Ananda College, Colombo thrashed defending Joint-Champions St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya by 2 wickets, while Richmond College, Galle overcame much fancied Thurstan College, Colombo by 1 wicket in the Singer schools U19 Division I two-day tournament semi-finals which concluded today at Moors grounds and Surrey Village grounds respectively.
Ananda College resuming day two on 72/5 was in a spot of bother. However, the lads from Ananda built late partnerships to get the scoreboard moving and eventually reached the target and declared their innings at 223 for 9 wickets. Stylish right-hander Kamesh Nirmal made a match winning half-ton and he was ably supported by all-rounder Asel Sigera who chipped in with a valuable 43 to steer Ananda College to the winning line and qualify to the finals.
Paceman Santhush Gunathilake was the pick of the bowlers for the Peterites with a four-wicket haul, while Manelkar De Silva chipped in with 3 scalps.
Brief scores
St. Peter’s College, Colombo 211 (71.3) Shivan Perera 68, Ranmith Jaysena 43, Manelker de Silva 26, Santhush Gunathilake 20, Asel Sigera 3/36, Sammu Ashan 2/17, Chamika Gunasekara 2/35
Ananda College, Colombo 223/9d (72.5) Kamesh Nirmal 52, Asel Sigera 43, Supun Waragoda 33, Lahiru Hiranya 26, Sahan Suraweera 24, Kalana Wijesiri 20, Santhush Gunathilake 4/47, Manelker de Silva 3/67.
Richmond College vs Thurstan College
Chasing a formidable 290, Richmond College lost in-form Dhananjaya Lakshan for a breezy 32. Dashing right-hander Adithya Siriwardane stroked a magnificent century to guide the lads from Galle, while Thaveesha Abishek chipped in with a crucial 42 to steer the Richmondites to reach the target inside 82 overs.
Right-arm off spinner Thushal Adithya and left-arm spinner Naveen Gunawardana battled hard and shared seven wickets between them for Thurstan College.
Thurstan College made 289 earlier in the game thanks to Nipun Lakshan and Sawan Prabash who steered the Thurstanites with two brilliant half-tons.
Brief scores
Thurstan College, Colombo 289 (97) Nipun Lakshan 77, Pawan Prabash 73*, Yeshan Wickramarachchi 47, Prageesha Mendis 22, Avindu Theekshana 5/78, Sandun Mendis 4/72.
Richmond College, Galle 292/9 d (81.3) Adhithya Siriwardana 112, Thaveesha Abhishek 42, Dhananjaya Lakshan 32, Sandun Mendis 29, Kasun Tharaka 25, Naveen Gunawardana 3/63, Thushal Adithya 4/111.
