Isipathana College Old Boys has formed a Masters Cricket team, which will be an annual encounter between the two Schools to be played as a Masters encounter from this year. Isipathanian Masters took to the game with a 30 overs Cricket match against Legends of Richmond, where they lost the match by six wickets, played at the Mattegoda Army Cricket ground last week.
Isipathanian Masters skipper winning the toss and taking an option to bat first, openers Panduka Karunarathne and Manju Sri Yapa, the pair together was associated in a 33 runs partnership for the opening wicket and with the dismissal of Manju Sri Yapa and the 2nd, 3rd and 4th wickets falling at (64 runs), (68 runs) and (69 runs), Isipathanian Masters at one stage were reeling at 69 runs for the loss of 4 wickets with Panduka Karunarathne scoring a solid 27 runs and Ravi Subasinghe contributing a gallant 18 runs to this total got back to the pavilion retired hurt. An entertaining 5th wicket partnership of 56 runs between Kelum Cooray and Indika Kumara steadied the innings with Kelum Cooray scoring a magnificent 30 runs and with the dismissal of Kelum Cooray and Indika Kumara playing a well compiled innings scoring 40 runs went back to the pavilion retired out. Vipula De Silva getting into double figures scoring 13 runs , Isipathanian Masters made 170 runs in their allotted 30 overs. S.T.R. Jayasekera capturing 3 wickets, Asoka Sirimanne capturing 2 wickets were the pick of the bowlers for Legends of Richmond.
Legends of Richmond in reply, openers Samantha Lorensuhewa and Lasantha De Silva got to a fine start, the pair adding 55 runs for the first wicket and with the dismissal of Lasantha De Silva scoring 17 runs and the 2nd wicket to fall at 95 runs with Samantha Lorensuhewa scoring a well compiled 31 runs and the 3rd and 4th wickets falling at 109 runs and 124 runs respectively, at this stage, one down batter C.K. Hewamanna playing a sheet anchor role scoring 37 runs, with Saluka Wijesinghe at the crease on 07 runs not out, the pair with a 50 runs partnership for the 5th wicket saw them winning the match in the 21st over.
Isipathanian Masters – 170/9 in 29.4 overs Panduka Karunarathne 27, Ravi Subasinghe 18 ( Retired hurt ), Kelum Cooray 30, Indika Kumara 40 ( Retired out ), Vipula De Silva 13, S.T.R. Jayasekera 3/26, Asoka Sirimanne 2/35
Legends of Richmond – 174/4 in 20.1 overs Lasantha De Silva 17, Samantha Lorensuhewa 31, C.K. Hewamanna 37, Nishamtha Mendis 48 not out, Kelum Coiray 3/24
M.H.Yakeem
