Chandimal, a hat-trick in drawn game

S. M. Jiffrey ABDEEN, Kandy sports correspondent

Royal College, Colombo were held to a draw by Dharmaraja College in their Schools Lemonade Trophy Cricket Tournament match concluded at the University grounds, Peradeniya yesterday.

Rajans were set a victory target of 254 in 56 overs, and their tail enders just managed to hold on with score board reading 150 for 8 when stumps were drawn. They were 104 runs away from their target with just two wickets in hand.

Tharindu Perera kept one end up batting for a long time for his 23 not out. But the player who really stole the limelight was Rajan medium pacer Chandimal Ratnayake who took 6 for 15 including a hat-trick in his seventh over.

He sent back Charuka Ratnayake, Charith Fernando and Haroon Mowjood in successive deliveries with the last two being clean bowled. Royal who were 65 for 1 at one stage slid to 71 for 8 in their first essay.

Royal College 105 all out (V. Malwatte 12, Sahan Hettiarachchi 43, Vasitha Abeykoon 23, Chandimal Ratnayake 5 for 16, Prasad Amarakoon 2 for 37, Yohan Seneviratne 2 for 2) and 220 (Sahan Hettiarachchi 33, Charith Fernando 77 not out, C. Rajaratne 23, Vasitha Abeykoon 21, P. R. Amarakoon 2 for 51, Prabath Silva 5 for 56, T. M. Perera 2 for 26).

Dharmaraja College 72 all out in 35.5 overs (T. Wedagedera 11, P. R. Amarakoon 11, Charith Fernando 3 for 17, Yasitha Abeykoon 3 for 21, Haroon Mowjood 3 for 20) and 150 for 8 wkts (Tharindu Balasuriya 40, J. C. Ratnayake 20, T. K. Ambagaspitiya 14, T. M. Perera 23 not out, Vasitha Abeykoon 3 for 18).