A despicable batting performance by Anthonians saw them conceding an innings and 35 runs easy win for the hosts St. Joseph’s College in their Under 19 inter-school cricket match which ended at Darley Road yesterday.
The win also gave hosts the “Murali – Vaas “ Trophy which St. Joseph’s won for the second year in succession. This was the 102nd encounter between these two catholic schools. With this victory, St. Joseph’s tally in the series increases to 42 wins while St. Anthony’s have won only on 8 occasions.
After bowling out the visitors for a paltry 76 runs, hosts put on a decent 207 for nine declared and had visitors trapped for 96 runs in the second innings to record a convincing win. 15 year old Mohamed Aflaar was the top scorer for St. Anthony’s in the first innings with 22 while Buwaneka Wijetunga was the highest scorer with 19 runs in the second innings. Right arm off spin bowler Hashindra Perera was the pick of the bowlers returning a match bag of five for 24 runs.
St. Joseph’s innings was propelled by a fighting 72 by wicket keeper batsman Kalpa Ravihara while Pathum Madhusanka and Shammi Senevirathne also scored 32 and 31 runs respectively. Skipper Nimesh Gunasinghe was the pick of the bowlers for Anthonians claiming four for 78 runs while leg spinnerKavinda Udapola had two for 33.
St Anthony’s: 76 all out in 45.3 overs (Mohamed Aflaar 22, Nimesha Gunasinghe 16, Trishan Tanuja 3/7, Aravinda Akurugoda 2/3, Hashindra Perera 2/7) and 96 all out in 47 overs (Buwaneka Wijetunge 19, Malshan Rodrigo 3/10, Hashindra Perera 3/17, Shammi Seneviratne 2/15, Fabian Fernando 2/20)
St. Joseph’s: 207/9 declared in 46.3 overs (Kalpa Ravihara 72, Pethum Madhusanka 32, Shammi Seneviratne 31, Aravnida Akurugoda 18, Nimesh Gunasinghe 4/78, Kavinda Udapola 2/33)
