Moditha and Aravinda bowl Joes to victory

by Ranjan Anandappa

The Josephian spin duo Moditha Weerasinghe (match bag of (9 for 44) and Aravinda Arukkgoda (4 for 1) helped the Josephians to retain the Vaas- Murali trophy beating St. Anthony's College, Katugastota by 8 wickets in their school cricket encounter played at Darley Road yesterday.

In a low scoring game dominated by the bowlers of either side the Joes spinners produced a fine display by dismissing the Antonians for 35 runs, their lowest in the series dismissed in 90 minutes in the second innings. Only one Antonian batsman Damithra Panditharatne (11) entered double figures.

The Antonians were shot out for 137 in the first innings, Moditha Weerasinghe took 5 for 29. In reply the Joes scored 143 for 9 declared to gain a first innings lead of six runs.

With Antonians crashing for a paltry 35 in their second innings the Joes had to get 30 runs to win which they got for the loss of two wickets.

St. Anthony's Katugastota 137 (K. Deepal 35, Nimesha Gunasinghe 24, Sachin Bulathsinhala 22, Moditha Weerasinghe 5 for 29, Priyamal Perera 3 for 10) and 35 in 19.1 overs (D.Panditharatne 11, Fabian Fernando 2 for 18, Moditha Weerasinghe 4 for 15, Aravinda Arukkgoda 4 for 1)

St. Joseph's 143 for 9 declared in 41.1 overs (Dylan Fernandopulle 35, Sadeera Samarawickrema 46, Pathum Madusanka 26, Sachin Bulathsinhala 2 for 57, Uditha Mahindaratne 2 for 22, Kavinda Udapola 4 for 17) and 32 for 2 in 6.1 overs (Y. Samarasinghe 11, Sadeera Samarawickrema 10 n.o, P. Madusanka 10 n.o.).