Rahula crush Hartley by eight wickets

Rahula College Under-19 Cricket Squad (Pic by P. D. DE SILVA)     

By P. D. DE SILVA  

Rahula College, Matara retained the Manimaran - Wijesiriwardena Trophy for the fifth successive year when they defeated Hartley College, Point Pedro by eight wickets in the annual Under-19 Battle of the Ends T20 cricket encounter played at the Uyanwatta Stadium in Matara.  

In a match reduced to 10 overs per side due to bad weather, Hartley College, put into bat, were restricted to 32 for eight.  

Janiru Wijewardena captured four wickets for four runs in his two overs and was named Best Bowler as well as Man of the Match.  

Chasing 33 to win, Rahula reached the target with eight wickets in hand and 20 balls to spare. Gevindu Manamperi anchored the innings with an unbeaten run-a-ball 22 to be named Best Batsman.  

In addition, Hartley College Skipper Gnaneswaran Abishanth was named Best Fielder.  

Chief scores:
32/8 in 10 overs (Janiru Wijewardena 4/4, Resali Nethvindu 2/3)  
Hartley College:   
Rahula: 33/2 in 6.4 overs (Gevindu Manamperi 22 n.o).