Sylvestrians in first innings win

S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy Sports Corr.

Left-arm spinner Nimesha Mendis took 5 for 19 to bowl St. Sylvester's College to a first innings win over St. Aloysius College, Galle in their schools Under-19 Division I Cricket Tournament match concluded at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Heavy incessant rains on the first day washed off play without a ball being bowled. But the wicket and the bowlers run-up was well covered and play started on time yesterday with bright sunshine falling.

St. Aloysius batting first were skittled out for 83 off 63.4 overs. Though the total was small they occupied the crease for long to make it difficult for the Sylvestrians to chase this total in the 28 overs available.

Nimesha Mendis who took 92 wickets last season was supported by leg-spinner and skipper Dushan Malalasena who took 3 for 2. Before the match, the Sylvestrians lost the services of key all-rounder and vice captain Sumedha Dissanayake who injured his arm following a fall during the warm up session and was rushed to the hospital with a suspected fracture.

The Sylvestrians chasing a target of 84 for first innings points made a valiant bid on a wicket favouring the bowlers and reached the winning post with 3 wickets to spare in 28 overs.

St. Aloysius College left-arm spinner Chathuranga Kumara bowled best to capture 4 for 24.

St. Aloysius College: 83 all out in 63.4 overs (V. Sandakelum 23, Nilupul Samarakoon 15, Nimesha Mendis 5 for 19, Dushan Malalasena 3 for 2).

St. Sylvester's College: 88 for 7 in 28 overs (M. Rifaz 16, Indunil Samarananda 25, Harshana Madhushan 17, Chathuranga Kumara 4 for 24, Nilupul Samarakoon 2 for 22).