Milan, Sameera shine in drawn game

by Ranjan Anandappa

The Under-19 School Cricket encounter between Royal and St. Benedict’s ended in a draw with bad light intervening around 4.15 pm with 37 overs still to be bowled at Reid Avenue yesterday. Royal’s Milan Abeysekera and Bens’ Sameera Sandamal were the pick of the batsmen from either side with both completing worthy half centuries.

Abeysekera followed up his unbeaten 65 in the first innings and struck another useful unbeaten 39 in the second innings for Royal while Sameera Sandamal who was unbeaten on 31 overnight helped the Benedictines to reach a total of 164 in their first innings.

Bens in reply to Royal’s first innings score of 144 for 8 declared were badly placed at 97 for 7. But Sandamal (76) and Geethaka Jayathileka (33 n.o) added an useful 57 runs for the 8th wicket to take the Kotahena school past the Royal first innings score of 144 for 8 declared. Royal’s Hashen Ramanayake had the fine figures of 5 for 44.

Royal: 144 for 8 declared (Milan Abeysekera 65 n.o., Yohan Soysa 3 for 27) and 115 for 4 when bad light stopped play (Sampath de Silva 35 retired hurt, Milan Abeysekera 39 n.o., Chandana Jayashanka 2 for 35).

St. Benedict’s: 74 for 3 overnight 164 (Damindu Karunatileka 20, Sameera Sandamal 76, Geethika Jayathileka 33 n.o., Hashen Ramanayake 5 for 44, Geshan Panditharatne 2 for 9).