St. Joseph’s retains title
Skipper Shevon Daniel scored a fluent knock of 80 in 88 balls while Dunith Wellalage made a good double scoring 42 runs and taking 3 for 18 as St. Joseph’s recorded a 106-run victory over Richmond College in the final to retain their Under 19 Division One Tier ‘A’ Championship yesterday at the Police Park grounds, Bambalapitiya. With 45 minutes of play lost due to rain, the game was reduced to 47-overs per side.
After choosing to bat first, St. Joseph’s made a challenging total of 257 for 9 wickets in 47 overs while Richmond managed to get 151 all out in 41.3 overs. St Joseph’s openers Sadeesh Jayawardena and Hiruna Kapurubandara added 37 runs in 7.3 overs while paceman Hansamana de Silva made the first breakthrough to depart Kapurubandara. Sadeesh Jayawardena (46 in 78 balls with a four) and skipper Shevon Daniel scored a second-wicket 57-run stand to build up their innings.
Daniel the experienced National youth all-rounder led from the front by scoring 80 in 88 balls with 6 fours and 3 sixes further added 86 runs for the fourth wicket with Dunith Wellalage. The experienced pair made a real good batting display to insert more pressure on the opponent bowlers. Wellalage the National youth team skipper was out with only eight runs away from his well-deserved half-century. He hit 2 fours and six in his 53-ball innings.
Muditha Lakshan who came to the middle as a number seven batter made a valuable unbeaten knock of 34 in just 19 balls with 2 fours and 2 sixes which guided Joes to pass the 250 mark, posing a great challenge against Richmond. The right arm leg spinner Malsha Tharupathi was the most successful Richmond bowler taking 4 for 50 in his 9-over spell while two pacemen Kalpa Nethsara and Hansamana de Silva shared two wickets each.
Richmond chasing a 258-run target couldn’t make a good start while opener Vishara Fernando was out off the first ball of the innings bowled by paceman Deshan Seneviratne. After 10 overs, Richmond were 24 for one wicket and was below their required run rate. The in-form opener Tharinda Nirmal scored 6 runs in 23 balls unfortunately run out in the 25th over while skipper Bhanuka Manohara (5) and Janeth Kaushal (8) were sent back to the pavilion and Richmond were in deep trouble with 63 for 5 wickets after 21 overs. However, Malsha Tharupathi made a quick-fire innings of 62 in 54 balls striking 5 fours and 4 sixes also added a 53-run sixth-wicket stand with Maheesha de Silva (18 in 27 balls) but that was not enough to reach their target as they were bowled out for 151 in 41.3 overs. The paceman Deshan Seneviratne and leg spinner Dunith Wellalage took bowling honors for the winning side taking three wickets each. Wellalage who finished with 3 for 18 in his 8.3 overs spell also became the highest wicket-taker of the tournament with 19 wickets while skipper Shevon Daniel scored 352 runs in 8 matches to become the highest scorer of the tournament.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) sponsored this tournament while the winners St. Joseph’s received Rs. 300,000 cash award from SLC Head of National Cricket Operations Chintaka Edirimanna. The runner-up Richmond team received Rs. 250,000 cash award.
Chief scores
St Joseph’s: 257 for 9 wickets in 47 overs ( Sadeesh Jayawardena 46, Hiruna Kapurubandara 13, Shevon Daniel 80, Dunith Wellalalge 42, Deshan Seneviratne 18, Muditha Lakshan 34*, Kalpa Nethsara 2/40, Hansamana de Silva 2/48, Malsha Tharupathi 4/50)
Richmond: 151 all out in 41.3 overs (Thamindu Pradeeptha 16,Malsha Tharupathi 62, Maheesha de Silva 18, Kalpa Nethsara 14, Deshan Seneviratne 3/26, Dunith Wellalage 3/18