A staggering knock of an unbeaten 103 by right-handed Niwantha Herath directed Dharmaraja College, Kandy to register their second consecutive 1st innings victory against St.Anthony’s College, Katugastota today.
Invited to bat first at St.Anthony’s College Grounds, Rajans reached 313 for 6 before declairing their 1st innings batting. Besides the ton hammered by Niwantha, right hander Ruchira Pupulewatte stroked constructive half-centuries bringing the opening stand to a satisfactory 58 runs. Prasad Dharmarathne bagged four wickets for the hosts.
Janidu Himsara (26) was the only top scorer in the disappointing Antonian batting card that made them to put just 129 all out on the board; which was 84 runs short of avoiding the follow on. The tough spin attack of the visitors ruined the Katugasthota team’s batting as Asmitha Rajapaksha and Ruchira Pupulewatte claimed 3 break-throughs a peice at regular intervals.
Resuming the second innings, St.Anthony’s College added another 123 runs for the loss of four, before the stumps on day two. Former Sri Lankan Under 17 poolist Mohommed Aflar smashed an unbeaten 61 while Asmitha Rajapaksha grabbed another couple of wickets taking Rajans to a comfortable 1st innings win over St.Anthony’s College, Katugastota.
Match Summary
Dharmaraja College, Kandy – 1st Innings
(269/4 overnight) 313/6 in 98 Overs
(Niwantha Herath 103*, Ruchira Pupulewatte 50: Prasad Premarathne 4 for 103, Janidu Himsara 1 for 8)
St.Anthony’s College, Katugastota – 1st Innings
129 all out in 56.2 Overs
(Janidu Himsara 26, Sandaruwan Dharmarathne 19: Asmitha Rajapaksha 3 for 19, Ruchira Pupulewatte 3 for 20)
St.Anthony’s College, Katugastota – 2nd Innings
123/4 in 37 Overs
(Mohommed Aflar 61*, Kavindu Yapa 29*: Asmitha Rajapaksha 2 for 24, Gihan Witharana 2 for 22)
Result – DRCK won the first innings
