Royal frustrate Thomians to lead race to semis 

Under 19 Division I Cricket 

by Reemus Fernando

Royal produced the best batting performance on day one of the teams bating first in the three quarter-finals of the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ tournament commenced at Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa on Wednesday.

Rehan Peiris and Ramiru Perera with half centuries and Yasindu Dissanayake with an unbeaten 46 anchored the Royal batting lineup for them to reach 271 for six wickets at stumps on day one against arch rivals S. Thomas’ Mount Lavinia at Anuradhapura while Mahanma (74 against Trinity) and St. Anthony’s Katugastota (204 against St. Sebastian’s Moratuwa) struggled for  runs in their quarter-finals.

The other quarter-final between St. Joseph’s and St. Peter’s is yet to commence.

Mahanama were shot out for 74 runs, their lowest total this season, at Polonnaruwa as Trinity skipper Malith Rathnayake took six wickets with his left-arm spin. For Mahanama, Chamika Heenatigala (26), their most successful batsman this season and wicketkeeper batsman Eshan Withanage were the only batsmen to reach double figures.

At Saliyapura, Anuradhapura, Kevan Fernando came up with his best batting performance of the season, an unbeaten 89 runs (156 balls) for St. Anthony’s Katugastota to post 204 runs, after St. Sebastian’s bowlers delivered early blows. In reply the Sebs were 45 for one wicket at stumps. For the Sebs, Malintha Silva, the tournament’s highest wicket taker took four wickets.

Match Details 

At Royal Central Ground Polonnaruwa

Scores 

Mahanama

74 all out in 35.4 overs (Chamika Heenatigala 26; Thisal Yapa 2/18, Malith Rathnayake 6/21)

Trinity

141 for 5 in 50 overs (Chaniru Senarathne 75n.o., Sweath Anurajeewa 24; Dulnith Sigera 3/19)

At Gajaba Regiment Ground Saliyapura, Anuradhapura

Scores

St. Anthony’s

210 all out in 70 overs (Sanuka Kalpana 41, Charuka Ekanayake 24, Kevan Fernando 89n.o.; Risinu Prabesh 2/21, Malintha Silva 4/60)

St. Sebastian’s

45 for 1 in 17.2 overs (Ushen Silva 26n.o.)

At Samadi Ground Anuradhapura

Scores 

Royal

271 for 6 in 90 overs (Hirun Liyanarachchi 22, Rehan Peiris 82, Ramiru Perera 81, Yasindu Dissanayake 46n.o.; Kavindu Dias 2/54) against S. Thomas’