It was another drawn encounter at Reid Avenue as the Royalists took on Thurstan in their second home game of the season.
Winning the toss, Royal skipper Geeshath Panditharathna opted to field first in a late start due to a wet outfield. As he did against Richmond a week earlier, left arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya unleashed his vicious armoury of deliveries to rattle the opponents. Thurstan after reeling at 50/6 grappled their way to 131 which was spearheaded by Isitha Wijesundara’s half ton. Embuldeniya ran through the batting order, capturing 7 scalps.
After losing an early wicket before the close of play,the Royalists resumed their reply but it was by no means hunky- dory as the visitors took wickets at regular intervals, leaving the home side bowled out for 135. At their end, it was Dilan Madushanka who dismantled the Royal line up taking 7 for 38.
At the end of the match, Thurstan second innings stood at 116/4 enforcing a stalemate at Reid Avenue.
Chief Scores
Thurstan College 1st innings – 131 all out (46 overs) (Isitha Wijesundara 63, Navod Samarakoon 33; Lasith Embuldeniya 7 for 55)
Royal College 1st innings – 135 all out (49.2 overs) (Malith Kariyawasam 34*, Geeshath Panditharathna 34; Dilan Madushanka 7 for 38, Thushal Madushanka 2 for 20)
Thurstan College 2nd innings – 116/4 (29 overs) (Salinda Samranayake 44, Sachith Gunathilake 28; Malith Kariyawasam 2 for 31, Lasith Embuldeniya 2 for 49)
Match result – Draw
