Ishara, Minusha, Buddila guide Tissa to safety

by Reemus Fernando

After being precariously placed at five wickets down for 86 runs, Tissa Central bounced back to post 250 for eight wickets declared thanks to a valuable 111 runs stand for the eighth wicket on day one of the 64th Battle of Mangosteens at the De Soysa Stadium, Moratuwa.

In their essay, Kalutara Vidyalaya negotiated 12 overs without their open batsmen being parted.Earlier, deciding to bat first, Tissa were struggling at 86 for five wickets but valuable half centuries by Ishara Malith, Ajitha Buddila and Minusha Malith eased their nerves.

Malith scored 51 runs and anchored the middle order facing 73 balls. He scored just five boundaries. When he was dismissed caught by Gayuka Silva off the bowling of Kaushila Amodya Tissa were still in the danger of being bowled out for a low score.

That was when Minusha Malith joined Ajitha Buddila in a fine rescue act. They put on 111 runs for the eighth wicket. Within a span of 26 overs they changed the complexion of the game.

Minusha scored 59 runs (faced 78 balls) inclusive of just four boundaries before being bowled by Yuthika Dilruk.

Buddila remained unbeaten on 61 runs having faced 105 balls (4x4s).

Amodya with four wickets was the pick of the bowlers for Kalutara Vidyalaya.

Scores

Tissa 250 for 8 decl. in 70.2 overs (Ashan Vishwa 25, Ishara Malith 51, Ajitha Buddila 61n.o., Minusha Malith 59; Nithika Fonseka 2/44, Kaushila Amodya 4/104)

Kalutara Vidyalaya 30 for no loss in 12 overs (Kaushila Amodya 20n.o.)