(UTV|COLOMBO) – Colombo Masters Cricket Association (CMCA) overcame the touring Old Boys of Royal College and Friends from Australia team by seven wickets in a 30-over cricket match played at S.Thomas’ College Ground Mount Lavinia.
The touring Australians taking first lease lost an early wicket in the first over, but Stanley Jayanthakumar, Adrian Simon, and Ramesh Nadaraja got the score moving beyond the half century mark. With wickets falling at regular intervals, middle order batsmen Pathmasiri de Silva, Lalith Jayasooriya, and Lasantha Subasinghe also made immense contributions stroking double figures to reach a reasonable total of 135 in 28 overs. Lalith de Silva was the main wicket-taker claiming 2 wickets for 1 run.
Colombo Masters led by Andrew Dalby an Englishman residing in Sri Lanka chased this moderate score and reached the target in 21 overs.
A fourth wicket partnership of 60 runs between Suranjith Dharmasena and Shafeek Raheem saw them home. Both batsmen had to retire with their individual scores at 30 runs according to the match rules.
Amitha Abeynaike and Riyad Fowzie remained unbeaten on 18 and 28 when victory was achieved. Ganendra Shanmugaratnam was the pick of the bowlers claiming 2 wickets.
Scores:
Old Boys of Royal College & Friends 135 (28) (Stanley Jayanthakumar 20, Adrian Simon 18, Ramesh Nadaraja 17, Pathmasiri de Silva 10, Lalith Jayasooriya 14, Lasantha Subasinghe 14, Riyad Fowzie 2/27, Ramesh Wannakuwatta 2/17,Lalith de Silva 2/1)
Colombo Masters 136/3 (21) (Suranjith Dharmasena 30 retd, Shafeek Raheem 30 retd, Riyad Fowzie 28 n.o., Amitha Abeynaike 18 n.o., Ganendra Shanmugaratnam 2/11) (DN)