St. Aloysius’ College batting duo, Ashen Bandara and Navindu Nirmal made fighting half-centuries to help Southern Province post 247 against North Western Province on day one of the SLC Super 19 Provincial Tournament final on Wednesday at the R. Premadasa International Stadium.
Earlier, North Western Province captain Damitha Silva won the toss and had no hesitation to field first on a surface which had a tinge of grass. 11 balls into the game, opener Kasun Maduranga was run-out for 1 and a few overs later, Randeer Ranasinghe got the better of Dhananjaya Lakshan for 8.
Pasindu Manelka and Wanitha Wanninayake dismissed Kavindu Ediriweera and Kaveesh Dilranga for 7 and 20 respectively as the Southerners were in dire straits at 44 for 4. Since then, the St. Aloysius’ College pair resurrected the innings adding 105 for the 5th wicket before the former was caught behind by Kamesh Nirmal off Waninayake for a well-made 74 off 103 balls with 9 fours and 2 sixes.
Photo Album – SLC Super 19 Provincial Tournament – Final Day 1
Skipper Navindu Nirmal carried the lower order on his shoulders, stroking a patient 56 off 166 balls at a strike rate of 33.73 to help his team post a formidable 240 on the board. With this knock, Nirmal went to the top of the batting charts in the current tournament.
Crucial cameos came off the bats of Thilan Prasan and Nipun Ranshitha but the off-spinner Pubudu Ganegama ran through the tail taking 3 wickets. Skipper Damitha bowled 24 overs conceding 67 runs to pick up 2 wickets.
In reply, North Western Province openers, Pubudu Ganegama and Keshan Wanniarachchi negotiated the pace-spin attack of Southern Province to add 49 valuable runs until off-spinner Kavindu Ediriweera clean bowled the latter for 22. North Western Province ended on 53 for 1 with 196 runs still behind.
The match will be continued tomorrow for second day’s play (12th May).
Southern – 247 all out in 80.4 overs: Ashen Bandara 74, Navindu Nirmal 56, Nipun Ranshitha 26, Thilan Prasan 22, Kaveesh Dilranga 20, Pubudu Ganegama 3/45, Wanitha Wanninayake 2/27, Damitha Silva 2/83.
North Western – 53/1 in 18 overs: Pubudu Ganegama 21*, Keshan Wanniarachchi 22.
