Tharupathi shines as Richmond oust Joes  

Under 19 Division I Cricket Quarter-final  

by Reemus Fernando  

Malsha Tharupathi produced impressive all round performances as Richmond knocked out defending champions St. Joseph’s in the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ cricket quarter-final at Mount Lavinia on Sunday. Tharupathi picked up five wickets to restrict St. Joseph’s to 186 runs after hammering a blistering half century to propel Richmond to 271 runs in their allotted 50 overs.

The Sri Lanka Under 19 player cracked five sixes and two fours in his 25-ball knock of 56 runs. Tharinda Nirmal and Janith Kaushal too scored half centuries as the finalists of the last season posted a formidable total.

In their essay, a sound fourth wicket stand of 129  runs between Hiran Jaysundara and Rishma Amarasinghe was the only consolation for Joes who collapsed in dramatic fashion to be bowled out for 186 runs. They were 179 for three wickets after Amarasinghe and Jayasundara rebuilt the innings but lost their last seven wickets for the addition of just seven runs.

Scores: 

Richmond 271 for 9 in 50 overs  (Helith Edirisinghe 35, Tharinda Nirmal 65, Kavindu Nirmana 37, Janith Kaushal 51, Malsha Tharupathi 56; Gagan Chamod 3/61, Muditha Dissanayake 3/53) 

St. Joseph’s 186 all out in 40.3 overs (Sadeesh Jayawardena 28, Hiran Jaysundara 77, Rishma Amarasinghe 54; Malsha Tharupathi 5/25)