The last week saw the ‘Inter-District Under-19 Cricket Tournament’ culminating in a one-sided final where Galle District beat Kurunegala District by eight wickets. The quarter-finals and semi-finals too were worked off at Welagedara Grounds and in several venues in Colombo last week and the tournament that was craving for batting brilliance saw a couple of centuries being finally scored in the knockout stages of the tournament. And the bowling honours in the final went to a left-arm seam bowler from a little known Batemulla Central.

According to a senior coach of the SLC, the objective behind organising such tournaments was to search for new talent and to fine-tune the talent that is already available. The latter objective seemed to have been achieved when two centurions emerged in the event.

The tournament saw just one century being scored in the league stages. After Prageeth Dilshan of St. Sebastian’s College scored 104 runs for Colombo South ‘A’ against Colombo North ‘A,’ the tournament was craving for more of such knocks but they came only in the last two matches of the knockout stage when St. Peter’s bat Shivanga Ranasuriya and Sri Lanka Under-19 World Cup team member Imesh Udayanga scored centuries.

Incidentally, both centuries sealed victories for the two sides they represented. Ranasuriya’s unbeaten century came in 113 balls (10x4’s, 3x6’s) and it took Colombo South make a comfortable 262 for 9 in 50 overs, from a precarious 22 for 3 at one stage.

Along with him, Michael Vanhoff, a youngster from St. Thomas’ College, Kotte, made his presence felt when he joined the centurion for a 94-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Vanhoff scored 57 runs in just 50 balls inclusive of four fours and three sixes.

Colombo South’s massive score was a huge mountain for Kalutara District team to climb when they resumed their run chase. They were bowled out for 169 and only Crishan Dinindu (63) managed to top 50 runs for them. His half ton and a four-wicket haul by Holy Cross College left-arm seam bowler Janaka Arampath were the highlights for them as their campaign in the Under-19 Tournament ended at the BRC Ground.

Vanhoff and Ranasuriya carried their good form in the quarter-final to the semi-final too, played against Galle District at Colts on Thursday. They were the top scorers for Colombo South once against. Vanhoff and Ranasuriya scored 38 and 34 runs respectively in the semi-final but those figures were hardly enough to overcome the strong resistance that came from Galle District.

Sri Lanka Under-19 World Cup player Imesh Udayanga produced his best knock of the tournament top scoring with 101 runs. The Captain’s knock sealed a two-wicket victory for Galle District and earned a place for his team in the final.

Incidentally, Galle edged out another Colombo team in the quarter-final played on Wednesday. They handed Colombo South ‘B’ a three-wicket defeat. The pioneer of their victory was a promising youngster from Richmond College, Yasoda Lanka, who top scored with 49 runs. A 91-run partnership for the seventh wicket, between Lanka and Asela Ponnamperuma, who ade an unbeaten 44, was the key to their win.

Interestingly, the Inter-District Final, which was played at the Colts Ground on Thursday, saw none of the Colombo Teams that featured the fancied Colombo School cricketers. Galle, who edged out renowned Colombo teams at the knockout stage, met Kurunegala in the final.

In fact, Kurunegala too reached the final on the back of a fine Captain’s knock which came from Dasun Madumal. Kurunegala beat Kegalle District by four wickets in their semi-final held at the Welagedara Stadium.

Chasing 242 to win, an unbeaten 91 from Madumal and a half century from W. Manishan helped them reach the win for a loss of only six wickets.

But their heroics seemed to have deserted them in the final when they were bowled out for just 90 runs. Not a single Kurunegala batsman could score over 10 runs. Imesh Udayanga steered Galle to an eight-wicket win with a timely half century.