Gamage’s all-round performances power Pannala NS to final

Under 19 Division III Tier ‘B’ Cricket semi-final

All-round feats of Lakshitha Gamage and Pubudu Geethanjana helped Pannala National School beat Sri Sumangala MV, Kelaniya by 59 runs in the semi-finals of the Under 19 Division III Tier ‘B’ tournament at Kotte on Thursday.

Chasing a target of 244 runs to win Sri Sumangala were bowled out for 184 runs as Gamage and Geethanjana shared seven wickets between them.

A medium paceman, Gamage was introduced to the attack as the fifth bowler. Sri Sumangala were 160 for four wickets when Gamage took two wickets in the same over to trigger a late order collapse. Gamage gave away just 18 runs in his 7.1 overs, which included two maidens.

Gamage was also the top score for Pannala National School. The batting opener scored 52 runs and anchored the top order with a 125-ball innings. He scored four fours and a six in his knock. While Pubudu Geethanjana scored 40 runs, Keshan Wanigasekara cracked an unbeaten 47 in 25 balls (8x4s).

For Sri Sumangala, Mohomed Farshath, Pasan Devinda, Tharusha Deshan and Chalana Avishka took one wicket each. Kavidu Madushan did not take a wicket but gave away just 24 runs in his nine overs of which two were maidens.

Scores:

Pannala NS

243 for 5 in 50 overs (Lakshitha Gamage 52, Akila Suraj 25, Themiya Kumarasinghe 37, Pubudu Geethanjana 40, Keshan Wanigasekara 47n.o.)   

Sri Sumangala MV

184 all out in 43.1 overs (Chamuditha Lakshan 58, Kalana Adithya 31, Nuwan Nandika 21, Tharusha Deshan 16; Lakshitha Gamage 5/18, Pubudu Geethanjana 2/25) 

Maris Stella College, Thimbirigaskatuwa advance to final

In the other semi-final played on Wednesday, Maris Stella College, Thimbirigaskatuwa romped to a nine wickets victory after reducing Hindu College, Matale to 54 runs at the same venue. Vinila Perera led the bowling attack with a four wicket haul, while Kanishka Gamage and Dinuka Silva shared five wickets between them. In reply, Senuk Dinwara scored an unbeaten 42 runs for Maris Stella to seal the victory in just six overs.

Hindu College

54 all out in 23.2 overs (Vinila Perera 4/17, Kanishka Gamage 2/03, Dinuka Silva 3/06) 

Maris Stella

55 for 1 in 5.3 overs (Senuk Dinwara 42n.o.)