Antonians fight back

S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Corr.

St. Anthony's College, Kandy fought back to hold S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia to a draw in their schools under-19 cricket match concluded at Katugastota yesterday. The Antonians continuing from their overnight score of 92 for 1 made 198 all out thus failing to avoid the follow on by a single run.

Fifteen-year-old Mohamed Aflaar top scored with a fluent 55 which had 10 boundaries. Damithra Panditharatne gave him useful support in making 23. Off Spinner Mipura Gamage 3 for 17 and by spinner Madhushan Ravichandra Kumar 4 for 53 were the pick of the Thomian bowlers. Faced with a deficit of 101 and asked to follow on the Antonian lost an early wicket with the score at 16. Skipper Nimesha Gunasinghe tough indisposed took on the Thomian attack and tops it into Shreds in scoring a sparkling knock of 55 hitting 6 fours and 4 sixes facing 74 deliveries.

S. Thomas' College: 299 for 8 declared.

St. Anthony's College: (91 for 2 overnight contd.) 198 all out in 51.5 overs (Mohamed Aflaar 55 Damithra Panditharatne 23, Dilan Bandara 19, Thilaksha Sumanasiri 2 for 22, Madhushan Ravichandra Kumar 4 for 53, Nipuna Gamage 3 for 17) and 236 for 5 in 71 overs (Mohamed Aflaar 35, Nimesha Gunasinghe 55, Bawaneka Wijetunga 49, Kavindu Yapabandara 62 not out, Dlan Bandara 34 not out, Madhushan Ravichandra Kumar 2 for 88).