Sachintha and Thisara spin Dharmapala to a 72 run win

A six wicket haul by Sachintha Chamika and three wickets by Thisara Wickremasinghe helped Dharmapala College Pannipitiya register a 72 run win over Rahula College Matara in the 6th limited over encounter of the Battle of the Golden Lions played at Pannipitiya on Sunday. With this win Dharmapala extended their lead on the limited over series four wins to two.

The 6th linited over encounter was played between players who were to represent their school first XI teams in 2021. The big matches were not played on 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID19 pandemic. After being postponed on several occasions the 2020 edition was played on the 9th of May at the Uyanwatta stadium but the 2021 edition which was to be played the following day had to be called off once again as curfew was imposed due to the mayhem that took place after protesters at Galle face were attacked.

Invited to bat first on their home ground Dharmapala were bowled out for 221 in 48.3 overs. Thisara Wickremasinghe topped the score card with a 53 ball 68 which included half a dozen boundaries and four sixes. Ovin Bopage and Janiru Wijewardena shared seven wickets.

Chasing a victory target of 222 the Rahula batsmen fell victim to the spin of Sachintha Chamika (6/42) and Thisara Wickremasinghe (3/16) to fall short by 72 runs.. Tharindu Rajapaksa (30) and skipper Binara Sanketh (27) batted well.

Brief scores-

Dharmapala 221 in 48.3 overs (Thisara wickremasinghe 68, Uditha Sandaruwan 22, Rashmititha Ewantha 41, Pasinfu Dimuditha 21; Ovin Bopage 4/42, Janiru Wijewardena 3/38)

Rahula 149 in 44.4 overs Tharindu Rajapaksa 30, Binara Sanketh 27; Thisara Wickremasinghe 3/16, Sachintha Chamika 6/42)