Antonian Avishka Tharindu slams record 350

By M. Shamil Amit

Sri Lanka Under-19 discard Avishka Tharindu of St. Anthony’s College, Wattala snubbed the National Selectors when he created a new schools batting record in the Under-19 Cricket Tournament match against Lumbini MV which ended in a draw at Wattala today (18).

The dashing all-rounder, who was not considered for the recently concluded ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in South Africa, slammed a trail blazing 350 runs on the second day of the match.

Avishka who was unbeaten on 278 on day one, went on to add a further 72 runs and his marathon knock came off just 285 balls and included 52 boundaries and three sixes.

As a result, the Antonians resuming from their overnight score of 434 for eight went on to reach a mammoth first innings score of 514 runs.

Tharindu also joined an elite set of schoolboy cricketers who have scored a triple century behind Jack Anderson (St. Anthony’s, Katugastota), Indika de Saram (St. Thomas’, Matara) and Dhammika Vaas (Maris Stella, Negombo)

Lumbini MV, in reply were bowled out for 160 runs with Kaveesha Dulanjana doing the damage with a seven-wicket haul.

Avishka then continued his batting prowess as he remained unbeaten on 79 in the second innings to finish with a staggering aggregate of 429 runs in the two innings.

St. Anthony’s (434/8 overnight): 514 (Avishka Tharindu 350, Kaveesha Dulanjana 59, Kanishka Gimhan 25, Yasiru Yugath 3/131, Prabashana Gamlath 2/119) and 175/3 (Gihan Sathmika 33, Dinuk Vishal 26, Avishka Tharindu 79 n.o, Kaveesha Dulanjana 23 n.o)

Lumbini MV: 160 (Hiru Chethana 41, Chalana Chamod 37, Kaveesha Dulanjana 7/37, Romesh Suranga 2/44).