Mahinda College beat Seenigama Combined Schools while Nalanda College overcame St. Joseph’s College in the semi-finals of the 5th edition of the Murali Cup earlier today.
Mahinda College v Seenigama Combined Schools
Mahinda College won the toss and elected to make first use of the Mullaitivu wicket. An innings disrupted with regular wickets was taken by the scruff of its neck by Kavindu Ediriweera, who came in at 5 down and made 41 runs to take Mahinda College to a respectable 139 for the loss of 9 wickets in 20 overs.
Seenigama got off to the worst possible start as opener Amindu Udara was dismissed for a duck. Nimesh Mendish along with opening batsman Kaveesha Dilranga took the game to Mahinda College with a valuable partnership. Following heroics from Nimesh Mendish who scored 42, Seenigama required 11 runs of the final over as KK Kaveen stepped up to bowl.
Kaveen held his nerve to bowl a magnificent over, conceding just 3 runs to secure a close 7 run win for Mahinda College and secure a spot in the final and end Seenigama’s heroics in the tournament.
Brief Scores:
Mahinda College 139/9 (20) Kavindu Ediriweera 41, Nimesh Mendis 3/24, Sathsara De Silva 2/21
Seenigama Combined Schools 132/9 (20) Nimesh Mendis 42, Kaveesh Dilranga 35, Raveen Yasas 25, Nipun Malinga 3/17, Reshan Kavinda 2/18, Malintha Gunathilaka 2/07
Result: Mahinda Beat Seenigama by 7 runs.
St. Joseph’s College v Nalanda College
Favorites St. Joseph’s tournament was cut short in the semi-final as Nalanda College managed to secure a comprehensive 5 wicket win.
Batting first, the Joes managed just 120 as excellent bowling kept a lid on the destructive Josephian batting line-up. Lakshita Manasinghe bagged 3 for 19 while Umeksha Dilshan managed 3 for 23 to for Nalanda.
In reply Nalanda, driven by opener Dilhara Polgampala, made the chase look relatively easy and went on to win by 5 wickets.
Brief Scores:
St. Joseph’s College 120/8 (20) Pahan Perera 34, Nipun Sumanasinghe 31, Revan Kelly 25, Lakshitha Manasinghe 2/19, Umeksha Dilshan 3/23
Nalanda College 126/5 (19.4) Dilhara Polgampala 34, N D R A Kasturiarachchi 22
Result: Nalanda beat St. Joseph’s by 5 wickets.
Women’s Segment
Nittambuwa Ladies’ and Matale Ladies’ secured their place in the finals as FOG-Seenigama Ladies managed a consolation win against Polonnaruwa Ladies in a dead rubber game.
Brief Scores:
Nittabuwa Ladies v North-East Combined Ladies
North East Combined Ladies 54 (13.2) Purnima Sewwandi 2/16, Ruwani Madushika 2/16
Nittabuwa Ladies 57/3 (5.4) Sachini Dilshani 23
Result: Nittabuwa Ladies beat North East Combined Ladies by 7 wickets.
Matale Ladies v Monaragala Ladies Academy
Matale Ladies 105/7 (15) Ruby Rajintha 33, Sithara Maduwanthi 3/12
Monaragala Ladies Academy 49 (11.5) Dilrukshi Arambegoda 4/11
Result: Matale Ladies beat Monaragala Ladies Academy by 56 runs.
FOG-Seenigama Ladies v Polonnaruwa Ladies
FOG Seenigama Ladies 136/6 (15) Umesha Thimejani 40, Sathya Sandeepani 25*
Polonnaruwa Ladies 54/9 (15) Thelishiya Chathurangi 2/03
Result: FOG Seenigama Ladies beat Polonnaruwa Ladies by 82 runs.
