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Mohammed Riyan steals the show

16-year-old batsman guides MCC-ZCA to third win on Sri Lanka tour

Mohammed Riyan of MCC-ZCA hits a boundary during his brilliant knock of 91 runs against Mercantile Cricket Association Academy. — Supplied photo

He drove beautifully. He cut finely. He pulled aggressively. He danced down and smacked ferociously. Mohammed Riyan is pleasing on the eye and for a lad his age, he makes batsmanship look like child’s play.

The 16-year-old has scored bucketful of runs in his fledging career and was at it again at the Thurstan College grounds in Colombo. He made a mockery of the bowlers with his aggressive batting and a century was there for the taking. But a rush of blood meant he fell nine runs short.

Nevertheless, his stellar knock saw the MCC-Zayed Cricket Academy (ZCA) Under-16 team round off their maiden tour of Sri Lanka with a third victory.

The opener coshed 91 from 74 balls and leg-spinner Aakash Krishnakumar and medium pacer Yodhin Punja snapped up three wickets each as the MCC-Zayed Cricket Academy Under-16 team scored a comprehensive 80-run victory over Mercantile Cricket Association Academy.

The MCC-ZCA Academy Under-16s started the tour with three consecutive losses before the fourth game against Kingswood College in Kandy was washed out. But they bounced back in fine fashion by winning the last three games on the bounce to cap off a successful tour.

Riyan was adjudged the Man of the Match.

Opting to bat, the MCC-ZCA Academy Under-16s posted 178 in 37.3 overs with Riyan leading the way with 91 from 74 balls with 13 boundaries and one six. Pavan Vijaykumar scored 21 from 20 balls with one six.

Harshana took two for 13, while Hiruna picked up two for 14. Pasindu returned with two for 40.

In reply, the Mercantile Cricket Association Academy couldn’t get going because of some top notch bowling by the MCC-ZCA Academy lads. The team from Sri Lanka were bundled out for 98 in 24 overs.

Aakash Krishnakumar picked up three for 18, while Yodhin Punja took three for 23. Nitin Vimal Kumar returned with two for 17.

MCC-ZCA didn’t have a good start losing both their openers cheaply. Jonathan Figy retired hurt after the opener inside edged onto his pads. The ball hit him on the side of his right leg and he left the field writhing in pain. He came on bat later but was run out.

The other opener Huzaifah Khan fell for two, after which Justin D’Souza was dismissed for nought. Riyan and Sachin Jha then struck up 45 runs before the latter was castled by Pasindu for six.

Riyan and Hanzalah Khan put together 41 runs before Hanzalah was run out for 13 from 30 balls with one boundary. Riyan and Yodhin then added 32.

Meanwhile, Riyan was at his aggressive best as he raced to 91. He danced down the track to the spinners more often than not and clubbed them into oblivion. But a rush of blood saw him being castled by Pasindu. Pavan Vijaykumar scored 20 from 21 balls.

The MCC-ZCA bowlers then knocked off the Mercantile Cricket Association Academy for 98 with 16 overs to spare. Harshana made 23, while opener Himesh Viranga scored 21.