Thanuja, Rachintha score centuries as Thurstan defy Isipatana to earn Tier ‘A’ promotion

Under 19 Division I Cricket

by Reemus Fernando

Thanuja Rajapakse and Rachintha de Silva produced their best batting performances of the season at the most crucial match as Thurstan booked the final berth of the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘B’ cricket tournament and the promotion to the Tier ‘A’ tournament at Sooriyawewa on Sunday.

The team captained by Thanuga Palihawadana earned a first innings win over arch rivals Isipatana who posted 304 runs batting first thanks to a valuable knock of 156 runs by Ranmith Senarath.

In their essay, Rajapakse and de Silva held the team’s batting together with match deciding centuries to earn the Tier A promotion. Both batsmen hadn’t scored a century the entire season. Rajapakse who missed three matches early this season due to his National Youth team commitments had a solitary half century during the tournament proper and had two half centuries during the three traditional matches. He missed a century against D.S. Senanayaka when he was dismissed on 99. Yesterday when he was required to produce his best, the wicketkeeper batsman notched up 101 runs. He faced 178 balls and scored just eight fours and one six.

Rachintha de Silva had scored just four half centuries the entire season, but came up with an unbeaten 115 and put on vital partnerships with tail enders to boost the score. They declared their innings when they were 383 for eight wickets. De Silva faced 168 balls and scored 12 fours and a six.

In their second essay, Isipatana were 137 for two wickets when the match was stopped.

Now the team coached by Suneth Gunathilaka will face the winners of the semi-final between Mahinda and St. Thomas’ Matara.

The date of the final is not known yet. Both Thurstan and Isipatana are set to meet again in their annual big match over this weekend (21, 22 and 23) before the final.

Scores

Isipatana

304 all out in 97 overs (Maleesha Sandaruwan 58, Ranmith Senarath 156, Chanul Dinoth 24; Yovun Silpa 4/46, Rachintha de Silva 3/28, Vihas Thewmika 2/76) and 137 for 2 in 34 overs (Navidu Hettiarachchige 74n.o., Ruchith Rodrigo 31, Maleesha Sandaruwan 26)

Thurstan

383 for 8 decl. in 120 overs (Thanuja Rajapakse 101, Janitha Rukshan 23, Vihas Thewmika 67, Rachintha de Silva 115, Pathum Dananjaya 40; Dimuthu Tharaka 2/63, Menula Sadew 2/88)