Battle of the Hinduites goes to Colombo

Colombo Hindu College won the 10th Battle of Hinduites by 71 runs at the P. Sara Oval grounds yesterday.

This two-day encounter was a bowling paradise for both teams as 40 wickets fell within two days. Winning the toss, Colombo Hindu College skipper Shanmugathasan Kenishan elected to bat first. All seemed to be going according to plan up until the 23rd over. But the introduction of the spin reversed the course of the game in favour of Jaffna Hindu College as the Colombo lads slipped from 72 for 2 to 102 all-out.

Skipper Kenishan top scored with a fighting 31 off 96 balls. Spinning duo of Jaffna Hindu College, Dhanapalasingham Kajanaath and Mahadevan Kobhiram picked up eight wickets between them.

After displaying a flawless performance with the ball, they started to bat with a hope of getting a healthy first innings lead, but the lanky seamer Balakrishnan Aakash tested the Jaffna boys with some fiery spells. The visitors tried many ways to attack the bowlers but couldn’t perfect it. As a result, their innings bundled out for 90 runs, finishing just 12 runs behind the Colombo Hindu College.

Aakash was the pick of the bowlers for the Bambalapitiya boys as he finished with 5 for 18, and Santhosh high scored with 20 for the Jaffna Hindu.

Starting the second innings on the final day (ninth), Jaffna lads just replicated their performance once again. Especially their left-arm orthodox spinner Kobhiram. Most of the Batsmen were trapped by his spin web. Bambalapitiya Hindu were dismissed for just 143 runs in 60 overs.

Kobhiram picked up 6 for 58 in the second innings and finished the match with a match bag of 11 wickets. Once again, the home team skipper Kenishan showed some resistance, scoring 44 off 109 balls.

Jaffna Hindu College was given to chase 155 runs in merely 32 overs. They never set off right to chase the target. They seemed to play too cautiously and tried to get over the line safely with a draw before the day finished. However, the Colombo lads seemed to be in a hurry to finish the game on a high note. That showcased in their bowling as well.

With two overs remaining till the end of day, Colombo Hindu needed four wickets to win. Their bowlers pulled out an impressive bowling display to dismiss them inside 11 balls and secured the trophy after four years. Aakash and Kurusaamy Thanalaxan picked up three wickets apiece to set this victory up.

Until now, both teams have played two matches under turf wickets, and both were won by Colombo Hindu College. The last time Colombo Hindu won a big match was also on a turf wicket (Colts) in 2015. (Source: http://www.thepapare.com)

Chief Scores: 

C/Hindu College: 102 (47) Kenishan 31, Kobhiram 5 for 23, Kajanaath 3 for 8 and 143 (60) Kenishan 44, B.Aakash 21, Kobhiram 6 for 58.

J/Hindu College:  90 (44.1) Santhosh 20, B.Aakash 5 for 18, K Thanalaxan 3 for 14 and 84 (31.5) Aingaran 22, Aakash 3 for 19, Thanalaxan 3 for 6.

Man of the Match   : Balakrishnan Aakash (Colombo Hindu College)

Best Batsman        : Shanmugathasan Kenishan (Colombo Hindu College)

Best Bowler           : Mahadevan Kobhiram (Jaffna Hindu College)

Best Fielder           : Udayasuriyan Kethese (Jaffna Hindu College)