Isuru Chathuranga hit a fighting half century but an impressive bowling effort from Nalanda saw Dharmasoka collapsing to a first innings score of 185 runs in their U-19 school cricket match which began at Campbell Park today.
At stumps, Nalanda in reply were 100 for the loss of five wickets with Thilan Madhuranga creating enough trouble to the batsmen with a tight bowling spell.
Chathuranga played a defiant innings scoring 88 when wickets tumbled at other end in the face of some tight bowling by the hosts. Left arm spinner Kavindu Bandara led the pack claiming five for 30 runs while Lahiru Wijeratne and Pramud Hettiawatte took two wickets each to dismantle Dharmasoka innings cheaply. Apart from Chathuranga none of their other batsmen could contribute significantly to the score with Thilan Madhuranga being the second highest contribution with just 17 runs.
Nalanda will resume their innings at 100 for five with Avishka de Silva making an unbeaten 23 and would need a good partnership to erase the first innings deficit.
Madhuranga was the pick of the bowlers for Dharmasoka and finished with figures of three for 10.
Dharmasoka: 185 in 52.4 overs (Isuru Chathuranga 88, Thilan Madhuranga 17, Ramesh Mendis 16, Pasan Piyaranga 15, Kavindu Bandara 5/30, Lahiru Wijeratne 2/32, Pramud Hettiwatte 2/58)
Nalanda: 100/5 in 35.3 overs (Avishka De Silva 23 n.o., Malinga Amarasinghe 21, Thilan Madhuranga 3/10)
