The Singer Under 15 Division One quarterfinal between Royal College, Colombo & Thurstan College, Colombo was worked off at Horana, at the same time as the other quarterfinal encounter between Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda and Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa was played in Bandaragama.
Royal qualify with bonus point advantage
Royal College Colombo has always mesmerized the school cricketing system with some strategic methods in playing the gentlemen’s game. Throughout the entire season Royal College has dominated teams with some excellent batting performances. After winning the toss it was quite evident that the boys from Reid Avenue would stick to their forte as they decided to bat once again. Royal College was off to a brisk start to the innings, going at over four runs and over.
By the 25th over, Royal College was at 100 for the loss of 3 wickets, as Nithin Panapitiya stabilized the Royal innings with a patient fifty. After losing his partner, Ashen Gamage, for a blistering 34, Panapitiya together with Resadu Thilakarathne, built on a mammoth 150 plus run partnership before Panapitiya retired hurt on 106.
Read: Dharmasoka and Royal through to Under 15 quarter-finals
The Thurstan College bowlers could not figure out any sort of comeback for the Royal onslaught. Sadeesha Rajapakse joined Resadu Thilakarathne at the crease with another fiery 77 not out. Thilakaratne was unbeaten on 152 as umpires Dinesh Zoysa and Ruwan Kumara called the end of play.
Brief scores
Royal College, Colombo 417/4 (85 overs) Resadu Thilakarathne 152*, Nithin Panapitya 106*(rth), Sadeesha Rajapaksha 77* Ashen Gamage 34
Thurstan College, Colombo
Result – Royal College, Colombo won on bonus points.
Malisha Silva’s all round performance seals Cambrian semi-final berth
Back in Bandaragama, Dharmasoka College won the toss and elected to bowl first. Prince of Wales College was off to a very good start as Cambrian batsman Tharindu Amarasinghe scored a quick fire 51. Prince of Wales College was at 77 for the loss of 2 wickets by the 16th over. The Sokian bowlers were well disciplined with some good bowling efforts, restricting the run flow at 135 for the loss 5 wickets by the 35th over.
Read: P. De S. Kularathne College, St. Sebastian’s College through to quarters
Malisha Silva and Thanuj Kavishan looked to strengthen the Cambrian innings as both batsmen crossed the fifty run mark to take Prince of Wales College to a competitive score of 252 for the loss of 8 wickets in the 68th over. The Cambrian batting performance showed a lot of class and fortitude as four of their batsmen ended with a fifty plus score.
Maneesha Rashmika picked up 3 wickets for 69 runs as Naveen Rasanga and Shenitha Halamabage picked up two wickets each.
The Cambrians started on a very confident note in the second innings and bowled a troublesome line and lengths to the Sokian batsmen. Shehan Rodrigo in particular picked up two quick wickets to leave Dharmasoka College in a spot of bother at 42 for the loss of 4 wickets by the 8th over. Even though the Sokian batsmen were going at 4 runs an over, the wickets column was causing them to take a more watchful approach. Dharmasoka College lost only one wicket as Abeeth Chandragupta and Hasith Rajapakse managed to keep the scoreboard ticking at 98 for the loss of 5 by the 20th over. Malisha Silva bought his all-round performance to good effect when he picked up three important wickets to seal a notable victory for the Cambrians.
Prince of Wales College Moratuwa will now face Royal College Colombo in the semi-finals of the Singer Under 15 Division one title.
Brief scores
Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa 252/8d (67.3 overs) Thanuj Kavishan 58, Malisha de Silva 56, Shehan Rodrigo 55, Tharindu Amarasinghe 51, Geeshan Fernando 31, Maneesha Rashmika 3/69, Naveen Rasanga 2/15, Shenitha Halambage 2/69
Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda 154 (33.5 overs) Abeeth Chandraguptha 52, Hasitha Rajapaksha 50, Malisha de Silva 3/34, Shehan Rodrigo 2/18, Aditha Emasha 2/24
Result – Match Drawn (Prince of Wales Won n First Innings points)
