Wicket keeper and batsman, Lio Francisco scored an unbeaten 43 runs and accounted for three dismissals for Kurunegala District to record an easy eight wickets victory over Anuradhapura District after Ashan Madusanka and skipper Nimna Karunaratne earned bowling honours in the curtain raiser of the Prima Champions Cup Under-15 tournament held at the Welagedara Stadium yesterday.

Deciding to bat first, skipper Eranda Edirisinghe’s 35 and Tharindu Weerasinghe’s 43 runs were the top scores for Anuradhapura who were bowled out in the 42nd over. Leg spinner Ashan Madusanka (4/17) of Sandalankawa MMV and skipper Nimna Karunaratne (3/11) of Maliyadeva College shared seven wickets between them to restrict the opponents to 120 runs.

Chasing the paltry target Kurunegala gave away just two wickets but Lio Francisco of Maliyadeva College top scored with an unbeaten 43 runs inclusive of seven fours to reach the target with many overs to spare. Francisco too accounted for two stumpings and one that caught behind the wickets.

Kurunegala District team captained by Nimna Karunaratne was comprised of players from Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala, St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala and Sandalankawa MV. Eranda Edirisinghe (Anuradhapura Central) who lead Anuradhapura District team was inclusive of players from Anuradhapura Central, Niwaththaka Chethiya MV, Walisinghe Harischandra MV, St. Joseph’s MV, Deepani MV, Nochchiyagama Vidyadharsha, Thalawa Navodya and Subodhi MV.

Scores:

Anuradhapura 120 all out in 41.2 overs (Tharindu Weerasinghe 43, Eranda Edirisinghe 35, Rangana Madusanka 22, Ashan Madusanka 4/17, Nimna Karunaratne 3/11)

Kurunegala 121 for 2 in 20.3 overs (Lio Francisco 43 n.o, Avishka Ratnayake 32, Charith Hurukkgamuwa 26 n.o, Madushanka Jayamal 2/32)

The tournament will progress with a card of three matches today.