The Under-17 Sri Lanka Youth League Cricket Tournament organized by Sri Lanka Cricket commenced on the 21st of August in Anuradhapura.
On the opening day of the tournament, Suhas Fernando from Moratuwa’s Prince of Wales College, representing the Colombo South team, and Kavija Gamage from Kingswood College, Kandy, representing the Kandy team, both achieved centuries.
The match between Colombo South and Colombo North took place at the Samadhi Ground.
Due to rain, the match was reduced to 36 overs. Colombo North won the toss and chose to field first.
Accordingly, Colombo South, who batted first, scored 247 runs for the loss of only 3 wickets. Suhas Fernando scored 103 runs, hitting 15 fours and 1 six off 110 balls.
He, along with Asadisa De Silva, managed to build a partnership of 150 runs for the second wicket in 137 balls.
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Asadisa De Silva scored 69 runs, hitting 6 fours and 3 sixes off 63 balls. Additionally, Ramiru Perera scored an unbeaten 45 runs off 11 balls, hitting 2 fours and 6 sixes.
In terms of wickets, Mewan Dissanayake and Rasitha Nimsara took one wicket each.
Colombo North, in reply, chased down the target with only one ball remaining and 7 wickets down.
The top scorer of this innings was Ramith Bandara, who scored an unbeaten 73 runs off 61 balls, hitting 8 fours and 2 sixes.
He, along with Lithum Senuja, added 91 runs for the sixth wicket in 82 balls, and with Raheed Kareem, added 50 runs for the fifth wicket in 59 balls.
Lithum Senuja scored 38 runs, hitting 2 fours and 1 six off 46 balls, and Raheed Kareem scored 38 runs off 48 balls, hitting 7 fours.
Additionally, opening batsman Dulnith Sigeera gave a good start to the match, scoring 52 runs off 22 balls, hitting 4 fours and 5 sixes.
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In terms of wickets, Ramiru Perera and Chithum Baddage took 2 wickets each, while Abheeth Paranavithana and Hirush Fernando took one wicket each.
Brief Scores:
Colombo South – 247 for 3 in 36.0 overs: Rehan Peiris 22, Suhas Fernando 103, Asadisa De Silva 69, Ramiru Perera not out 45.
Colombo North – 250 for 7 in 35.5 overs: Dulnith Sigeera 52, Kithma Vidanapathirana 22, Raheed Kareem 38, Ramith Bandara not out 73, Lithum Senuja 38, Chithum Baddage 2/35, Ramiru Perera 2/27.
Colombo North team won by 3 wickets.
The match between Kandy and Galle took place at the Saliyapura Army Grounds.
This match was also reduced to 38 overs due to rain, and Kandy won the toss and chose to bat first. They scored 253 runs for the loss of 7 wickets.
For Kandy, captain Kavija Gamage scored an unbeaten 100 runs off 62 balls, hitting 5 fours and 8 sixes.
He formed a partnership of 53 runs for the seventh wicket with Adam Hilmi (23) in 46 balls.
Opening batsman Kashyapa Dissanayake gave a solid start to the innings, scoring 50 runs off 65 balls with 6 fours and 1 six. He, along with Dimantha Mahavitharana (29), built a 91-run partnership for the first wicket in 101 balls.
In terms of wickets, Lindula Nuwanga, Gimhana Rasanjana, and Dulsath Nimawiru each took 2 wickets, while Viran Chamuditha took one wicket.
Galle’s batsmen managed to play only 4.0 overs in their reply. The match was halted at that point due to rain, and the weather did not improve sufficiently for the game to resume.
At that stage, Galle had scored 28 runs without losing a wicket.
Brief Scores:
Kandy – 253 for 7 in 38.0 overs: Dimantha Mahavitharana 29, Kashyapa Dissanayake 50, Kavija Gamage not out 100, Adam Hilmi 23; Lindula Nuwanga 2/32, Dulsath Nimawiru 2/48, Gimhana Rasanjana 2/32.
Galle – 28 for 0 in 4.0 overs: Dulsith Darshana not out 16, Vinod Danushka not out 11.
The match ended without a result.
Two more matches in this tournament are scheduled to be played tomorrow (22nd): Dambulla vs. Colombo South at Saliyapura and Kandy vs. Colombo North at Samadhi Grounds.
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