Richmond edge out Sebs to seal final spot

Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ Cricket

by Reemus Fernando

Richmond advanced to the final with a first innings win as a combined bowling effort helped them restrict St. Sebastian’s, Moratuwa to 240 runs in the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ semi-final at Narahenpita on Tuesday.

St. Sebastian’s had the entire day to score 331 runs or more to secure first innings points but after Yuri Koththigoda had Navod Fernando stumped by Chehan Subasinghe for 27 runs to break the most productive partnership (79 runs for the fifth wicket) of the innings the Sebs lost wickets at regular intervals.

Vimath Dinsara, the Sebs most reliable batsman this season, anchored the innings for more than 50 overs but they could muster only 240 runs against a decent bowling effort.

Koththigoda with three wickets was the pick of the bowlers for Richmond. While Kaveesha Induwara and Sharon Abhishek took two wickets each, skipper Malsha Tharupathi and Thamindu Pradeeptha grabbed a wicket each.

It was Pradeeptha who set the stage for the first innings victory as he top scored with 191 runs for Richmond on day one.

Richmond will now meet the winners of the match between Trinity and Mahanama in the final, which will be a three-day encounter.

Scores:

Richmond

330 for 9 decl. in 87.4 overs (Thamindu Pradeeptha 191, Malsha Tharupathi 26, Shehan de Zoysa 27, Kaveesha Induwara 28; Nadeesh Fernando 4/59, Manuja Chanthuka 3/91)

St. Sebastian’s

5 for no loss overnight 240 all out in 82.1 overs (Adesh Almeida 30, Ushen Silva 24, Vimath Dinsara 63, Navod Fernando 27, Nadeesh Fernando 32; Kaveesha Induwara 2/55, Sheron Abhishek 2/58, Yuri Koththigoda 3/26)

Inuka troubles Trinity

Left-arm spinner Inuka Karannagoda came up with a six-wicket haul for Mahanama to restrict Trinity to 228 runs on day one of the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ semi-final match at Bambalapitiya.

Koojana Perera accounted for three top order wickets after Mahanama decided to bowl first. While open bat Dimantha Mahavithana dropped anchor with a 170-ball 68 runs, skipper Manula Kularatne (38) and Wathila Udara (45) were the next highest scorers.

In reply Mahanama were 22 for one wicket at stumps.

Scores:

Trinity

228 all out in 89.2 overs (Dimantha Mahavithana 68, Wathila Udara 45, Manula Kularathne 38, Supun Waduge 23; Inuka Karannagoda 6/71, Koojana Perera 3/27)

Mahanama

22 for 1 in 8 overs