Under 19 Limited Over Final St. Joseph’s seeking to retain title

By M. Shamil Amit   

The curtain comes down in the Under 19 inter-school top division limited over cricket tournament with the clash of the Tier A segment final between defending champions St. Joseph’s College and Richmond College scheduled to be played at Police Park today.   

The Joes will be led by Sri Lanka youth player Shevon Daniel who will come into the game seeking to retain the title for the second year while Bhanuka Manohara who will lead Richmond takes the field with the aim of spoiling their opponents’.   

St. Joseph’s posses an experienced outfit as apart from skipper Daniel they have two Sri Lanka youth players in Dunith Wellalage and Sadeesh Jayawardena players in the caliber of Hiran Jayasundara, Mithira Thenuara and Hirun Matheesha who have being in the forefront in the success of the team.   

On the other hand Richmond skipper Manohara will depend on Tharinda Nirmal who has been in top form, Kalpa Nethsara, Sri Lanka youth player Malsha Tharupathi, Maheesha Vethmin and Hansamana de Silva to guide the side to success in this big clash.   

Looking back at the performance of the two teams the Josephians remained unbeaten with wins against St. Thomas’ College Matara, along with S. Thomas’, St. Benedict’s, St.Anthony’s and St. Sebastian’s Colleges in the round robin before pulling off wins against Wesley and De Mazenod in the quarter and semi-final encounters.   
Richmond recorded three wins in the round robin stage against St. Anne’s College Kurunegala, Wesley College and D.S Senanayake College while tasting defeat at the hands of Nalanda College. In the quarter-finals they overcame St. Anthony’s College Katugastota and got the better of Mahanama College Colombo in the semi-final.

The teams:
St. Joseph’s - Shevon Daniel (Captain), Dunith Wellalage, Sadeesh Jayawardene, Hirun Matheesha, Mithira Thenuara, Hiran Jayasundara, L. Dissanayake, R.H. Amarasinghe, Deshan Senevirathne, Lahiru Amarasekara, Abhishek Jayaweera, Kenath Sasmina, Shenuk Serasinghe, Senodh Dulvin Soysa, Dineth Jayakody.   
Richmond - Bhanuka Manohara (Captain), Kalpa Nethsara (Vice Captain), Kavindu Nirmana, Vishara Sasmitha, Tharinda Nirmal, Ruwan Jayawardena, Janeth Kaushal, Maheesha Vethmin, Hansamana De Silva, Sharon Abishek, Malsha Tharupathi, Thamindu Pradeeptha, Chehan Subasinghe, Sihath Ramanayake, Imesh Sasindu, Seneth Sisan, Kaveesha Induwara, Sanahas Ramindu, Manuja Dulneth, Stephan Selvanayagam.