Antonians retain Murali-Vaas Trophy in rain hit match
by Ranjan ANANDAPPA
Rain proved to be a spoiler on the second day of the
Josephian-Antonian centenary cricket match which ended in a draw at
Darley Road yesterday.

Antonian Manoj Sarathchandra who scored 61 driving Josephian
medium pacer Deshan Dissanayke for a four in the Under 19
school cricket match at Darley Road yesterday watched by
wicket keeper Vidusha Jayasinfghe
Pic : Chinthaka Kumarasinghe |
The match was played for the Murali-Vaas trophy and the Antonian s
retained it by virtue of their earlier win.
The first match between the schools was played way back in 1899 as a
one day match which the Joes won. In the 99 matches played so far Joes
have won 39 and the Antonians have won on 8 occasions.
In reply to the 251 for 8 declared compiled by the Joes on the first
day ,the Antonians were 70 for 3 overnight. On the second day play was
possible only at 12.20 pm due to the overnight heavy rain that made the
ground soggy and it was left to the Antonian pair skipper Kanishka
Ranaraja and Manoj Sarathchandra to brighten the proceedings which day
did.The skipper Ranaraja coming at the fall of the wicket of Yohan Wood
for 29 with the Antonians in a spot of bother settled down to play an
anchor role innings in a match which was heading towards an inevitable
draw.
Ranaraja was heading towards a well deserved hundred when he was
finally out for 96. He was well supported by Manoj Sarathchandra (61)
when they finally reached their final destination of 249 in 92.3 over.
The Joes going in for the second time were 50 for 2 in 8 overs.
The following awards were presented:
Best fielder: Vidusha Jayasinghe (St. Joseph's)
Best batsman: Kanishka Ranaraja (St. Anthony's)
Best bowler: Sachin Bulathsinhala (St. Anthony's)
Man of the Match: Sadeera Samarwickrema (St. Joseph's)
Brief scores
St. Joseph's: 251 for 8 declared (Sadeera Samarawickrema 93,
Supekshala Jayatileka 23, Priyamal Perera 58, Fabian Fernando 29 n.o,
Sachin Bulathsinhala 3 for 68, Buwaneka Wijesuriya 3 for 84) and 50 for
2 at close (Pathum Madusanka 35 n.o).
St. Anthony's, Katugasthota: 249 in 92.3 overs (Yohan Woods
29, Manoj Sarathchandra 61, Kanishka Ranaraja 96, Supekshala Jayatileka
2 for 64, Piyamal Perera 2 for 44, A.Alirajah 3 for 50). |