Kalutara Vidyalaya ended the first day of the 58th annual big match, dubbed the Battle of the Mangosteens, at a dominating stance with 322 runs on the board in their first innings against Tissa Central College, Kalutara.
Tissa Central College won the toss and elected to bowl first. Kalutara Vidyalaya, home to two national stars TM Dilshan and Milinda Siriwardene were ecstatic about the opportunity that came knocking on their door to get a big total on the board early, in a batsmen’s paradise at the Surrey Village Cricket Stadium in Maggona.
The openers took their time establishing themselves in a rather unfamiliar ground to them, as the previous matches against the two teams have always been held at the Kalutara Town Club Grounds. Nadeera Dilshan in particular, was playing well, when he got out pushing a bit more bottom hand in to a seemingly defensive shot, which resulted in an easy catch to Malindu Ravishan. KV batsmen had the mindfulness to leave the good deliveries be and decimate the weak ones by hitting them well over the boundary.
Third-time member of Kalutara Vidyalaya’s First XI, Hiruna Chathumina, played his innings of the year, and possibly his career, scoring 132 off of a mere 168 deliveries with 10 fours and 7 sixes. He went on to score the highest individual score at a Battle of the Mangosteens in its long history of 58 years. He was one of the most successful batsmen for Kalutara Vidyalaya last season, with several half-tons to his name.
Photo Album – Battle of the Mangosteens – Day 1
Kalutara Vidyalaya decided to declare their innings after Chathumina was dismissed by Harshana Silva, the only successful bowler yesterday from Tissa Central College who picked up a five-wicket-haul.
Tissa openers Kosala Ravindu and Gangul Raveena stayed at the crease till the end of day’s play, collecting 11 runs in the process.
Score Summary
Kalutara Vidyalaya – 1st Inning: 322/8d (80.3 overs) H. Chathumina 132 (10x4s, 7x6s), Y Umayanga 41 (8x4s), D. Gimhan (4x4s)
Tissa Central College – 1st Inning: 11/0 (7 overs) G. Raveena 8 (2x4s), K. Ravindu 2
