A match bag of 13 wickets for 101 runs to Ashmitha Rajapaksha helped Dharmaraja College, Kandy, record their first outright win of the season against St.Benedict’s College, Kotahena yesterday. The Rajans, playing in their home grounds, won the game comfortably by 5 wickets.
After winning the toss, St.Benedict’s College batted first and were all out for 129 runs in their 1st innings. The highest scorer for the visitors, Thulina Dilshan, stroked a well compiled 53. Ashmitha Rajapaksha, who was the pick of the bowlers, bagged 5 wickets for 27 runs.
In reply, Dharmaraja College put up a substantial score of 253 sparing all their wickets. Deshan Gunasinghe bashed a confrontational 43 while Maheesh Theekshana grabbed 3 wickets for 27.
The visitors were bundled out for 214 in their 2nd innings setting the Rajans a tricky target of 90 runs for victory. Thulina Dilshan showed that he was in top form once again, with a sensational knock of 75. Although he managed to give some hope to his team, Ashmitha Rajapaksha turned the whole game in the Rajans’ favour by claiming another 8 wickets for 74 runs, with his splendid off-break bowling.
St.Benedict’s College, Kotahena – 1st Innings – 129 All Out (36 overs) (Thulina Dilshan 53, Geethal Fernando 23: Ashmitha Rajapaksha 5 for 27, Ruchira Pupulewatte 2 for 34)
Dharmaraja College, Kandy – 1st Innings (225/7 overnight) – 253 All Out (60.5 overs) (Deshan Gunasinghe 43, Wenuka Galahityawa 30, Niwantha Herath 25: Maheesh Theekshana 3 for 27)
St.Benedict’s College, Kotahena – 2nd Innings – 214 All Out (72 overs) (Thulina Dilshan 75, Supun Lakshan 51: Ashmitha Rajapaksha 8 for 74)
Dharmaraja College, Kandy – 2nd Innings – 93/5 (19.3 overs) (Niwantha Herath 19: Madushan Kularathne 3 for 21)
