Bhanuka takes-hat-trick as Royal take control

Paceman Bhanuka Rajapaksa snapped up four wickets from eight deliveries including a hat-trick as Royal College took control over St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa on the opening day of their inter school cricket tournament match which commenced at Reid Avenue yesterday.

Rajapaksa who came into the attack as the first change bowler struck in his second, third and fourth deliveries to complete a unique hat-trick and added another scalp in his second over as the Sebastianites were shot out for just 25 runs in their first innings from 17.2 overs.

Skipper Yasith Abeykoon also captured four wickets after middle order batsman Kithruwan Vithanage had earlier hammered a magnificent 142 from 146 deliveries. The number three batsman struck 22 boundaries and was also associated in a fifth wicket partnership of 118 runs with Haroon Mawjood (60).

Royal: 304 for 8 decl (K. Vithanage 142, H. Mawjood 60, A. Rajapaksa 28, P. de Mel 3 for 57, A. Gayashan 2 for 63, A. de Alwis 2 for 51)

St. Sebastian's: 25 (B. Rajapaksa 4 for 0, Y. Abeykoon 4 for 15, L. de Silva 2 for 3) and 43 for 1 (D. Dias 21 n.o) C.D.