MATCH 4 v APRIL 10 SRI SUMANGALA COLLEGE

APRIL 10 MATCH 4 v SRI SUMANGALA MAHA COLLEGE AT MCC GROUNDS HIKKIADUWA


Today’s match was a Twenty 20 played at the newly refurbished Sumangala College ground. For 58 years this venue had been a gravel outfield and coconut mat wicket until the Foundation for Goodness showed representatives of the MCC the facilities. With £3/4 milion funding from Lord’s the ground has been transformed to the oval you see here, with a Notts artificial wicket and pavilion combined with a two lane indoor coaching school.



Josh won the toss and invited our opponents to bat, so James Wainman and Andrew Ward opened the attack. The breakthrough came in the third over (total 14) when James forced the opener Dandiths to fend a short ball to Josh Audsley making his tour debut behind the stumps. Jonty Dixon took over from Wainman and bowled a steady couple of overs before the heat got to him, however, not before the opener Grimham smashed a long-hop to be brilliantly caught by Tom Pettican. At 76 for 4 off 13 overs the home side then tried to step up the pace and began to force their shots. Tight fielding and the introduction of Fred Roberts and return of James Wainman curtailed the College hopes and their innings closed at 123 for 6.

Wainman 4 -0 - 23 – 1

Ward 4-0- 20- 0

Dixon 3-0-27-1

Hall 4-0-31-2

Nicholson 3-0-18-1

Roberts 2-0-10-1



Chris Harrison and Josh Audsley opened the innings and struggled to cope with the extra bounce that the artificial surface offered and Chris was caught at point (3) trying to steer a ball just wide of off stump. The two Josh’s took the score to 40 when Audsley was caught trying to force the pace for 14. Habergham soon followed when he failed to follow through on a lofted drive and presented a straightforward catch to mid-off. Tom Pettican soon began to enjoy his first outing with the bat and playing his natural hitting games was soon despatching the ball to all areas of the ground and surrounding tropical foliage. James Wainman also got in on the act and both batsmen closed the game – TP 43 not out and James 30 not out with a total 127 for 3 – a fine victory!