St. Joseph’s College showed a dominant batting performance against St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa, posting a near 400 total on the opening day in ‘Tier A’ 2-day encounter of the U19 Division I Schools Cricket Tournament.
Having won the toss, St. Sebastian’s College opted to bowl first and reduced St. Joseph’s to 27/2. Opener Abishek Jayaweera, who batted patiently in the morning session, compiled a valuable half-century, but the St. Sebastian’s bowlers managed to pick two important scalps from the other end.
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In the rebuilding process, the Josephians Skipper Lahiru Amarasekara also registered a fifty before their lower middle order contributed more than the team expected. Yenula Dewthusa and Senuja Wakunugoda were looking extremely good to reach the three-figure mark, but both were unlucky to do so.
Dewthusa was dismissed for 86 off 101 balls while hitting 9 fours and 3 sixes. Wakunugoda fell 3 runs short of his hundred after compiling 10 fours and 2 sixes in 137 balls.
After including some useful contributions of Kaveen Pathirana (29) and Maanasa Madubashana (30), St. Joseph’s College were bowled out for a massive 393 after batting for 95.1 overs. On the bowling front, Manuja Chanthuka grabbed 4/117, while Navod Fernando scalped a couple.
In another traditional match, Moratu Maha Vidyalaya faced Holy Cross College, Kalutara. On a bowling-friendly surface, Holy Cross bowlers restricted Moratu Maha Vidyalaya to 73/9 after opting to bowl first.
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Somehow, Moratu Maha Vidyalaya managed to post 141 for their 1st innings, courtesy of their No.11 batter Lakindu Yahampath as he put on a fight with a 52-run knock. Hivin Kenula dismantled the opponents’ batting order, claiming a 5-wicket haul.
Holy Cross lost 4 wickets for 64 runs in response, including a wicket in the final over of the day which brought the end of the day 1 action
Brief Scores:
St. Joseph’s College, Colombo 393 (95.1) Senuja Wakunugoda 97, Yenula Dewthusa 86, Abishek Jayaweera 55, Lahiru Amarasekara 53, Manuja Chanthuka 4/117, Navod Fernando 2/54
St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa 5/0 (4)
Day 1 Stumps.
Moratu Maha Vidyalaya, Moratuwa 141 (53.3) Lakindu Yahampath 52, Kanchana Nimshan 27, Hivin Kenula 5/30, Sanuka Cheran 2/34, Himaru Deshan 2/37
Holy Cross College, Kalutara 64/4 (26.3) Akash Gamage 19, Sonal Awadika 18, Himaru Deshan 13*, Nishitha Fernando 2/9, Lakindu Yahampath 1/12
Day 1 Stumps.
