An all-round performance from Sandun Mendis guided Richmond College to a comfortable victory against St.Peter’s College in the Singer U19 Limited Overs Tournament Final that was played at the Galle International Cricket Stadium.
Electing to bat first, Richmondites were in a bit of bother with 106 for 6 when Sandun Mendis arrived at the crease to join Dilum Sudeera. They managed to keep the scoreboard ticking. Sudheera played the anchor role, as Sandun attacked from the other side and went on to make 42 off 57 deliveries.
This partnership took Richmond to 201 for 9 in their 50 overs.In reply Miflal Ameen walked into bat with skipper Santhush Gunathilaka. It proved to be a mistake when both Gunathilaka and Ameen was clean bowled by Dhananjaya Lakshan in the very first over.
However, Sulakshana and Shanon Fernando were going smoothly but it was Sandun Mendis once again who came to the rescue of the Richmondites.
He struck twice in his first over, taking the wickets of Sulakshana Fernando for 25 and Ranmith Jayasena for a 2 ball duck. The Peterites were in dire straits and it did not get any better for them. One of the experienced players of the side Shalith Fernando fell shortly afterwards for 12, cleaned bowled by Mendis.
Peterites were 89 for 7 when Shanon Fernando and Sachin Silva got together for the 8th wicket. The pair added 47 runs as Shanon, after coming to the crease in the very first over, scored a well composed half century. He fell to Mendis as well, as the off-spinner picked up a 5-wickets.
Kanishka Maduwantha’s fighting 39.
Richmond ended up being champions for the second consecutive year and it was Sandun Mendis who was unsurprisingly names Man of the Match for his performance with both bat and ball. Gallery>>