Under 19 Division Two Eight teams advance to quarter-finals

Four players reach 1000 runs, three players achieve 100 wickets

 By M. Shamil Amit   

The Under 19 inter-schools cricket tournament (Division One, Two and Three) which came to a standstill in March due to the spread of the coronavirus is scheduled to continue once the green-light is given by the Ministry of Sports and Ministry of Education after the reopening of schools on July 6.   

The tournament came to a standstill after the completion of the two day pre-quarter finals of the three categories and the ending saw eight teams book the berth to the quarter finals.   
In the Division Two category the eight teams to qualify were St. Peter’s College Negombo, St. Sebastian’s College Katuneriya, Siri Piyarathana MV Padukka, Rahula College Matara, Sri Devananda MV Ambalangoda, Kalutara Vidyalaya, St. John’s Panadura and Holy Cross Kalutara.   

In the pre-quarter finals that were concluded in early March five outright wins were recorded -- by St. Sebastian’s Katuneriya who beat Tissa Central by ten wickets, Rahula Matara who defeated Anuradhapura Central by five wickets, St. John’s Panadura who overcame Vidyartha by innings, Holy Cross Kalutara who defeated Sri Sumangala Panadura by nine wickets and Sri Devananda MV getting the better of Sri Dharmaloka MV Kelaniya by ten wickets while other matches ended in first inning wins for St Peter’s Negombo, Siri Piyaratana MMV Padukka and Kalutara MV against Lyceum International School Wattala, Piliyandala Central and St. John’s Jaffna.   

Looking back at the individual performances after the completion of the pre-quarter finals four players have the honour of reaching the 1000-run milestone for the season namely Sandaruwan Chinthaka of Galahitiyawa Central, Samith Isuru of Karandeniya Central, Ashan Dilhara of St John’s Panadura and Ayon Heshara of St Sebastian’s Katuneriya.   
Sandaruwan Chinthaka was the highest of the four making 1248 runs from the 13 matches he played which included four tons and five half tons, Samith Isuru was the next best and he had the rare feat of achieving the double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets, he made 1224 runs from 15 matches which had three tons and seven half tons with a highest score of 228 runs and took 122 wickets with a best of 8 for 92.   

It was the second successive time Samith reached the 1000 runs milestone. Ashan Dilhara chalked up 1094 runs from 15 matches inclusive of five tons and three half tons with a top score of 197 runs and Ayon Heshara made 1047 runs which had four tons and four half tons with a best of 192 runs.   

Tharana de Silva of Sri Sumangala Panadura made the highest individual score of 252 runs against Revatha MMV Balapitiya while three players Sandaruwan Chinthaka of Galahtiyawa Central, Ashan Dilhara and Thuruwan Perera both of St John’s Panadura had the honour of making twin tons which they achieved against Christ King Ja-ela and 
Kegalu Vidyalaya.   

Apart from Samith Isuru the other two players to take 100 scalps for the season were Sithum Akilanka of St Sebastian’s Katuneriya and Manuja Dulneth of Rahula Matara. Sithum ended with 111 wickets from 16 matches with a best of 7 for 7 while Manuja bagged 107 wickets and also had the best bowling figures in this division of 8 for 9 against Sri Jayawardenapura MV Kotte and also had five ten wicket match bags.
   

Schedule for quarter final:   

St. Peter’s Negombo vs St. Sebastian’s Katuneriya.   
Siri Piyratana MMV Padukka vs Rahula Matara.   
Sri Devananda MV Ambalangoda vs Kalutara MV   
St. John’s Panadura vs Holy Cross Kalutara.