Twenty wickets fall on first day of Royal-Rajans match

Dharmaraja's Chandimal takes a hat-trick

By S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy Sports Correspondent

Twenty wickets fell on the first day and Dharmaraja College's medium pacer Chandimal Ratnayake performed the hat-trick on the first day of their Schools Lemonade Trophy cricket tournament match against Royal College, Colombo, which began at the University Grounds, Peradeniya yesterday. The match will be continued today at 9.30 a.m.

Royal College taking first strike were 65 for 1 at one stage but they slumped to 71 for 8 as Chandimal Ratnayake struck in his seventh over by sending back Charaka Ratnayake, Charith Fernando and Haroon Mowjood in successive deliveries to end up with the impressive figures of 9-2-15-6. He was well supported by Yohan Senaviratne (2 for 2) and Prasad Amarakoon (2 for 37).

Rajans in their turn at the wickets gave a woeful display being dismissed for 72. They were 42 for 7 at one stage and later 50 for 9. Charith Fernando (3 for 17), Yasitha Abeykoon (3 for 21) and Haroon Mowjood (3 for 20) bowled well for Royal.

At close Royal had scored 35 for no loss in their second essay and lead by 68 runs with all their wickets intact. The match is poised for an interesting finish today.

Royal College: 105 all out in 46.3 overs (V. Malwatte 12, Sahan Hettiarachchi 43, Yasitha Abeykoon 23, Chandimal Ratnayake 6 for 15, Prasad Amarakoon 2 for 37, Yohan Senaviratne 2 for 2) and 35 for no loss in 8 overs (Vinod Malwatte 15 not out, Sahan Hettiarachchi 11 not out).

Dharmaraja College: 72 all out in 35.5 overs (Thushara Wedagedara 13, P. R. Amarakoon 11, Charith Fernando 3 for 17, Yasitha Abeykoon 3 for 21, Haroon Mowjood 3 for 20).