Upbeat Joes look to upset Royal in Tier ‘A’ final

Unbeaten Royal College will meet St. Joseph’s College in the Under-19 Division One Tier ‘A’ Cricket Tournament final at the NCC Grounds in Maitland Place, today.

Royal defeated Mahanana College by six wickets, while the Josephians trounced Trinity College by 10 wickets in their respective semi-finals played earlier.

Royal Skipper Ahan Wickramasinghe has already scored 437 runs from seven matches, including a century and three fifties, while Sineth Jayawardena, Isiwara Dissanayake, Sadisha Rajapaksa, wicket-keeper batsman Shehan Herath and Dasis Manchanayake are all in good touch with the bat.

All-rounder Kavindu Pathirathne and Sonal Amarasekara will spearhead the Royal bowling attack with Dan Poddiwela providing the back up support.

In addition, Gishan Balasooriya, Manchanayake, and off-spinner Sadisha Rajapaksa are among the wickets in this tournament and are capable of providing vital breakthroughs.

Meanwhile, all-rounder Dunith Wellalage is the key player for St. Joseph’s and will also depend on the two opening batsmen wicket-keeper Sadeesh Jayawardena and Sheran Fonseka to produce a repeat performance.

The pair put on an unfinished 161-run opening stand in the semi-final against Trinity and will look to continue with the same form.

St. Joseph’s have a solid middle order batting line-up comprising of Shevon Daniel, Yesith Rupasinghe, and Skipper Wellalage.

The Josephian bowling will be in the hands of fast bowlers Mithira Thenura and Deshan Seneviratne, with off-spinner Senuka de Silva and leg-spinner Wellalage expected to get an early breakthrough.

Royal Under-19 Squad: Ahan Wickramasinghe (Captain), Kavindu Pathirathna (Vice-Captain), Ishiwara Dissanayake, Gishan Balasuriya, Prashan Kalhara, Dasis Manchanayake, Sadisha Rajapaksa, Sonal Amarasekara, Dan Poddiwela, Sehan Herath, Sineth Jayawardene, Ashen Gamage, Uvindu Weerasekara, Uthum Dissanayake, Nethin Panapitiya, Damith Kappagoda, Resandu Tillekaratne and Lahiru Gangewatte. St. Joseph’s Under-19 Squad: Dunith Wellalage (Captain), Shevon Daniel, Dinal Anuradha, Ashan M.N. De Alwis, Sheran Fonseka, Mithira Thenura, Yesith Rupasinghe, Shenuka De Silva, Dineth Anthony, Sadeesh Jayawardene, Gagan Chamod, Shenuk Serasinghe, Deshan Senevirathne, Hiran Jayasundara, Lahiru Amarasekara, Sahan Dabare, Hirun Matheesha, Yenula Dewthusa, Sasanka Ranaweera and Kenneth Sasmina.

 

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