Stunning fielding and exceptional bowling helped Richmond College, Galle to defend 170 and win the under 17 division 1 championship beating Trinity College, Kandy by 16 runs in a thrilling final worked out at R.Premadasa Stadium on Sunday.
Richmond skipper Charith Asalanka won the toss, elected to bat first without any hesitation. Skipper Asalanka and his opening partner Dhananjaya laid a solid foundation as they scored 26 before both of them were dismissed within 10 balls. Richmond found run scoring difficult as the Trinity College spin attack which comprises 3 left-arm spinners bowled superbly to give away nothing in the middle overs and they captured the occasional wicket to maintain their control of the game.
Number 4 batsman Hasuru Chamikara and Avindu Theekshana made the best partnership for the boys from south as they scored 46 runs for the 5th wicket. Hasuru top scored with a well-compiled knock of 32 runs which came in 69 deliveries while Avindu contributed with 28 runs. Off-spinner Hasitha Boyagoda and left-arm spinner Tashila Dodanwala wrecked through the Richmond lower order as they crumbled to 170 runs in the 48th over. Dodanwala gave away only 29 runs in his spell of 8.3 overs to take 4 wickets while Boyagoda bowled his 10 overs economically to take 3 wickets.
The target was set for the Trinitians and chasing in a school cricket final is never easy but the hill-capital boys started positively in their chase of a paltry target 171 runs to win. Left-handed opening batsman S Shanogeeth showcased an array of cover drives and cuts as he made an elegant 57 runs and he was involved in an interesting 54-run partnership with his skipper Shavindu Amarasinghe who made 15 runs.
Off-spinner Kamindu Mendis dismissed both the set batsmen and triggered a major collapse in the Trinity batting lineup as wickets fell at regular intervals. After being 113 for 4 at one stage, the Trinitians were bundled out for 154 in the 49th over with 3 middle-order batsman being run-out due to miscommunication and superb fielding by the Richmond players. Wanindu Hasaranga was the top wicket-taker for the winners as he grabbed 3 scalps for 19 runs while Charith Asalanka and Isiwara Chamindu captured a wicket each.
Chief Scores:
Richmond – 170 all out in 47.3 overs: Hasaru Chamikara 32, Avindu Theekshana 28,Hasitha Boyagoda 3/22, Tashila Dodanwala 4/29.
Trinity – 154 all out in 48.2 overs: S Shanogeeth 57, Shavindu Amarasinghe 15, Wanindu Hasaranga 3/19, Kamindu Mendis 2/33.
