Aaqil powers St. Anthony’s to semi-final

Under 19 Limited Overs Cricket

by Reemus Fernando

The Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ cricket tournament quarter-final between St. Anthony’s, Katugastota and Mahanama, Colombo turned out to be a battle between the batting openers as an unbeaten knock of 80 runs by Mohamed Aaqil helped the team from Kandy reach the semi-finals at Pannipitiya yesterday.

After Kavindu Amameth, the batting opener of Mahanama scored the bulk of the runs for the team from Colombo to post 131 runs, Aaqil took his turn to decide the match.

Chasing a target of 132 runs to win, St. Anthony’s were six wickets down for 50 runs at one stage but Aaqil anchored the late middle order with an unbeaten half century to seal the victory with 11 overs to spare.

He was ably supported by Ravindu Kapukotuwa, who added 58 runs for the seventh wicket in a span of 18 overs. Kapukotuwa made 24 runs facing 52 balls. Later Aaqil was joined by Trevin Mathew, who remained on 11 runs to guide them to semi-finals.

Aaqil scored eight fours and a six in his knock which came in 101 balls.

Deciding to bat first Mahanama lost wickets at regular intervals.

Thisara Ekanayake was the pick of the bowlers for St. Anthony’s. he took three wickets, while Kaveesha Piyumal and Charuka Ekanayake took two wickets each.

Scores:

Mahanama

131 all out in 41.1 overs (Kavindu Amameth 61; Thisara Ekanayake 3/27, Kaveesha Piyumal 2/22, Charuka Ekanayake 2/14)

St. Anthony’s

137 for 7 in 38.1 overs (Mohamed Aaqil 80, Ravindu Kapukotuwa 24; Duvindu Ranatunga 3/38, Inuka Karannagoda 2/21)