A superb all-round performance by Vihanga Ambeypitiya made way for Lyceum International School Nugegoda to regain the Nikitha Grero Trophy with an easy nine wicket victory over Panadura Lyceum School at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium last weekend. The Panadura lads taking first lease of the wicket found run scoring hard with Vihanga Ambepitiya and Nisal Hettiarachchi doing the damage to claim 4 for 22 and 3 for 48. Sheron Liyanage adopting a correct approach in handling the on the spot Nugegoda school bowlers top scored with a gritty 65.

He received good support from Sithira Tennekoon scoring a steady 31. Had the other batsmen followed Liyanage’s approach the Panadura Lyceum scoreboard would have looked handsome. Panadura school was dismissed for 196 off 43.3 overs. Chasing a victory target of 197, the Nugegoda School lost its first wicket with the scoreboard reading 36. That was the only success they had as Ambeypitiya took control of the situation with a fine display of stroke making thus becoming the first batsman to score a hundred in this series.

His match winning unbeaten 117 was fashioned by a mighty hit over the ropes and 22 sweetly timed boundaries. Ambeypitiya combining with Hansaja Bandara who was unbeaten with a well compiled 51 took Lyceum Nugegoda to the victory target with an unbeaten partnership of 161 runs. Both batsmen made merry with the opponents’ bowling attack firing the red cherry to all corners of the stadium bringing victory to their alma mater off 23.1 overs.

Lakshman Ranasinghe
Pix by Ranjith Perera