St. Benedict’s College lived up to their billing as they beat Ananda College by 47 runs to secure a semi final place in the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘B’ cricket tournament on Thursday.

‎The Bens rode on a strong base put on by top order batsmen Mario Fernando (91), Tehan Bitar (54) and Vihanga Rathnayake (68n.o. in 54) to put pressure on the visitors who were bowled out for 225 runs. The home team scored a 47 runs victory at Kotahena.

‎Of the two teams St. Benedict’s were the favourite after having reached the knockout stage with four victories. Their only blemish in the first round was the defeat to Mahinda who emerged as the group champions with that win.

‎Ananda had three wins under their belt when they came to the quarter final.

‎Holy Cross, Kingswood, Taxila advance to semis

‎‎In the Division II Tier A tournament, Holy Cross College, Kalutara, Taxila Central, Horana and Kingswood, Kandy booked semi-final dates as they won their quarter final matches.

‎Holy Cross registered a huge eight wickets victory over hometown rivals Tissa Central as the top order batsmen, namely, Induwara Anuhas (52), Dewthilina Ananda (65), Rusith Jayawardana (52n.o.) and Osinda Silva (49n.o.) clicked together to reach a target of 233 runs with six overs to spare. While Tharuksha Silva (3/50) and Omesh Nimsara (2/37) took bowling honours for Holy Cross, Mindew Hansana was the standout player for the home team. With the entire batting line up struggling for runs, Hansana hammered 83 runs in 46 balls (4x4s, 8x6s).

‎Taxila did well to defend a total of 190 runs as Janiru Sewmin led the way with a four wicket haul to restrict Lyceum, Wattala to 178 runs at Horana. Nawanjana Deemantha with 48 runs was the top scorer for Taxila.

‎At Karandeniya, Kavija Gamage scored unbeaten 68 (in 50 balls) inclusive of six fours and four sixes to guide Kingswood to five wickets win over Vidyaloka, Galle. The latter could muster only 155 runs runs in their alloted 50 overs.

‎‎Bens beat Ananda at Kotahena

‎Scores:

‎St. Benedict’s

272 for 5 in 50 overs (Mario Fernando 91, Tehan Bitar 54, Vihanga Rathnayake 68n.o., Mewan Dissanayake 34; Chamathka Irusha 2/60)

‎Ananda

225 all out in 45.3 overs (Nethul Edirimanne 29, Kithma Sithmal 42, Ovin Perera 63, Lithma Perera 24, Ashinsa Nainayake 30; Mewan Dissanayake 3/33, Manikya Deshapriya 2/54, Yohan Edirisinghe 2/38) (RF)