The 66th edition of the ‘Battle of the Mangosteens,’ the much-anticipated big match between two leading National Buddhist Schools, Tissa Central College and Kalutara Vidyalaya, concluded at the Tyrone Fernando Cricket Stadium in Moratuwa. While the two-day encounter ended in a draw, Tissa Central College secured top honours thanks to a dominant first-innings performance and a spirited bowling display, which saw them narrowly miss out on an innings victory.
Tissa Central College skipper Malindu Dilshan won the toss and elected to bat first on a surface that appeared to be a paradise for batsmen. Openers Nethsara Yashmitha and Mindew Hansana walked out to the middle, facing Kalutara Vidyalaya captain Sheersha Tharaka with the new ball. The Kevians struck early when Yadeesha Hasaranga removed Hansana for just two runs. However, this brought Ashen Ishara to the crease, and alongside Nethsara, he stabilized the innings through the morning session. The post-lunch session saw the duo flourish, cementing a mammoth 115-run partnership. Kalutara Vidyalaya finally broke the stand when captain Sheersha Tharaka castled Ishara with a magnificent delivery.
With the platform set, skipper Malindu Dilshan joined Nethsara Yashmitha and continued the assault. Dilshan played aggressively, racing to a half-century in just 50 balls, hammering three huge sixes and three boundaries. The pair pushed the score to 225/3 before Dilshan was dismissed by Hirusha Gaganaka.
>>A glorious Cricketing rivalry returns as Tissa Central has edge over Kalutara Vidyalaya<<
Following the skipper’s dismissal, the Tissa batting lineup experienced a sudden collapse. The floodgates opened as wickets tumbled, with the remaining five batters contributing only nine runs. However, opener Nethsara Yashmitha stood firm at the other end, carrying his bat through the entire innings. He scored a magnificent unbeaten 150 runs, adorned with 15 boundaries and two sixes. This spectacular effort etched his name in history as the top run-scorer in a single innings during the Battle of the Mangosteens. Tissa Central declared at 275/8, with skipper Sheersha Tharaka being the most successful bowler with three wickets.
Kalutara Vidyalaya’s reply got off to a disastrous start. Hashen Imsara provided an immediate breakthrough for Tissa, removing Nethul Nimsara for a duck. Wicket-keeper batter Vihanga Sapumal then steadied the ship with a handy 46-run partnership for the second wicket. Just as Kalutara seemed to be settling in, a disastrous run-out triggered a collapse. The Kevians lost their final nine wickets for a mere 23 runs, collapsing to 69 all out. Vihanga Sapumal was the lone fighter with 36 runs, while Tissa captain Malindu Dilshan spearheaded the bowling attack, claiming 5 wickets for 28 runs.
Trailing by a massive 206 runs, Kalutara Vidyalaya was asked to follow-on. The task was no longer about victory but about survival. Openers Vihanga Sapumal and Nethul Nimsara started watchfully, but Nethul fell cheaply once again, caught early on.
The resilience of the Kevians shone through in the second partnership. Vihanga Sapumal, the leading run-scorer of the season for Kalutara, joined forces with Akesh Shaminda. The duo cemented a brilliant 88-run stand to drag their team out of jail, both reaching half-centuries. Vihanga anchored the innings with a top score of 79, including 11 fours and a six, while Akesh Shaminda played stylishly for his 57 runs, featuring six boundaries.
Once this partnership was broken, the lower order failed to contribute significantly. With Tissa College four wickets away from an innings victory, the Kalutara captain Sheersha Tharaka and Ravishka Lakshan mounted a desperate rear-guard defense. Sheersha displayed grit, facing 64 deliveries for his unbeaten 19 runs. Together, they resisted the Tissa bowlers for nearly 13 overs to ensure the match ended in a draw.
Despite Kalutara Vidyalaya escaping with a draw, the honours of the 66th Battle of the Mangosteens rightfully belonged to Tissa Central College, whose solid batting performance and disciplined bowling ensured they were the dominant force on the field.
Brief Scorecard
Tissa Central College, Kalutara (1st innings) – 275/8 dec. (65.3 Overs)
Nethsara Yashmitha 150, Malindu Dilshan 51, Ashen Ishara 40, Sithum Mihiranga 10
Sheersha Tharaka 3/53, Ravishka Gimhan 2/24, Yadeesha Hasaranga 1/43, Hirusha Gaganaka 1/91
Kalutara Vidyalaya (1st innings) – 69 all out (29.1 Overs)
Vihanga Sapumal 34, Akesh Shaminda 13
Malindu Dilshan 5/28, Hashen Imsara 3/7, Wishwa Oshan 1/10
Kalutara Vidyalaya (follow-on) – 190/6 (62 Overs)
Vihanga Sapumal 79, Akesh Shaminda 57, Sheersha Tharaka 19 n.o.
Malindu Dilshan 3/96, Tharuka Saminjith 2/36, Wishwa Oshan 1/18
Individual Awards
- Player of the Match – Malindu Dilshan (Tissa Central College)
- Best Batter – Nethsara Yashmitha (Tissa Central College)
- Best Bowler – Malindu Dilshan (Tissa Central College)
- Best Fielder – Yadeesha Hasaranga (Kalutara Vidyalaya)
