Bhanuka and Maneesha steal the limelight in drawn game

By Ranjan ANANDAPPA

Royal’s duo Bhanuka Rajapakse and Maneesha Thanthirigoda stole the limelight on the second day of the 116th inter-school cricket encounter between Royal and Wesley for the Sir Frank Gunasekera Shield which ended in a draw at Reid Avenue yesterday.

Rajapakse completed 1000 runs and Thanthirigoda took 50 wickets for the season during the match.

Royal who went into bat yesterday in reply to Wesley’s first day’s score of 198 went for quick runs and piled up 280 for 5 declared in 53 overs helped by three half centuries from left-handers Kithruwan Vithanage (51 with 9 fours), Bhanuka Rajapakse 64 (with 11 fours) and Kusal Perera who deputised for regular skipper Yasith Abeykoon who was injured struck 69 with three sixes and four fours.

Royal’s left arm leg spinner Maneesha Thanthirigoda had a match bag of 8 for 95.

Wesley: 198 (Pasan Samarasekera 35, R.Suriyakumara 37, T.Karunaratne 39 n.o., Dulanjan Wijesinghe 22, Manessha Thanthirigoda 4 for 51) and 155 for 8 (M.Pelige 57, P. Samarasekera 26, R.Suriyakumara 41, H.Mowjood 3 for 46, M.Thanthirigoda 4 for 44).

Royal: 280 for 5 declared in 53 overs (Kithruwan Vithanage 51, Sahan Hettiarachchi 23, Bhanuka Rajapakse 64, Kusal Janith Perera 69, H.Mowjood 45 n.o., Dulanjan Wijesinghe 3 for 19).