DS Senanayake College entered the under 19 schools limited overs cricket final after 12 long years when they defeated Trinity College by 7 wickets in the 2nd semi-final which worked out at R. Premadasa Stadium on Thursday.
Trinity skipper Raveen Sayer won the toss and elected to bat on a hot and sunny day. Most top-order batsmen took very good starts to their innings but they failed to capitalize and convert them into big scores. Opener Nushan Weerasinghe stroked the top score of 39 while left-handed Arjuna Jayasinghe made a fighting 32. Both Kaveen Hiniduma and Hasitha Boyagoda made identical scores of 26.
Most impressive bowler for DS was their off-spinning skipper Harith Maduwantha as he took 4 wickets for just 33 runs in his quota of 10 overs. Spinners, Shifran Muthalif and Kavin Bandara took 2 wickets apiece as the boys from Kandy were bowled out for only 193 runs.
Chasing 194 runs to win, DS Senanayake lost both their openers, Thimila Vidyasekara and Kavin Bandara early on as right-arm seamer, Lahiru Kumara struck two crucial blows. Best friends and batting partners, Uvin Bandara and Akeel Inham repeated their match-winning partnership which helped them win their 8th Battle of the Golds limited overs encounter against Mahanama College few weeks back. The senior players were involved in a superb 100-run stand for the 3rd wicket which took them close to the target.
Left-handed Uvin struck 10 fours and a gigantic six in his 92-ball knock of 72 while Akeel remained unbeaten on 50 as DS Senanayake crossed the winning line comprehensively in the 42nd over. Trinity College’s hopes of achieving the double crown in Sri Lanka Schools Cricket faltered when they were knocked out by a clinical DS Senanayake outfit.
The all-imporant Under 19 Limited Overs Tournament finals between Ananda College and DS Senanayake College will take place on 5th April at P. Sara Oval grounds.
Chief Scores:
Trinity College – 193 all out in 49.1 overs: Nushan Weerasinghe 39, Arjuna Jayasinghe 32, Kavin Hiniduma 26, Hasitha Boyagoda 26, Ravin Sayer 24, Harith Maduwantha 4/33, Shifran Muthalif 2/33, Kavin Bandara 2/26.
DS Senanayake College – 196/3 in 41.2 overs: Uvin Bandara 72, Akeel Inham 50*, Harith Maduwantha 26*, Lahiru Kumara 2/40.
