47th cricket big match against Isipatana

Thurstan livens up draw

Over a 100-run stand between openers Udara Munasinghe (74) and Supun Navaratne (65) almost carried Thurstan College to an exciting win over archrivals Isipatana College in their 47th cricket big match at SSC ground yesterday.
When bad light stopped play yesterday evening Thurstan chasing a victory target of 189 runs were 175 for 3 in 29.2 overs – 14 runs short of the target –and the big match yet again ended in a draw. The rivalry has not seen a decision after 1999.
However, the determined effort of Thurstan who scored at a brisk rate of nearly six runs an over in their second innings – that too after being shot out for 168 runs in the first innings – will be remembered by many. Munasinghe’s 74 came in 62 balls with nine fours, and Navaratne’s 65 in 78 balls with seven fours. After losing his captain Shihan Kamileen (run out for 12), Prabotha Arthavidu made an unbeaten knock of 15 runs in seven balls with a six and a four and tried hard to guide his team to victory before the elements being unkind to his team.
Anyway Thurstan would not have stolen the thunder if not for a sporting declaration by Isipatana captain Thiwanka Ranasinghe when his side was 135 for 5 in the second innings.
The morning session though belonged to Isipatana who shot out Thurstan for 168 after being well placed at 91 for 2 at the end of the first day. The bowling honours went to Isipatana’s new ball pair of Dinusha Fernando (5/75) and Samitha Sulochana (4/44).
Brief scores:
Isipatana 221 in 83 overs (Thiwanka Ranasinghe 86, Samitha Sulochana 44; Ranga Wijewickrama 3/48) and 135 for 5 in 38 overs (Thiwanka Ranasinghe 36, Nilusha Sasanka 28, Dimithri Perera 26, Irfan 22; Sachith Dias 2/28)
Thurstan (91/2 over night) 168 in 53 overs (Shihan Kamileen 38, Prabotha Arthavidu 33 n.o, Jawed Siyabalapitiya 26, Udara Munasinghe 20; Dinusha Fernando 5/75, Samitha Sulochana 4/44) and 175 for 3 in 29.2 overs (Udara Munasinghe 74, Supun Navarathne 65, Prabotha Arthavidu 15 n.o, Jawed Siyabalapitiya 8n.o)