Sri Lanka Schools: Danushka and Andrew help Royal to defy Wesley (14 February 1999)

14 February 1999

Sri Lanka Schools: Danushka and Andrew help Royal to defy Wesley

Ranjan Anandappa

Royal retained the Sir Frank Gunasekera Shield for another year when their inter -school cricket encounter against Wesley ended in a draw at Campbell Park yesterday.

Wesley had a slim chance of turning the match in their favour when they took 5 Royal wickets for 87 runs, after setting a victory target of 161 off 22 overs but sensible batting by Royalists Danushka Perera (15 n.o) and wicketkeeper Andrew Perera (13n.o) till the end, saw them take the score from 87 for 5 to 116 for 5.

Royal openers Jehan Mubarak and Milinda Thotuwilage gave them an ideal start putting on 50 runs in 5.4 overs. With the dismissal of the first wicket pair, the rest were restricted as Pubudu Chandrasekera (2 for 33) and Dharshika Jayakody (2 for 27) induced the batsmen into errors and took wickets at regular intervals.

Wesley who were dismissed for 124 in their first innings, batted resolutely in their second innings to declare at 228 for 6.Rakitha Wijetunga (58), Dharshika Jayakody (77) and Dharshana Medagedera ( 33) were among the runs for the Wesleyites.

Wesley won the shield in 1969 and Royal last won in 1995 under Nalliah Rajan.

Wesley 124 and 228 for 6 declared ( Rakitha Wijetunga 58, Dharshika Jayakody 77, Nalin Balasuriya 25, Dharshana Medagedera 33, Manoj de Silva 12 n.o, Rangana Rajapakse 3 for 48)

Royal 154 for 7 overnight 192 (Ravi Peiris 16, D.Perera 16, Thushan Amarasuriya 35, Malinda Thotuwilage 51, Dharshika Jayakody 2 for 37, Pubudu Chadrasekera 2 for 43) and 116 for 5 at stumps( Malinda Thotuwilage 42, Jehan Mubarak 16, Danushka Perera 15 n.o, Andrew Perera 13 n.o, Pubudu Chandrasekera 2 for 33, Dharshaka Jayakody 2 for 27).

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)