Tharupathi shines again as Richmond secure final berth  

Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ Cricket  

by Reemus Fernando  

Richmond advanced to their second consecutive Under 19 Limited overs tournament final as Malsha Tharupathi, Sharon Abhishek and Tharinda Nirmal joined to douse a match-turning threat posed by wicketkeeper batsman Viduneth Wilson in the Division I Tier ‘A’ cricket semi-final at the Thurstan College Ground in Colombo on Thursday.

The runners up of the last season restricted St. Benedict’s to 222 runs to pull off a 12 runs victory. Sri Lanka Under 19 cap Tharupathi came up with yet another impressive all-round performance for the winners as he scored a decisive half century before taking three wickets to restrict the Bens to their eventual total.

Chasing 235 runs to win, batting opener Wilson got St. Benedict’s almost close to victory as he held their innings together with a valuable knock of 93 runs. When Wilson departed in the 46th over the Bens were 38 runs behind the target with five wickets in hand but Tharinda Nirmal turned things around for the team from Galle in an eventful 48th over where three wickets fell. Tharupathi then mopped up the tail in the penultimate over. He will be attempting to take a wicket in the first ball he bowls in the final to complete a hat trick.

A key bowler in the Sri Lanka Under 19 team, Tharupathi has developed as an attacking middle order batsman during this season, often contributing with decisive knocks for Richmond. He played a crucial role for Richmond adding 75 runs for the fourth wicket in 11 overs with Janeth Kaushal who scored 65 runs.

Tharupathi cracked less than a run a ball half century inclusive of three fours and two sixes. Both Tharupathi and Kaushal became victims of Vihara Aththanayake who was the pick of the bowlers for St. Benedict’s. Aththanayake took four wickets. Richmond came to the semi-final as favourites and have lived up to their reputation continuing their unbeaten run. In the Tier ‘A’ final, Richmond will meet the winners of the match between arch rivals Trinity and St. Anthony’s Katugastota. That semi-final will be played at the same venue on Monday.

Brief Scores: 

Richmond 234 all out in 50 overs (Tharinda Nirmal 31, Kavindu Nirmana 30, Janeth Kaushal 65, Malsha Tharupathi 50; Vihara Aththanayake 4/55, Shenel Samarathunga 2/66) 

St. Benedict’s 222 all out in 48.3 overs (Viduneth Wilson 93, Sheron Kannangara 21, Dilan Thabrew 25, Aarshan Joseph 22; Malsha Tharupathi 3/46, Sharon Abhishek 2/49, Tharinda Nirmal 2/47)