Auwardt excels in drawn game

By Jatila KARAWITA

CRICKET: St. Benedict's left-arm leg-spinner Dilanka Auwardt claimed a fine match-bag of (9-102), as their inter-school cricket encounter against Isipatana MV, petered into a tame draw at Kotahena yesterday.

Set a challenging victory target of 179 to win off a maximum 15 overs, the Bens showed no inclination to go for it and ended on 45 for 1.

Earlier Bens left-arm spinner Dilanka Auwardt who bagged excellent figures of (6-56) to help bundle out Isipatana MV for a modest first-innings of 139, was among the wickets as he picked up (3-46), as St. Benedict's College restricted the visitors in their second essay to 180 for 8 declared.

For the lads from Havelock Town number three bat Dimuth Warnapitiya top scored with a solid 58 studded with eight boundaries and one six. Chamara Waduge remained unbeaten on 33. The Bens resuming at their overnight score of 119 for 9 declared their first innings at 140 for 9 with Auwardt top-scoring with 35 not out to round off a fine all-round performance.

Isipatana MV 1st Innings: 139 all out and 180-8 wkts dec. (Dimuth Warnapitiya 58, Chamara Waduge 33 n.o., Sakuntha Premarathne 24, Nilusha Sasanka 26, Dilanka Auwardt 3-46, Dilshan Perera 3-44).

St. Benedict's College 1st Innings: 119-9 cont. 140-9 wkts dec and 45-1 wicket at close (Nishal Fonseka 28, Waruna Fernando 13 n.o.).