Under 19 Girl’s Division Two Cricket
St. Anthony’s Girls College, Katugastota will encounter Anura College, Matara in the first ever Under 19 Girls’ Division II cricket tournament final at Campbell Place today. The girls from Katugastota eliminated Kekirawa Central with a crushing seven wickets victory in the semi-final where Nimeshika Senavirathna led from the front with a five-wicket haul.
The team captained by Shalani Dassanayake will be looking forward for their players to produce their best to secure the title against formidable Anura College. The girls from Matara made it to the final with a nerve tingling one wicket win over Ratnawali Balika.
Devindi Rasanjana will lead Anura in the absence of Rishmi Sanjana who is currently playing for Sri Lanka Under 19 in the Girls’ Youth World Cup. Incidentally, Sanjana was the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka in their World Cup encounter against Australia on Wednesday.
Over 60 teams participated in the first round of the Division II tournament which was introduced this year after the number of girls cricket teams increased significantly.
How they reached the final
St. Anthony’s advanced to the final round as the champions of their group in the first round. They beat Puthukkulam MV, Vavuniya) in the second round before eliminating Uhana Maha Vidyalaya (pre-quarter-final) and Dudley Senanayake Central, Tholangamuwa (quarter-final).
Anura advanced to the final round as the group champion in the first round. They beat Kegalu Vidyalaya in the second round before knocking out Jayasiripura KV, Polonnaruwa (pre-quarter-final) and Sri Pragnananda Maha Vidyalaya, Monaragala in a row.
At the semi-final hurdle Duminsha Randisha with a four-wicket haul and Lakmi Nimsara with a valuable knock of 38 runs helped Anura eliminate formidable Ratnawali Balika.
Teams
St. Anthony’s (from): Shalani Dassanayake (Captain), Nimeshika Senevirathne, Diyoni Darshani, Dinethra Chandrarathne, Kavishka Aberathne, Chamodi Mendis, Malmi Herath, Dihansa Rathnayake, Melisha Berenger, Yogarajan Pravinya, Randima Kumarawickrama, Anuththara Bandara, Mayaza Rizvi, Poornima Gunawardane, Sanuri Abesekara, Chanukya Wilathgamuwa, Sayuri Ranaweera, Duleena Fernando, Sneha Nethranjali, Naduni Muthukumara.
Officials:
Wasanthi Jinadasa (Teacher in Charge), Susantha Basnayake (Coach)
Anura Vidyalaya (from): Devindi Rasanjana (Captain), Oshadi Rashmi Sakuni, Rishmi Sanjana, Rashmika Sewwandi, Apsara Madumali, Buddhi Biyansha, Duminsha Randisha, Vishmi Savindi, Dewmi Adithya, Imasha Udeshika, Rashmila Devindi, Saduni Nisansala, Dinithi Vihansa, Dinesha Nawamini, Lakmi Nimsara, Piyumi Nawanjana, Lihini Maneesha, Oneli Jayanadi. Officials: I.H.S. Priyanthi (Teacher in Charge), Ashan Lakintha (Coach).