Rashmika Perera’s unbeaten 111 off 84 balls and Inuka Karannagoda’s 4 for 37 propelled Mahanama to a comfortable 133-run victory over D.S. Senanayake College in their annual limited-over cricket fixture at the SSC grounds yesterday. With this win, Mahanama retained the Aravinda de Silva Challenge Trophy.
Mahanama displayed a fine batting performance, posting a challenging total of 305 for 9 wickets in 50 overs. Rashmika Perera led the charge with a fluent century, while openers Dulnith Sigera (34 off 24 balls) and Kavindu Amameth (42 off 55 balls) provided a solid start with a 50-run partnership in 5.4 overs. Kavindu and Koojana Perera (35 off 36 balls) further bolstered the innings with a 72-run partnership for the second wicket.
Rashmika Perera, the hero of the match, struck 9 fours and 4 sixes in his innings. Wicketkeeper Eshan Withanage contributed a valuable 26 off 29 balls to guide Mahanama past the 300-run mark. Akmal Fazly (2 for 64) and Dilash Kumaranayake (3 for 53) were the pick of the bowlers for D.S. Senanayake College.
D.S. Senanayake College struggled in their chase, losing 6 wickets for 60 runs. Their skipper and opener, Gaviru Senhas, who scored a record knock of 200 in the big match, was dismissed early for 3 runs off 9 balls. Shanal Binuksha (61 off 69 balls) and Dehem Nirmal (37 off 38 balls) showed some resistance, but it wasn’t enough as they were bundled out for 172 in 40.3 overs.
Inuka Karannagoda was the standout bowler for Mahanama, finishing with figures of 4 for 37 in his ten overs. Skipper Duvindu Ranathunga and Koojana Perera chipped in with two wickets each to further trouble D.S. Senanayake College.
At the presentation ceremony, Mahanama skipper Duvindu Ranathunga received the Aravinda Silva Challenge Trophy, while Rashmika Perera was named the Man of the Match.
Chief scores
Mahanama: 305 for 9 wickets in 50 overs (Dulnith Sigera 34, Kavindu Amameth 42, Koojana Perera 35, Rashmika Perera 111*, Inuka Karannagoda 10, Gimantha Dissanayake 16, Eshan Withanage 26, Akmal Fazly 2/64, Dilash Kumaranayake 3/53)
D.S. Senanayake College: 172 all out in 40.4 overs (Malitha Perera 27, Dehem Nirmal 37, Shanal Binuksha 61, Akmal Fazly 13, Duvindu Ranathunga 2/25, Koojana Perera 2/32, Inuka Karannagoda. 4/37)
Dhammika Ratnaweera