Ground-less Isipathana cricketers make history entering final

Isipathana College, the only school in the country that has bagged the mos tnumber of titles in the rugby arena without a ground of their own, created history yesterday by entering the final of the Under-17 Division One inter-school cricket tournament for the first time.They beat the fancied St. Sebastian's College on the DL system in the semi final at the Premadasa Stadium and will now meet Ananda College in the tournament's final on August 27 at the same venue.

The match was stripped down to 42 overs due to rain and the Sebastianites made 225 for 6 with Avishka Fernando making 101 in 82 balls with nine fours and six sixes as he passed the overall 1000-run mark this season.

Under the DL system Isipathana were left with a target of 258 and they scored 261 for 3 wickets in 38.2 overs as Heshan Dhanushka scored an unbeaten 131 in 101 balls with five boundaries and 10 sixes.

Like their rugby team, Isipathana's cricketers had no ground of their own to practice and train during the tournament while the pampered schools fell by the way side. Earlier they beat St. Joseph's College in the pre-quarter final and St.Peter's College in the quarter final.

Scores :

St. Sebastian's: 225/6 in 42 overs (Avishka Fernando 101, Malintha Pieris 38,Tharusha Fernando 21, Sanjula Bandara 2/33, Ayana Siriwardena2/33)

Isipathana: 261/3 in 38.2 overs (Heshan Dhanushka 131n.o., Ayana Siriwardana 37 n.o., Sanjula Abeywickrama 30)-(YK)