Neither captain made any positive moves to keep the game alive by timely declarations. Thurstan scored 258 and Isipatana who were 159 for 3 overnight batted till around 1.00 pm for 301 runs off 72.5 overs which brought them on par with the highest team score 301 for 8 declared by Thurstan in 1980.
The match would have been a more significant one for Thurstan opener Nalaka de Silva if he had not missed a well compiled century by 5 runs when he lost concentration while attempting to hook Suresh Perera and was caught behind for 95.
Nalaka de Silva and Gihan Sandanayake added an entertaining 65 runs for the second wicket after a good first wicket stand of 72 between Sumeda Bandaratileke and Nalaka de Silva. De Silva struck 9 fours and two sixes after facing 154 balls while Sandanayaka's contribution was 23.
Isipatana's skipper Suresh Perera, too, had an impressive match. He took 4 for 101 in the first innings and being unbeaten on 65 overnight added a further 5 runs when he was caught and bowled by Indunil Wickreamsinghe for 70. Perera's innings contained 12 boundaries and faced 69 deliveries and was involved in an invaluable 66 run stand for the fourth wicket with Kanchana Madugalle (73) after facing 133 balls with six hits to the ropes.
THURSTAN - 1ST INNINGS 258 ISIPATANA - 1ST INNINGS (overnight 159/3)
Rangana Fernando c Bandaratileka b Liyanage 21, Suresh Perera c and b Indunil Wickremasinghe 70, Kanchana Madugalle run out 73, Sahan Wijesekera c T. Wickremasinghe b Liyanage 1, Gayan Mendis b T. Wickremasinghe 18, Vidura Nuwan b T. Wickremasinghe 21, Krishan Jayawardena not out 7, Vasana Patabendige lbw T. Wickremasinghe 20, Extras (NB-12, LB-17, B-15, W-4) 48. TOTAL (all out off 72.5 overs) 301. FALL OF WICKETS: 27, 67, 103, 169, 213, 217, 255, 280, 298, 301. BOWLING: Tharindu Wickremasinghe 16.5-3-64-3, Indunil Wickremasinghe 10-2-34-2, Chamara Liyanage 32-8-93-2, Samera Samarasinghe 15-2-52-2.
THURSTAN - 2ND INNINGS
Nalaka de Silva c N. Wasana b Suresh Perera 95, Sumeda Bandaratilleke c Madugalle b Suresh Perera 47, Gihan Sandanayake c sub (N. Attapattu) b G. Mendis 23, Manoj Hettiarachchi c S. Perera b Vidura Nuwan 11, Sudhara Jayawardena c and b Vidura Nuwan 31, Chamara Liyanage not out 26, Sampath Nanayakkara not out 2, Extras (B-12, LB-1, W-2) 15. TOTAL (for 5 wickets off 69 overs) 250. FALL OF WICKETS: 72, 137, 179, 201, 237. BOWLING: Suresh Perera 18-2-62-2, Kanchana Madugalle 7-1-20-0, Amal Wanigasekera 4-0-26-0, Vidura Nuwan 27-4-80-2, Sahan Wijesekera 3-0-17-0, Gayan Mendis 8-0-23-1, Ravi Jaysuriya 1-0-3-0, Rangana Fernando 10-4-0.