Bowlers dominate day one in the Under 23 finals

Left arm fast bowler, Sujeewa de Silva, bowled Sebastanites Cricket and Aquatic Club back into contention with the Panadura Sports Club in the all outstation final of the Under 23 cricket tournament at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo today.

Sixteen wickets had fallen at close of play on day one, and Panadura SC were reeling at 69 for six in reply after bowling the Sebastanites out in their first innings for a paltry 126 runs.

De Silva, who has bagged 35 wickets so far in the tournament, claimed four wickets for 28 runs in seven overs. He removed Amila Perera and night watchman, Charitha Buddika, in two successive balls in the tenth over but was unable to take a hat trick. Continuing his form, which he has enjoyed throughout the tournament, de Silva struck again in the 14th over to remove Dilruwan Perera, who made 21.

The other two wickets were shared by Dinusha Fernando(1/15) and Umal Irandika(1/02) to restrict Panadura to 49 for six in 15.2 overs.

"I think we did quite well to bowl the opposition out for 126 runs, but were unable to counter their pace attack, which was too much for us" said Amila Perera after the match.

After winning the toss Panadura skipper asked Sebastanites to bat. They soon had them in trouble, when inform batsmen Nilantha Peiris was sent back in the second over for one. Manjula Fernando(35) and Prasanna Jayawardena(16) compiled the only notable partnership in the innings when they made 37 for the second wicket. Sebastianites were bowled out for 126.

Janitha Hewawasam took four wickets for 29, Amila Perera chipped in with three for 35 and Dilruwan Perera snaffled two wickets.

Speaking after the close of play, Sebastanites skipper Nimesh Perera said they were looking for something around 225 for the first innings but the failure of the middle order batsmen to score runs, restricted us to 126.

"But now we are in thanks to a good spell by de Silva, we will use him in the pace attack to bowl them out before lunch tomorrow," said a determined Perera.