The touring NZSL North Harbour-Auckland U19 XI from New Zealand concluded their tour of Sri Lanka successfully recently
The five games were played against a St Thomas’ Mt Lavinia XI, Royal College Panadura 1st XI, Matara District U19 XI, Hambantota District U19 XI and Lyceum College Panadura 1st XI and touring team won four games out of five .
The main objective of this tour is to promote cricket among two countries at the school level .
Other than playing five games on this tour, this NZSL group of players and supporters were involved in supporting the local communities by donating large amount of cricket gear to the underprivileged cricketers in Sri Lanka.
This NZSL North Harbour-Auckland U19 tour group was led and managed by the former Thurstan College 1st XI player Amitha Weerakoon who is currently the Director of Cricket at the Takapuna District Cricket Club in Auckland. Amitha has been organising cricket tours to Sri Lanka and India from New Zealand since 2014 and has specially organised this particular tour to Sri Lanka with the intention of supporting Sri Lankan tourism and local cricketers.
After the presentation of the mementoes to the local players, Amitha thanked his NZSL group for their support to Sri Lanka and local cricketing communities.
The touring NZSL North Harbour-Auckland U19 XI –
Harrison Wills (Captain), Campbell Brighouse (V/C), Matthew Ross, Toby Douglas, Sam Inglis, Logan Ferguson, Hunter Vaughan, Ojas Grover, Sidd Ghosh and Lachlan Hutton. Coach – Amita Weerakoon Manager – Harley Brighouse
Following are the match scores :
NZSL NHA U19 XI beat St Thomas Mount Lavinia selection XI by 59 runs at S.Thomas grounds in Mount Lavinia
The touring NZSL team batted first and scored 237 runs for 6 wickets with Matthew Ross (79 runs), Sam Inglis (60 runs), Campbell Brighouse (50 runs) and Logan Ferguson (29 runs) scoring bulk of the runs. The wickets for STC were shared by Darien Diego and V Rodrigo with two wickets each.
STC XI replied with 185/9 in 50 overs with a brilliant 112 by Akash Fernando and well supported by the first drop batter A Fernando with 29. The wickets for the NZSL team were shared by the Captain Harrison Wills, Toby Douglas and Matthew Ross with two wickets each.
NZSL team was beaten by 12 runs by the Royal College Panadura 1st XI team at the Dombagoda grounds
The Panadura Royalist were 83/1 after the first ten overs thanks to some attacking batting by Jayod Chamara (and Himesh Thiran (28) laying the foundation. They were also well supported by Kaveesha Perera (49), Ranmira Fernando (20), Yasitha Promodya (19) and Lakindu Chanchala (12) which helped them to finish the 50 overs on 226/8. The wickets were shared by Ojas Grover (3/43) and Harrison Wills (3/47).
The NZSL team was well on track to achieve the target thanks to some smart top order contributions by Toby Douglas, Campbell Brighouse, Logan Ferguson, Sam Inglis and Hunter Vaughan. However, a late order collapse resulted the NZSL XI bowled out for 214 with over to spare.
NZSL team lost by two wickets to the Matara District U19 XI in a 50 over game played at Uyanwatta Stadium despite a brilliant century from their stylish right hand opening batsman Campbell Brighouse..
Campbell scored a stunning 115 runs with fourteen fours and three sixes and helped the team to score a respectable 239 runs against a quality local bowling attack. In reply, the Matara District U19 XI reached the target with two wickets to spare and thanks to a solid 70 runs at the top by Mithila Mihisara..
NZSL North Harbour-Auckland (NHA) U19 XI: 239 all out in 47.2 overs Campbell Brighouse 115, Matthew Ross 29, Logan Ferguson 30, Ojas Grover 23 not out Vishwa Supun 3 for 53, Sadew Rithmaka 2 for 42, Pesandu Sujan 2 for 22
Matara District U19 XI: 242 for 8 in 45.2 overs Mithila Mihisara 70, Diniru Abeywickrasinghe 35, Hirantha Lakshan 31, Woshitha Amerasinghe 19, Nipun Samarasinghe 26, Pesandu Sujan 17 not out Harrison Wills 2 for 36, Matthew Ross 2 for 48, Toby Douglas 3 for 52 (1)
The NZSL team beat the Hambantote District XI by Duckworth-Lewis system at Suriyawewa International Stadium
NZSL North Harbour-Auckland (NHA) U19 XI: 306/6 (40 overs)Campbell Brighouse 20, Ojas Grover 64, Matthew Ross 63, Sam Inglis 32, Lachlan Hutton 32 n/o, Toby Douglas 42 n/o, Ramindu Nawod 2/53
Hambantota District XI: 190/9 (32 overs) Hasala Abhilash 82, Aditya Abhilash 14, Sampath Kumar 31, Sam Inglis 2/23, Toby Douglas 3/23, Oshan 2/5
The last game NZSL team lost by three wickets to Lyceum International School Panadura 1st XI at Colombo Cricket Club grounds
NZSL North Harbour-Auckland (NHA) U19 XI: 165 all out (36.5 overs)Campbell Brighouse 29, Matthew Ross 26, Sam Inglis 15, Lachlan Hutton 13, Ojas Grover 30, Toby Douglas 14 Nishal Thabawita 3/20, Bisanda Silave 2/27, Rusiru Fernando 4/33
Lyceum International School Panadura 1st XI: 166/7 (29.5 overs)Rusiru Fernando 24, Pasandu Silva 14, Akmal Fazly 78, Vishan Joseph 32 Sam Inglis 2/19, Sidd Ghosh 2/19