Kegalu Balika Vidyalaya registered a comfortable win over Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya, Kurunegala, to clinch the “Battle of the Crowns” title in the inaugural encounter played last Saturday (21st June) at Welagedara International Cricket Stadium, Kurunegala.
The start of the game was delayed due to bad weather, and the game was reduced to 25 overs. Skipper of Kegalu Balika Vidyalaya, Hiruni Perera won the toss and opted to bat first.
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Anuravi Madagedara started the batting with the skipper while Oshadhi Senevirathna was called up for the bowling. It was a thriller in the first ball as the waist-high full toss was played into the hands of the backward point player, but she could not hold onto the catch. It was an eventful first over as the wicketkeeper grounded another opportunity. The second over of the Kegalu Balika inning had 11 balls, and 6 runs came from wides. Then onwards, runs kept flowing from wides, while the runs from the bat dried up to some extent.
The opening pair of Kegalu Balika Vidyalaya gave them a slow but solid start as far as the context of the game is concerned. When the score read 21/0, Maliyadeva Balika skipper and left-arm spinner Dhanuli Thennakoon came to bowl, and she managed to get the first breakthrough without wasting any time. Skipper Hiruni Perera was the dismissed batswoman for just five runs as she completely misread the line of the ball.
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Then another well-executed 19-run partnership was there, and Devians broke it through a run-out that came from excellent work from the wicketkeeper. Then Devians tightened their grip on the match, and wickets were tumbled. During the time, there were 18 and 17 run partnerships for the fifth and seventh wickets, respectively.
For Kegalu Balika Vidyalaya, Sadewmini Kavithma made a valuable contribution with an unbeaten 21 runs by anchoring the inning. Though she didn’t have enough support from the other end, her solo performance dragged Kegalu Balika innings to a three-figure mark and managed to set a target of 107 runs. Most importantly, 58 runs came off extras, and Devians had to worry about their undisciplined bowling at the end of the day. On the other hand, lasses from Kegalle were not able to push a single boundary in their innings.
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Reliable player and captain Dhanuli Thennakoon delivered an exceptional bowling performance by picking up two scalps for just 14 runs. Apart from her, Oshadhi Senevirathna and Mahima Rathnayake shared a wicket each. Further, Sahela Illangasinghe and Isumi Herath had wicketless but economical bowling spells.
In reply, Maliyadeva Balika had a disastrous start as they lost their first three wickets for just one run. Versatile player from the Kegalle side, Sadewmini Kavithma started things from the place where she left off in the first inning and delivered a magnificent and pinpoint yokers to bowl out two Devians within the first over. Then the skipper Dhanuli Thennakoon managed to construct the inning by keeping the run rate on track. Further, Dhanuli scored a couple of boundaries through stylish cover drives. But Hiruni’s girls had the last laugh as they managed to run out the settled skipper of the Devians. Another three quick wickets fell after Dhanuli’s wicket, and by the time Divians looked like that, they were already out of the competition.
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But the strong lass, Deshani Galappaththi, made a fighting knock of thirteen runs, including the only six of the match that she pulled over the mid-wicket area. After her departure, Devians innings was wrapped up for just 56 runs, giving a 56-run easy victory to the Kegalle lasses.
At the end of the day, Kegalu Balika Vidyalaya managed to make history by clinching the inaugural “Battle of the Crowns” title. Though the batting of the sides was equally matched, the disciplined bowling of the Kegalu girls gave them the winning edge.
Kegalu Balika Vidyalaya 106/9 (25 Overs)
Sadewmi Kavithma 21 (38)
Anuravi Madagedara 10 (36)
Hiruni Perera 05 (18)
Dhanuli Thennakoon 16/2
Oshadhi Senevirathna 18/1
Mahima Rathnayake 16/1
Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya 56 all out (10.5 Overs)
Dhanuli Thennakoon 13 (13)
Deshani Galappaththi 13 (17)
Mahima Rathnayake 04 (20)
Nuwanthi Nimesha 14/4
Sadewmi Kavithma 14/2
Anuravi Madagedara 17/2
Chathuri Wickramasinghe 11/1
Best Batswoman – Sadewmi Kavithma (Kegalu Balika Vidyalaya)
Best Bowler – Nuwanthi Nimesha (Kegalu Balika Vidyalaya)
Best Fielder – Chamathmini Athdalapitiya (Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya)
Player of the Match – Sadewmi Kavithma (Kegalu Balika Vidyalaya)
 at Welagedara International Cricket Stadium, Kurunegala.){kind=link}