Praveen Maneesha Leads Lumbini College to a Remarkable Comeback Victory Over Thurstan College

U19 Inter-Schools Division 1 Two Day Tournament 2023/24

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U19 Inter-Schools Division 1 Two Day Tournament 2023/24

The first semi-final in the U19 Division I tier ‘B’ schools cricket tournament concluded today at the Nalanda College Grounds in Colombo, with Lumbini College, Colombo clinching a spot in the finals.

Lumbini College, Colombo secured a remarkable win against Thurstan College, Colombo today, defying all the odds.

>>Sithuka and Kevin Forge Pathana’s Path to Semifinals<<

Batting first Lumbini College only could get a very low score of 74 runs in the 1st innings courtesy of Thurstan College’s medium pacer Yovun Silpa’s 6 wicket haul. Despite the early setback, Lumbini College fought back strongly restricting the Thurstanites for only 117 runs, which at that moment was a rather huge lead given the context of the game.

Lumbini College’s second innings approach was quite an aggressive one with all the batters chipped in with some quick cameos to put up a fighting score on to the board, Lumbini College had a lead of 162 runs when they decided to declare their 2nd innings, Thurstan skipper Vihas Thewmika bowled his heart out by ending with figures of 5 for 50.

Thurstan College commenced their 2nd innings with the hope of chasing the score or batting out the day to clinch that all important spot in the finals, but Lumbini College’s star this season Praveen Maneesha had other plans, Praveen dismantled the star studded Thurstan batting line up by picking up 5 wickets while giving away only 18 runs.

>>Yovun Silpa gets 6 to put Thurstan on top on day 1 <<

Ultimately Thurstan College fell 21 runs short and Lumbini College advanced to the finals of the U19 Division I tier ‘B’ schools cricket tournament.

Brief Scores 

Lumbini College, Colombo 74 (33.4) Yovun Silpa 6/33, Vihas Thewmika 2/6 & 205/9 (62) Nabeel Rajudeen 30, Ashan Shanika 29, Pasindu Maneesha 28, Vihas Thewmika 5/50, Thanuga palihawadana 2/49  

 

Thurstan College, Colombo 117 (38.5) Mulitha De Costa 29, Tanuja Rajapaksha 29, Ushan Sathsara 4/13, Sahan Kaushalya 4/21 & 141 (54.5) Pathum Dananjaya 53, Tanuja Rajapaksha 29, Praveen Maneesha 5/18

 

Result – Lumbini College, Colombo won by 21 runs