4 big wins propel Rahula Matara to top of Group B of Schools Under 19 Division II Cricket Tournamen

Tuesday, 7 March 2017 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Text and pix by P.D. De Silva

Four big wins against S de S Jayasinghe MMV Dehiwela, Tissa MV Kalutara, St. Peter’s College Negombo and St. Xavier’s College Marawila and first innings wins against St. Thomas’ College Matale and Royal College Panadura propelled Rahula College Matara to the top of Group B of the 2016/2017 All Island Schools Under 19 Division II Cricket Tournament conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA). The only match they lost was their opening game of the tournament with St. Anne’s College Kurunegala.

With this great performance Rahula College have qualified for the quarterfinals of the division II tournament and if their good form persists and lady luck looks kindly on them, they are just two games away from securing a place in the elite division one tournament next season!

The Rahula first XI led by Pasan Samarathunga is made up with Piruna Thilak Kumara (Vice Captain), Uraj Chalaka, Nuwan Madhusanka, Hasindu Chanaka, Pasindu Sasanka, Sasith Manuranga, Bhagya Himath, Uditha Induwara, Ovin Nuwanjith, Lakindu Chamodya, Tharindu Rajapaksa, Heshan Dilhara, Binara Sanketh, Janidu Mihiran, Sajitha Madumal, Vinushka Chathuranga and Chamodya Dilshan.

The Rahula team is coached by Indika Jayasekera with the assistance of Ranil Rasanjana.

How Rahula faired in the first round of the under 19 division II tournament:

Vs S de S Jayasinghe MMV – Won by an innings and 82 runs

Rahula 301/8 dec

Piruna Thilak Kumara 97, Lakindu Chamodya 55, Uraj Chalaka 46

S de S Jayasinghe MMV 117/10

Hasindu Chanaka 3/11, Sajitha Madumal 4/04

And 102/10

Nuwan Madhusanka 5/07, Pasan Samarathunga 2/04

Vs Tissa MV Kalutara – won by an innings and 14 runs

Tissa Mv – 85/10

Pasan Samarathunga 5/18, Hasindu Chanaka 3/25

And 155/10

Nuwan Madhusanka 3/54, Pasan Samarathunge 3/62

Rahula 254/9 dec

Piruna Thilak Kumara 39, Sasith Manuranga 62, Nuwan Madhusanka 34,

Pasan Samarathunga 26 not out

Vs St. Peter’s College Negombo – won by an innings and 125 runs

Rahula 284/10

Uraj Chalaka 100, Nuwan Madhusanka 42, Piruna Thilak Kumara 33

St Peters 57/10

Sajitha Madumal 3/06, Hasindu Chanaka 2/06

And 102/10

Pasan Samarathunga 4/14, Nuwan Madhusanka 4/43

Vs St. Xavier’s College Marawila – won by an innings and 166 runs

Rahula 204/10

Piruna Thilak Kumara 35, Uraj Chalaka 28, Hasindu Chanaka 25

St. Xavier’s 25/10

Hasindu Chanaka 8/10, Vinushka Chathuranga 2/13

And 13/10

Hasindu Chanaka 5/12, Pasan Samarathunge 5/01

Vs St. Thomas’ College Matale – Won first innings

Rahula 254/10

Piruna Thilak Kumara 85, Binara Sanketh 36, Uraj Chalaka57

And 93/10

Piruna Thilak Kumara 24, Nuwan Madhusanka 29

STC Matale 145/10

Hasindu Chanaka 2/30, Pasan Samarathunga 4/28, Nuwan Madhusanka 4/48

And 164/08

Pasan Samarathunga 5/68, Nuwan Madhusanka 3/74

Vs Royal College Panadura – won first innings

Rahula 279/10

Sasith Manuranga 60, Piruna Thilak Kumara 48, Pasan Samarathunga 45 not out

Royal Panadura 159/10

Nuwan Madhusanka 3/33, Pasan Samarathunga 3/54

And 173/7

Nuwan Madhusanka 3/73

Vs St. Anne’s College Kurunegala – lost by 8 wickets

Rahula 191/10

Piruna Thilak Kumara 44, Heshan Dilhara 23, Thamindu Rajapaksha 25

And 53/10

St Annes 146/10

Uraja Chalaka 3/23, Nuwan Madhusanka 4/45 And 99/2