Yohan Perera and Ravindu Thilakarathne ran through the Nalanda College line-up in the second innings as they romped to an innings and 78 run victory on the stroke of lunch on day two at the S.Thomas’ College, Big Club Ground.
This was the first time in 16 years that the Thomians inflicted an innings defeat on Nalanda and the last time they did back in 2000, current coach Dinesh Kumarasinghe was in his first stint as Head Coach of the School by the Sea.
Shenal De Silva made short work of Nalanda who resumed on their overnight score of 86/8 as he trapped Kavindu Bandara (10) LBW and bowled Harin Rathnamudali (0) within three deliveries.
Skipper Sachitha Jayathilaka had no hesitation in enforcing the follow on and gave the visitors, who still were trailing by 181 runs, the daunting task of surviving almost three sessions at which they ultimately withered in 31.3 overs.
Jayathilaka produced a stunning catch running all the way from long-off to long on and diving full length to gobble up the Nimnaka Rathnayake (9) skyer while Thilakarathne followed his Captains example to take an excellent reflex catch at second slip to dismiss Dasun Senevirathne (1) giving Perera the double.
Then Perera produced a dream yorker to rattle Thinura Hettiarachchi for four and Jayathilaka dismissed Eranga Jayasinghe for no score as Nalanda were reeling 30/4.
Things got bad to worse as Thilakarathne came on to swat away Kasun Sandaruwan, Dilan Dilpriya and Aroshana Kumara who only managed 9 runs between themselves.
Centurion from the first day Ravindu Kodituwakku came on and got the scalp of Lakshitha Rasanjana with his first ball and Kavindu Bandara as his second.
However Suhaga Wijewardena frustrated the Thomians with a counter attacking 41 inclusive of 5 fours and 2 sixes only to become the fourth and final wicket of Thilakarathne.
On the first day it was the century partnership (104) between Ravindu Kodituwakku and Yohan Mendis that laid the solid foundation as Mendis got out three runs short of a deserved half century.
Kodituwakku went his merry way to score his first century (108) of the season which had 72 runs coming from boundaries. Rashmika Opatha (28), Sithara Hapuhinna (31) and Thilakarathe (17) made brisk cameos in search of quick runs as the Thomians declared with the score on 277/7. Kavindu Bandara picked up four wickets amidst the onslaught.
Nalanda failed miserably with their reply as Yohan Perera bagged the openers with masterful deliveries. Pavith Rathnayake took three middle order wickets as Jayathilaka and Thilakarathne picked one with Yohan Mendis also joining the party to take the eighth wicket on day one.
Brief Scores
S.Thomas’ College 1st inns – 277/7 dec. (67.3 ovrs.) (Ravindu Kodituwakku 108, Yohan Mendis 47, Sithara Hapuhinna 31, Kavindu Bandara 4/66)
Nalanda College 1st inns – 96 all out (36 ovrs.) (Aroshana Kumara 21, Pavith Rathnayake 3/15, Yohan Perera 2/2, Shenal De Silva 2/19)
2nd inns – 103 all out (31.3 ovrs.) (Suhaga Wijewardena 41, Ravindu Thilakarathne 4/14, Yohan Perera 3/ 5, Ravindu Kodituwakku 2/9)
