Romesh and Tineth put Tamil Union on top
by Sajeewa Jayakody
Romesh Buddhika’s brilliant century and Tineth Manishka’s outstanding
bowling put Tamil Union in a probable winning position for the third
successive Under-23 championship as they are leading by 279 with five
wickets in hand at second day’s stump against Moors Sports Club on the
second day in their Sri Lanka Cricket Under-23 Division One cricket
final played at the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo yesterday.
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Jubilliant Tamil Union fast bowler Tineth Manishka, who
wrecked Moors by capturing 6 for 44, is seen here after his
epic feat at the R Premadasa Stadiu, Colombo yesterday. Pic
Susantha Wijegunasekara |
One drop batsman Romesh Buddhika, who has scored 621 runs with four
centuries in the tournament, cracked an unbeaten 111 runs putting on an
unbroken 110-run partnership for the sixth wickets with Matheesha
Perera, who was 41 not out at crease when the bad light stopped play
before a sparse crowd.
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Centurion Romesh Buddhika acknowledges crowd when he reached
his fifty during his unbeaten knock of 111, is in the middle
with his partner Matheesha Perera, who scored an unbroken 41
on the second day of the Under-23 Division One final against
Moors played at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo yesterday. Pic
Susantha Wijegunasekara |
Left handed former Mahindian Buddhika smashed 17 boundaries during
his 139-ball innings, and was also involved in a 66-run stand for the
fourth wicket with Kithuruwan Vithanage, who scored a brisk 34 before
being caught by wicket keeper Kusal Mendis off Sanitha de Mel. De Mel
was on hat-trick as the right arm fast bowler removed first day’s half
ton maker skipper Denuwan Rajakaruna for golden duck in the next ball.
Resuming from their overnight score of 221 for 9, Tamil Union were
bowled out for 223 thanks to the first day’s hero captain Denuwan
Rajakaruna’s brilliant half ton.
Moors Sports Club collapsed to 181 as right fast bowler Tineth
Manishka claimed a five wicket haul. The former Maliyadeva College
cricketer capture six for 44 to wreck the formidable Moors batting order
comprising leading run scorer captain Shehan Jayasuriya (436).
Batting at number nine, all-rounder Thikshala de Silva scored a
lightning half century as the right hander smashed 54 runs in just 30
deliveries with hitting five fours and five sixes. Skipper Jayasuriya
made 36 and wicket-keeper batsman Kusal Mendis chipped in with 31.
Manishka was well supported by Tamil Union vice captain Pulina Thanga,
who claimed three for 40.
The third and final day’s play will resume at 9.30 am today.
Brief scores:
Tamil Union: 223 in 72 overs (Denuwan Rajakaruna 52, Pulina Tharanga
36, Romesh Buddhka 30, Chamikara Edrisinghe 25, Dharshana Mahawatte 21,
Arosh Samarasuriya 3/44, Kaushalya Gajasinghe 2/48) and 237/5 in 50
overs (Romesh Buddhika 111 n.o, Matheesha Perera 41 n.o, Kithuruwan
Vithanage 34, Manoj Sarathchandra 31, Arosh Samarasuriya 2/40, Sanitha
de Mel 2/53).
Moors: 181 in 35.1 overs (Thikshala de Silva 54 n.o, Shehan
Jayasuriya 36, Kusal Mendis 31, Tineth Manishka 6/44, Pulina Tharanga
3/40).
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