Right-arm off-spinner Malinga De Silva grabbed an 11-wicket match bag to help Colombo Vikings register a close 4-wicket outright win over Colombo Gladiators in the 3rd match of the CDCA under 21 zonal tournament which ended at BRC grounds on Wednesday.
The Gladiators skipper Sadeera Samarawickrama won the toss and elected to bat first on a placid surface. They were bowled out for 202 runs in 51.4 overs. Former Josephian Sadeera was the top run-getter making a stylish 62. Wicket-keeper batsman Pasindu Isira chipped in with a valuable 43. Former Nalandian, Malinga De Silva gave away 63 runs but took 6 wickets to rattle the Gladiators.
The Vikings in their reply were 177 for 6 at the end of first day’s play. They added only 42 runs in the morning session on day 2. Former Thurstanite Minhaj Jalil missed out on a well-deserved ton as he was dismissed on 99. Apart of Jalil’s excellent knock, Vishad Randika (23) and Woshantha Silva (22) contributed with the bat for the Vikings. Former Josephian spinner Priyamal Perera grabbed 4 wickets while Ananda College seamer Kavishka Anjula scalped 3 wickets for the Gladiators.
The Vikings had a slender 17-run lead but they bowled superbly in their 2nd innings to bundle out Colombo Gladiators to a mere 81 all out. The losing team comprised of many junior national players batted only 22.2 overs. Priyamal Perera was the only batsman to put up a resistance with a rearguard knock of 33. Malinga took his 2nd five-wicket haul of the match claiming 5 for 31 while the Isipathana bowling duo of Chameera Dissanayake and Shehan Sandaruwan took 2 wickets apiece.
Chasing only 65 runs to register an impressive win, the Vikings had to work hard to reach the winning line as the Gladiators were able to take 6 wickets in the fourth innings of the match. Former Nalanda skipper Woshantha Silva made a stable knock of 27 for the winners. Priyamal Perera and Former Wesley College skipper Sachin Jayawardene shared 5 wickets between them.
Chief Scores:
Colombo Gladiators – 202 all out in 51.4 overs: Sadeera Samarawickrama 62, Pasindu Isiara 43, Nisal Fransisco 34, Priyamal Perera 25, Malinga De Silva 6/63, Pramud Hettiwatta 2/32.
Colombo Vikings – 219 all out in 47.4 overs: Minhaj Jalil 99, Vishad Randika 23, Priyamal Perera 4/34, Kavishka Anjula 3/45.
Colombo Gladiators (2nd inn) – 81 all out in 22.2 overs: Priyamal Perera 33, Malinga De Silva 5/31, Chameera Dissanayake 2/05, Shehan Sandaruwan 2/33.
Colombo Vikings (2nd inn) – 67/6 in 19.3 overs: Woshantha Silva 27, Priyamal Perera 3/20, Sachin Jayawardena 2/13.
