 5 fours. Vice Captain Rajitha Jayatunga too scored 37 with 6 fours off 30 balls.

In fact Trinity College were 79 for 5 at one stage before Rajitha Jayatunga with the help of the middle order batsmen took them to 123 for 6.

The Nalandians chasing a target of 124 to win reached the winning post with 17 balls to spare.

Their innings was powered by Woshantha Silva who scored 36 in only 20 balls with 7 fours which made it easy for the batsmen who followed.

Dilan Wenura continued the flow of quick runs in making 34 off 33 balls with 6 fours. At one stage it looked like that the Trinitians were on victory course when the Nalandians were struggling at 71 for 5 when a sixth wicket stand of 49 batsmen Dilan Wenura and Malinga Amarasinghe brought them victory.

Trinity College 123 for 6 in 20 overs (Bhaghya Pallihawadana 37, Rajitha Jayatunga 37, Aviskha Dissanayake 21, Amrith Srimahan 20, Anuthara Madawa 2 for 26, Malinga de Silva 2 for 23).

Nalanda College 125 for 6 in 17.1 overs (Woshantha Silva 36, Dilhan Wenura 34, Malinga Amerasinghe 27, Charith Sudaraka 2 for 23).