Navod and Mithum excel for Sri Jayawardenapura

Leslie Fernando

Two fine performances from opener Navod Illukwatte who remined unbeaten with a well compiled 51 and skipper Mithum Jayawickrema capturing 5 for 24 put Sri Jayawardenapura MV in a good position against St. Thomas College in their 33rd Battle of Kotte played at the NCC grounds yesterday.

Thomians having being put into bat struggled to total a low 118, Peiris brothers Sanjith (26) and Ransith (20) were the only batsmen to make useful contri outrious.

The chief destroyer was Sri Jayawardenapura MV skipper Mithum Jayawickrema who bowled his off spinners effectively.

He had the impressive figures of 5 for 24 off 14.5 overs in which 4 were maidens. Mithum had the satisfaction of claiming the 50th wicket for the season.

Sri Jayawardenapura in reply were 113 for 4 at close short of five runs to overcome the opponents total.

The openers Navod Illukwatte and Thilina Maduranga (17) gave a solied start putting on 46 runs.

Gihan Benedict, the offspinner bowled best for St. Thomas' capturing 3 for 44.

The match will be continued today at 9.00 a.m.

ST. THOMAS COLLEGE - 1ST INNINGS

Milroy Perera c Jayawickrema b Wickremasinghe 04, Akila Weerasinghe c Navod b Jayasekera 13, Rangith Peiris c Madusanka b Jayawickrema 20,Michael Vanhoff b Jayawickrema 11, Nipuna Perera c Jayawickrema b Jayasekera 09, Sanjith Peiris c Jayasekera b Jayawickrema 26, Gihan Benedict c Jayawickrema b Wickremasinghe 14, Lahiru Deedeniya St. Boteju b Kariyawasam 13, Riyaz Allang lbw b Jayawickrema 01, Nishan Samarasinghe not out 00, Ian Fleming lbw b Jayawickrema 00,

Extras (b2, lb2, w 13, nb 1) 17

Total (in 49.5 overs all out) 118.

Fall of wickets: 11,17,44,49,74,91,117,118,118,118,

Bowling: Malith Wickremasinghe 12-3-37-2, Chamara Jayasekera 7-1-22-2, Mithum Jayawickrema 14.5-4-24-5, Sasanka Amerasinghe 5-0-10-0, Navod Illukwatte 2-2-0-0, Isuru Kariyawasam 6-1-19-1, Hasitha Samaranayake 2-1-2-0.

SRI JAYAWARDENAPURA MV

Navod Illukwatte not out 51, Thilina Maduranga lbw b Benedict 17, Malitha Wickremasinghe lbw b Vanhott 13, Iroshan Silva lbw b Benedict 03, Mithum Jayawickrema c R. Peiris b Benedict 13, Chamara Jayasekera not out 07,

Extras (lb2 nb5 w4) 11,

Total (for 4 wickets in 52 overs) 113.

Fall of wickets: 46, 65, 84, 101.

Bowling: Riyaz Allans 7-0-18-0, Akila Weerasinghe 2-0-10-0, Ian Fleming 1-0-4-0, Michael Vanhoff 17-4-24-1, Gihan Benedict 17-3-44-3, Nipuna Perera 8-6-6-0.