Rajans - Trinity game ends in a draw

by S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Correspondent

Dharmaraja College held Trinity College to a draw in their schools under 19 cricket tournament match played at the Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy yesterday.

Trinity College was set a victory target of 148 to win in 27 overs and they were 12 for 1 in 4 overs when bad light stopped play.

There could have been a decision in this match if not for the loss of over three hours of play on the first day due to rain.

Trinity College in reply to their opponents first innings total of 113 just managed to score 114 for 9 before applying the closure. Skipper Niroshan Dickwella stroked a brilliant 50 with one six and six fours facing 49 deliveries. Dinuk Wickremanayake made 26.

Two spinners Arvinda Withanarachchi (4 for 43) and Lakshan de Silva (5 for 30) shared the spoils. In fact on the first day Arvinda Withanarachchi picked up all 3 wickets which fell and added one more last morning. But 16-year-old left arm spinner Lakshan de Silva bagged five of the seven wickets which fell last morning.

Rajans batting a second time would have lost the grip on the game if not for a fighting knock of 72 with 12 fours by Sandun Weerakkody which stopped the lions going for the kill in their den and this helped them to total 148 in 56 overs.

This infused more hopes on them as getting those runs on this wicket was not going to be easy, especially in the detiorating light conditions.

Thus the bad light setting the match ended in a draw.

Dharmaraja College 113 all out and 148 all out in 56 overs (Sandun Weerakkody 72, Deneth Lanka 22, Rochana Wijesiri 13, Akila Jayasundera 3 for 9, Alwin Fernando 2 for 19).

Trinity College 26 for 3 overnight contd. 114 for 9 decl. in 35 overs, Niroshan Dickwella 50, Dinuk Wickremanayake 26, Arvinda Withanarachchi 4 for 43, Lakshan de Silva 5 for 30) and 12 for 1 in 4 overs.