Sri Palee College, Horana, asserted their dominance over traditional rivals C.W.W. Kannangara Central College, Matugama, to secure a first-innings victory in the 8th Battle of ‘Raigam Pasdun’. The two-day big match, played recently at the Bandaragama Public Grounds, saw a dazzling all-round performance by Shehan Dimantha propel Sri Palee to the top, though C.W.W. Kannangara showed immense grit to save the game on a rain-affected final day.
Winning the toss and inserting the opposition into bat, C.W.W. Kannangara made early inroads. Openers Sithum Dunuwara and Deshan Vimukthi utilised the new ball effectively to remove the Sri Palee top order, giving the Matugama side an early advantage. However, a rescue mission was launched by Newan Chandul and Danuja Sejan, who stabilised the innings despite wickets falling at regular intervals. At one stage, Sri Palee were in trouble at 100 for 5. The recovery was spearheaded by a valuable 70-run partnership between Adeesha Rukmal and Shehan Dimantha, which shifted the momentum back to the Horana camp.
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Just as Sri Palee looked set for a massive total, left-arm chinaman Chanketh Mihisara turned the tide for Kannangara. He cleaned up Dimantha and dismissed the very next batsman in consecutive deliveries to bring Matugama right back into the contest. Despite the late collapse, Sri Palee managed to post a competitive total of 206 runs. Dimantha and Rukmal were the main contributors with 43 and 42 runs respectively. The bowling honours for Kannangara were shared by Janidu Gajith and Chanketh Mihisara, who both claimed four wickets apiece.
In reply, C.W.W. Kannangara’s frontline batsmen showed initial resistance against the new ball, reaching 37 for 2. However, Shehan Dimantha, who had shone with the bat, wreaked havoc with the ball. By the close of play on day one, Kannangara were in deep trouble at 51 for 5.
The second day began poorly for the Matugama lads, as their batting unit failed to rally. The first innings folded quickly for just 91 runs, handing Sri Palee a commanding lead of 115 runs. Kavindu Nethsara top-scored with an unbeaten 15. Dimantha was the chief destroyer with a five-wicket haul, well supported by Newan Chandul, who took three wickets.
With a hefty lead and time on their side, Sri Palee enforced the follow-on. Sensing that an outright victory was the only option, C.W.W. Kannangara shifted to a defensive approach to save the match. After losing their openers cheaply, the middle order showed responsibility, though wickets continued to fall at regular intervals as the Sri Palee bowlers maintained tight lines. Shehan Dimantha once again proved to be the thorn in their side, claiming seven wickets in the second innings to finish with a match tally of 12 wickets. At 111 for 8, Kannangara were on the brink of an outright defeat.
However, a determined rear-guard effort by Janidu Gajith and Deshan Vimukthi saved the day for the Matugama side. The duo put together an unbroken 38-run partnership for the ninth wicket, ensuring the side survived the remaining overs and forced a draw.
While C.W.W. Kannangara can take pride in their resilience to hold out for a draw, the encounter undoubtedly belonged to Sri Palee College. Their vibrant and valiant performance over the two days, headlined by Shehan Dimantha’s match-winning all-round display, made them worthy winners of the 8th Battle of ‘Raigam Pasdun’.
Brief Scorecard
Sri Palee College, Horana – 206 all out (58.1 Overs)
Shehan Dimantha 43, Adeesha Rukmal 42, Danuja Sejan 30, Newan Chandul 22, Mithula Perera 15, Kasun Sadaruwan 13
Janidu Gajith 41/4, Chanketh Mihisara 54/4, Deshan Vimukthi 23/1, Sithum Dunuwara 24/1
C.W.W. Kannangara Central College, Matugama – 91/10 (33.1 Overs)
Kavindu Nethsara 15*, Chanketh Mihisara 14, Sithum Dunuwara 13, Akith Nimsara 11
Shehan Dimantha 34/5, Newan Chandul 23/3, Adeesha Rukmal 08/1, Isuru Kavishka 19/1
C.W.W. Kannangara Central College, (Follow On) – 149/8 (56.1 Overs)
Kavindu Anuththara 26, Sithum Dunuwara 22, Janidu Gajith 21*, Chanul Thiyugee 20, Chanketh Mihisara 20, Deshan Vimukthi 15
Shehan Dimantha 52/7, Adeesha Rukmal 52/1
Photo Credit – Sri Palee College Horana Photographic Society
