Dharmaraja’s last wicket pair bat for 70 overs

Under 19 Cricket

by Reemus Fernando

The last wicket pair of Dharmaraja College batted for nine more overs on the second day morning to extend their partnership to 70 overs -one of the longest stands in First XI cricket with regard to overs- but nearly four hours long battle to add 70 runs prevented them from going for a result at Uyanwatta Stadium on Tuesday.

Dulara Bandulasena and Sadeepa Rathnayake joined together during the second session on day one. Dharmaraja were nine wickets down for 109 runs at that point. They kept their wickets intact for nearly four hours for the team to post 179 runs.

Bandulasena made 43(4x4s) in 234 balls and stayed at the wicket for 266 minutes.

Rathnayake remained unbeaten on 20. He faced 225 balls (1x4s) and batted for 238 minutes.

In reply Rahula were bowled out for 131 runs as Thisaru Wanninayake and Praveen Theekshana shared seven wickets between them.

A combined bowling effort from Dharmasoka forced Nalanda to follow on at Ambalangoda.

Following on, they were 95 for seven wickets at one stage but the late order batsmen fought back resisting for nearly 13 overs to force a draw. Eranga Jayakody anchored the tail scoring an unbeaten 21 in 109 balls. Lisura Sigera’s contribution was just 12 runs but he resisted facing 58 balls. So was Janula Indusara who faced 41 balls to remain not out on nine.

At Katugastota, Mohameed Aaqil (64) and Asitha Wanninayake (72n.o.) scored half centuries after Treveen Mathew picked up six wickets for St. Anthony’s to take command against St. Servatius’.

Results

Last wicket pair bat for 70 overs at Uyanwatta

Scores:

Dharmaraja

171 for 9 overnight 179 all out in 111.4 overs (Sachintha Dissanayaka 21, Thisaru Wanninayaka 26, Dulara Bandulasena 43, Sadeepa Rathnayaka 20n.o.; Pasindu Avishka 2/24, Gimsara Sonal 3/28, Sandew Ridmaka 4/54) and 92 for 1 in 14.4 overs (Pulindu Perera 43n.o., Dushyanga Gunasinghe 40n.o.)

Rahula

131 all out in 64.4 overs (Pasindu Shehan 41, Sasindu Battage 28; Thisaru Wanninayake 4/17, Praveen Theekshana 3/18)

Nalanda force a draw at Ambalangoda

Scores:

Dharmasoka

325 all out in 81.5 overs (Akash Mendis 32, Senitha Halambage 29, Manasa De Silva 52, Maneesha Rashmika 112, Senura Sandayuru 39; Lisura Sigera 2/38, Minod Caldera 3/80, Sajitha Vithanage 5/81)

Nalanda

42 for 2 overnight 165 all out 59.4 overs (Vinuja Ranpul 27, Dineth Samaraweera 43, Sajitha Vithanage 28; Pathum Malitha 2/25, Maneesha Rashmika 2/25, Ishan Anuradha 3/33) and 123 for 8 in 55 overs (Yasiru Samarakoon 39, Vinuja Ranpul 20, Eranga Jayakody 21n.o.; Senitha Halambage 3/26, Jithira Sansika 2/24)

St. Anthony’s dominate at Katugastota

Scores:

St. Servatius’

107 all out in 38.4 overs (Kushan Wijerama 22, Deneth Kawya 22n.o.; Divyesh Ramaiya 3/19, Treveen Mathew 6/23)

St Anthony’s

251 for 5 in 54 overs (Thisara Ekanayake 40, Mohameed Aaqil 64, Asitha Wanninayake 72n.o., Lahiru Abeysinghe 40, Chandimal Herath 24n.o.; Hasitha Amarasinghe 4/51)