Devapathiraja College, Rathgama overcame St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala in the Singer U19 Division II finals which concluded today in Katugastota.
St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala secure Division 1 promotion
St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala defeated St. Anthony’s College, Katugasthota on first…
The Division 2, two-day finals began yesterday with St. Anne’s College taking first lease of the St. Anthony’s College grounds surface. Openers started off well for Annites as both stroked half-tons in the beginning. Dananjaya Bandara stroked 57 off 103 balls, while his partner Dineth Chandimal got 51 off 99 deliveries to give the early advantage to the lads from Kurunegala.
Skipper Randeera Ranasinghe continued the start which the openers gave, as he made a timely 46 off 53 balls that included 3 fours and 3 sixers. However, St. Anne’s middle-order faulted as wickets fell at regular intervals. Number 7 batsman, Pubudu Ganegama held the innings together with an unbeaten 68 to steer them to a decent 275 all out in 79.2 overs.
Left-arm spinner Irushika Gaminda was the chief destroyer for the lads from Rathgama as he finished with 5 for 87 in his 22.3 overs. Right-arm seamer Pawan De Silva bowled 12 overs and took 3 crucial wickets for 45 runs for Devapathiraja College.
In reply, Devapthiraja College was 1 wicket down for 19 runs at stumps on day one.
Resuming day two, the boys from Rathgama started very slowly with an under-par run-rate. They were 99 for 2 in 49 overs at lunch time chasing 276 to lift the title.
Sudeera Weerarathne and Raveen Yasas got together and put on a 128-run partnership for the 4th wicket, as Sudeera went back to the pavilion scoring a magnificent 104 off 237 balls that included 16 fours and a six.
The lads from Rathgama were 228 for 4 wickets with over 40 runs needed to lift the trophy. Set batsman Raveen Yasas got out soon after Sudeera as the game got interesting with 232 for 5 wickets down. The boys from Rathgama held their nerve to reach the target and lift the trophy in style.
Brief scores
St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala 275 (79.2) Pubudu Ganegama 68*, Dananjaya Bandara 57, Dineth Chandimal 51, Randeera Ranasinghe 46, Wanitha Wanninayake 26, Irushika Gaminda 5/87, Pawan De Silva 3/45.
Devapathiraja College, Rathgama 283/6 (113) Sudeera Weerarathne 104, Raveen Yasas 68, Jeewaka Shasheen 34, Thisara Dilshan 20*, Pathum Madushanka 20*, Dananjaya Bandara 2/22.
Result – Devapathiraja College win first innings by 4 wickets and lift the trophy, while Devapathiraja and St. Anne’s College will be promoted to play the Division I tournament next year.
