By SM Jiffrey Abdeen
Diyatillake Central College, Hanguranketha achieved the first-ever win in the 'Battle of Dabaran' by defeating Ganga Palatha Maha Vidyalaya, Hanguranketha by nine wickets to annexe the S. B. Dissanayake Trophy in their annual big match played at the historical reservoir ground, Hanguranketha on Friday.
The Minister of Samurdhi, Youth Affairs and Sports S. B. Dissanayake who donated the trophies for the match, was the chief guest and he distributed the main awards. This match was played at the venue of the last King of Kandy's bathing spot which has been now converted into a playground.
This big match which had its origins about nine years ago, saw the first seven battles as softball cricket encounters, but last year at the request of the Minister of Sports S. B. Dissanayake, leather-ball cricket was introduced and he donated the trophies for the encounter. The inaugural encounter ended in a draw.
This match, promised to be a close encounter, till the fourth innings, but Diyatillake Central who were set a victory target of 102 in 50 overs, romped home easy winners by nine wickets in the end. Ganga Palatha MV, batting first, were dismissed for 91 after being 50 for 2 at one stage.
Diyatillake Central, in reply, after a somewhat poor start, recovered well to score 135 with Ajith Bandara top scoring with 47. Medium-pacer Priyantha Dissanayake, bowling to a tidy length, captured 6 for 41. Ganga Palatha going in a second time with a deficit of 44 runs, were 51 for 5 and their tail wagged to total 145.
Set to get 102 to win in 50 overs, Diyatillake Central hit off the runs in 32.5 overs with Ajith Thusith Bandara stroking a fine 53 not out with 6 fours and 2 sixers.
Scores:
Ganga Palatha MV 91 all out in 46 overs (S. Dissanayake 15, S. A. Gunasinghe 10, S. Mahanama 14, A. Indika 11, M. P. Kengalle 4 for 28, A. K. K. Jayasekera 3 for 15) and 145 all out in 49 overs (Saman Gunawardena 41, N. Balasuriya 11, P. Kumarasinghe 23, C. K. Herath 20, A. K. K. Jayasekera 2 for 32, A. S. K. Jayasekera 3 for 23).
Diyatillake Central 135 all out in 39.2 overs (S. Jayaweera 20, M. P. Kengalle 12, T. Bandara 12, Ajith Bandara 47, S. K. Dissanayake 3 for 34, P. Dissanayake 6 for 41) and 111 for 1 in 32.5 overs (S. Jayaweera 27 not out, A. Bandara 12, Thusith Bandara 53 not out).
Ananda recover to make 208/7
By Ranjan Anandappa
Ananda helped by two good innings by Mohammed Ramzi (52) and Akalanka Ganegama (56 n.o) saw them reach a satisfactory 208 for 7 when bad light stopped play around 4.45 p.m. on the first day in their Singer under-17 cricket semi-final against St. Joseph's at Ananda Mawatha yesterday.
The Anandians, sent into bat, were in trouble losing 6 for 88 and then 7 for 142 until Ganegama associated himself in two productive stands of 54 with Ramzi for the eighth wicket and an unfinished ninth wicket stand of 66 with Rukshan Fernando (20 n.o) when bad light stopped play.
Scores:
Ananda 208 for 7 in 80.1 overs (G. R. Samaraweera 12, Thilina Kandamby 13, N. Y. Wickremage 17, M. Ramzi 52, Akalanka Ganegama 56 n.o, Rukshan Fernando 20 n.o., Ian Daniel 2 for 36, A. Wijeratne 2 for 27).