Sri Devananda College Ambalangoda had to be content with first innings honours after they had completely dominated the second day of their inter school under 19 cricket encounter against Kingswood College which concluded at the Police grounds in Kandy yesterday.
The visitors fell short by four wickets from an outright victory as they eventually ran out of time and overs with Kingswood College struggling at 97 for 6 in their second innings still needing a further 30 runs to make the opposition bat again.
In fact the home side showed a lot of determination and commitment in their attempt to save the match as they occupied the crease for nearly 40 overs in the second innings while batting the entire final session under tremendous pressure.
Opening batsman Dinu Poornima (29) and Rachithra Athauda (23) were the two main contributors for Kingswood College in the second innings but their stay at the crease was even more significant as the pair prevented the opposition from taking full control of the situation.
The conditions too had improved a lot and favoured the batsmen more unlike it was on the opening day as Kingswood College batted more convincingly even though off spinner Mahesh Sanjeewa made his presence felt by claiming three wickets for just 19 runs.
Earlier Sri Devananda College continued with the good work on the field and wrapped up the Kingswood College first innings for a modest 169 runs with Thilan Anjana returning outstanding bowling figures of five wickets for 23 runs.
The medium paceman continued from where he left on the previous day to claim two more wickets as Kingswood College could add only a further 73 runs to their overnight score of 96 for 5 wickets.
The home side would have certainly been bowled out for a much lower total if not for a fighting half century from the opening batsman Dinu Poornima who struck a patient 70 with the back up support coming from Dilshan Walisundera (26) and Chameera Bandara (20)
Sri Devananda College: 296-8 decl (Sakun Kanchana 47, Imesh Udayanga 24, Lahiru Presenka 61, Chatura Milan 107, Thilan Anjana 21 n. o, Prabath Jayawickrema 3/24)
Kingswood: 169 (Dinu Poornima 70, Dilshan Walisunadara 26, Chameera Bandara 20, Thilan Anjana 5/23, Sakun Kanchana 2/29) and 97-6 (Dinu Poornima 29, Rachithra Athauda 23, Mahesh Sanjeewa 3/19)
