Inter-School Under 19 Division One Cricket Semi-finals
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Dhammika Ratnaweera
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Tharinda Nirmal made a good double scoring 59 and capturing 4 for 21 as Richmond College fought back strongly to win by 139 runs over Mahanama in their Under 19 Division One Tier ‘A’ semi-final cricket fixture played at Reid Avenue yesterday.
Richmond decided to bat first making 202 all out in 49.5 overs while Mahanama College chasing their 203-run target were all out for 63 just in 22.3 overs with off-spinner Tharinda Nirmal being the chief wrecker with 4 for 21 in his 6-over spell with one maiden.
Mahanama the group leaders with an unbeaten record were disappointing batting performances in this semi-final while Richmond who lost to Nalanda in their quarter-final fought back strongly with superb all-round performances to enter the final.
Viranga Yeshan (20) and Sachira Weliwatte (15) were the only two Mahanama batters who completed double figures while others were unable to give any support with Richmond’s tidy bowling. At one stage Mahanama were 46 for 6 in 18 overs while off-spinner Tharinda Nirmal took back to back wickets of Anuka Wijewardena (4) and Dhganaja Edirsinghe (0) in his first two deliveries of the 19th over once again got Inuka Karannagoda’s wicket (0) in the last ball of the same over to create huge pressure under gloomy condition. The paceman Kalpa Nethsara 3 for 14 and leg spinner Sharon Abhishek 2 for 10 made a good supporting role to wreck the Mahanama side with 22.3 overs.
Earlier Richmond openers Vishara Fernando (20) and Tharinda Nirmal (59) made a good start by adding 41 runs in 8.1 overs. The left-hander Tharinda Nirmal played an anchor role scoring 59 with 4 fours and 2 sixes in 110 balls further added a 48-run fifth-wicket stand with Malsha Tharupathi who scored 17 with a four and a six.
Mahesha de Silva, the number eight batter made a brisk knock of 31 in 36 balls with 5 fours guiding them to pass 200 runs which was a good psychological advantage for Richmond. Mahanama skipper the leg spinner Devindu Kekirideniya was the pick of the blowers and took 5 for 21 in his ten-over spell with five maidens but it was in vain with Richmond’s fought back strongly to win the game.
St. Joseph’s make it easy to beat De Mazenod
Meanwhile, defending champions St. Joseph’s led by Shevon Daniel made an easy five-wicket victory over De Mazenod, Kandana, in their Tier ‘A semi-final played at Surrey grounds Maggona yesterday. De Mazenod were invited to bat first scoring 138 all out in 38.1 overs while Josephions reached their target in 27.2 overs with five wickets in hand.
The opener Hinura Kapurumandara was the match-winner scoring an unbeaten knock of 64 in 84 balls with 11 boundaries while former Skipper Dunith Wellalage made a good supporting role by making 37 in just 20 balls striking 7 boundaries to steer their victory.
Earlier, De Mazenod were 96 for 6 at one stage but Ashen Silva made a fighting knock of 56 in 87 balls with 5 fours and he was out for the last wicket. St. Joseph’s leg spinner Muditha Lakshan was the most successful bowler with 3 for 8 in his 4.1 over spell while Mithira Thenula and Yenula Dewthusa took two wickets each.
The division one Tier ‘A’ final game between St. Joseph’s and Richmond is scheduled to be played on April 12th at Bloomfield grounds.
Meanwhile, the two semi-finals of the Division 2 Tier ‘A’ Sri Devananda Ambalangoda and St. Sebastian’s Katuneriya played at Army grounds Panagoda, and the match between President’s College Kotte and P. de S. Kularatna MV Ambalangoda played at Artillery Regiment grounds Dombagoda were abandoned due to rain yesterday.
Chief scores
*At Royal grounds Reid Avenue. Richmond beat Mahanama by 139 runs.
Richmond: 202 all out in 49.5 overs (Vishara Fernando 20, Tharinda Nirmal 59, Mahesha de Silva 31, Duvindu Ranathunga 2/29, Devindu Kekirideniya 5/21) Mahanma: 63 all out 22.3 overs (Viranga Yeshan 20, Sachira Weliwatte 15, Kalpa Nethsara 3/14, Tharinda Nirmal 4/21, Sharon Abhishek 2/10)
*At Surrey grounds Maggona. St. Joseph’s beat De Mazenod by 5 wickets.
De Mazenod: 138 all out in 38.1 overs (Mithul Senerath 23, Ashen Silva 56, Mithira Thenura 2/22, Yenula Dewthusa 2/29, Muditha Lakshan 3/8) St. Joseph’s: 140 for 5 wickets in 27.2 overs (Hirun Kapurubandara 64*, Hiran Jayasundara 20, Dunith Wellalage 37)
Wednesday, April 6, 2022 – 01:00
