Damitha Silva’s patient innings saved the day for Maliyadewa College as the 34th Battle of the Rocks ended in a tame draw at the Welgedara Stadium.
Maliyadewa resumed play on the 2nd day with 48 runs on board with 8 wickets in hand. Opening batsman Bryan Chandrasena played a good hand early on with a well composed 30 but after his dismissal Maliyadewa was put to a tight spot at 73 for 4.
Skipper Damitha Silva and Muditha Premadasa put together a match saving partnership of 61 runs but more than the runs they scored, the amount of overs they occupied the crease was what made this partnership a match saving one. Muditha scored 20 off 102 balls before perishing as the 5th wicket.
Damitha then got together with Kaveen Bandara and added 67 runs for the 6th wicket with Bandara scoring 30 runs. However the spotlight was on Damitha who occupied the crease for 72 overs and scored a fighting 85. Maliyadewa was ultimately bowled out for 224 runs but the game was safe by the time St Anne’s managed to take the 10 wickets. With the ball for St Anne’s College, Pubudu Ganegama bagged 5 for 65 while Piyumal Sinhawansa and Kavindu Ranasinghe bagged 2 wickets each.
At stumps on day 2, St Anne’s were 53 for none in 14 overs.
Early on, St Anne’s after been put to bat first posted 307 for 7 in their first innings with Randeera Ranasinghe, Tharinda Wijesinghe and Kavindu Ranasinghe scoring half centuries.
St. Annes College, Kurunegala 307/7d (73.5) Randeera Ranasingha 98, Tharinda Wijesinghe 56*, Kavindu Ranasingha 56, Pubudu Ganegama 34, Vimukthi Bandara 27, Damitha Silva 2/68 & 53/0 (14)
Maliyadewa College, Kurunegala 224 (101.2) Damitha Silva 85, Kaveen Bandara 30, Bryan Chandrasena 30, Mudhitha Premadasa 20, Pubudu Ganegama 5/68, Kavindu Ranasinghe 2/47, Piyumal Singhawansa 2/54
