Rains save Thomians in inaugural T/20
by Leslie Fernando
CRICKET: Royal College and S. Thomas' College were declared joint
winners of the shortest version of the longest battle Twenty-20
encounter played for the first time for J. R. Jayewardene Trophy played
at P. Sara Stadium yesterday. The umpires first suspended play and then
due to heavy rain the match was called off.
Royalist took major honours in this inaugural match and it's rain
that saved the Thomians from defeat.
Thomians batting first were struggling and were lowly placed at 5 for
53 but a stubborn and a valuable sixth wicket partnership of 36 runs
between skipper Dinesh Walpita who top scored with 36 off 36 balls
including 4 boundaries and Isuru Koswatte (17 in 21 balls with one six)
lifted the total to 89 runs. Finally the Thomians were dismissed for 107
in 18.3 overs.
Sachin Pathirana was the other batsman to enter double figures
scoring 10. In the Thomian innings there were four run outs due to bad
running between the wickets.
Right arm medium paceman Gaurav Deva had the best figures of 3
wickets for 15 runs in four overs. The other paceman Imran Khan claimed
2 for 15 in 3 overs.
Royal with an asking rate of 5.4 runs per over for victory started in
great fashion with openers Kithruwan Vithanage and Madusha Rajaratna
going on the attack from the outset. In the first over Royal scored 12
runs in the second, 16 runs, third 10 runs and in the fourth over 16.
Royal's 50 came in just 22 balls with lefthander Kithruwan Vithanage
doing most of the scoring. Kithruwan batted in great style to be
unbeaten with 44 runs in just 19 balls with 6 fours and three mighty
sixes. He cut drove and pulled with authority. He was ably supported by
Madusha Rajaratne who remained unbeaten with 11 runs in 8 balls with 2
fours. On completion of 4.2 overs Royal were sitting pretty at 62 for no
loss when the umpires suspended play for bad light. Royal needed only
just four more balls to achieve victory on Duckworth Lewis system but
that never came as the rains came down heavily and the umpires decided
to stop further play.
The awards:
Best Batsman: Kithruwan Vithanage (Royal)
Best Bowler: Gaurav Deva (S. Thomas' College)
Best Fielder: Madusha Rajaratne (Royal)
Most Number of Sixes: Kithruwan Vithanage (Royal).
The awards:
Best Batsman: Kithruwan Vithanage (Royal)
Best Bowler: Gaurav Deva (S. Thomas' College)
Best Fielder: Madusha Rajaratne (Royal)
Most Number of Sixes: Kithruwan Vithanage (Royal).
S. THOMAS' COLLEGE INNINGS
Pasan Wijewardena I. Khan 04
Ashen Fernando run out 00
Nuwan Kavinda c Rajapakse b. Khan 01
Dinesh Walpita run out 36
Sachin Peiris c. Dissanayake b Deva 10
Chanodh Pathirana c Rajapakse b Deva 12
Isuru Koswatta c Vithanage b Deva 17
Nilaksha Fernando c Rambukwella b Rajapakse 06
Umesh Fernando run out 06
Lahindra Peiris not out 03
Yasas Nanayakkara run out 00
Extras (b-3, lb-5, w-2, nb-1) 11
Total (all out 18.3 overs) 107
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-6, 3-8, 4-27, 5-53, 6-89, 7-93, 8-98, 9-106
Bowling:- Banuka Rajapaksa 3-0-16-1,
Isuran Khan 3-0-15-2,
Charutha Rajarathne 3-0-15-0,
Gaurev Dev 4-0-21-3,
Ramith Rambukwella 3-0-20-0,
Maleesha Thanthrigoda 2.3-0-12-0.
ROYAL COLLEGE INNINGS
Nadusha Rajarathne not out 11
Kithruwan Vithanage not out 44
Extras (w6 nb1) 02
Total
for no loss in 4.2 overs 62
Bowling: Dinesh Walpita 2-0-12-0,
Nilaksha Fernando 1-0-16-0,
Chamodh Pathirana 1.2-18-0. |
