Under 19 Division I Cricket

by Reemus Fernando

Mahinda College ended a three year wait to earn the Under 19 Division I Tier A promotion with a huge innings and 69 runs victory over St. Thomas’ College Matara in the Tier ‘B’ Cricket semi-final at Sooriyawewa ground on Friday.

Mahinda have been reaching the business end of this tournament from the time the two tiers were introduced to the premier schools cricket tournament.

They had to be content with a quarter-final finish at the last edition. They were eliminated in the semi-final at the previous edition.

Mahinda have been one of the main contributors of talent to junior national teams and have remained a force to be reckoned in the schools cricket arena irrespective of the Tier they played in.

Friday’s victory ended Thomians remarkable run. The team from Matara remained one of the favourites to earn Tier ‘A’ promotion from the start of the tournament and their captain Pesandu Sanjan was one of the leading batsmen of the tournament.

Their hopes were shattered by Senuka Dangamuwa, who single handedly guided Mahinda to a massive first innings total. His quick fire double century placed Mahinda in command.

In reply to St. Thomas’ 140, Mahinda posted 373 runs as Dangamuwa sent the boys from Matara on a leather hunt. He scored 24 fours and eight sixes in his knock. He faced just 151 balls (50 in 57 balls, 100 in 107 balls, 150 in 130 balls) for his 200.

In the bowling department Arosha Udayanga completed a match bag of ten wickets. He picked up five wickets each on both innings.

Now Mahinda will meet Thurstan in the final.

Scores

St. Thomas’ 140 all out in 56.5 overs (Thathsara Dewmith 29, Loshitha Diksith 39n.o.; Arosha Udayanga 5/42) and 75 for 5 overnight 164 all out in 69 overs (Senura Gihan 35, Pesandu Sanjan 22, Kumesh Nawanjana 43, Manuga Guruge 36n.o.; Arosha Udayanga 5/49, Manitha Rajapaksha 2/42)

Mahinda 105 for 3 overnight 373 all out 91.2 overs (Dulsith Dharshana 96, Dineth Pehesara 21, Senuka Dangamuwa 200; Manuga Guruge 2/82, Ochintha Chamika 3/27, Pesandu Sanjan 4/100)