Peterites take firm control

Chris DHAMBARAGE

St. Peter’s College put up a tremendous performance to take firm control over their traditional rivals St. Joseph’s College on the opening day of their 76th annual inter school Battle of the Saints Big Match which commenced at the P. Saravanamuttu Oval yesterday.

The match is played for the Rev. Fr. Maurice Legoc Memorial Trophy and is sponsored by Ceylon Cold Stores Limited.

The Peterites after having piled up a commanding 293 runs in their first innings went on to extend their dominance on the field to reduce their opponents to 132 for 7 wickets when bad light halted play early. St. Joseph’s College still need a further 62 runs to avert the follow on with three wickets in hand. Jaan Jayasinghe was batting on 41 from 81 balls having so far struck five boundaries.

Skipper Chatura Peiris and his new ball partner Lahiru Jayaratne produced some inspired bowling to put the Josephians on the back foot from the very beginning. In fact they struck as early as in the second over of the innings and from there onwards St. Joseph’s lost wickets at regular intervals.

St. Joseph’s College also suffered a severe blow when their reliable opening batsman Vidusha Jayasinghe retired following an injury while negotiating a hostile delivery from Chatura Peiris. The left hander was shaping up well having struck five boundaries during his 89 ball knock.

Earlier St. Peter’s College rattled up a formidable 293 runs in their first innings after being put into bat. Opener Shehan Fernando led the way with an aggressive 83 from 67 balls inclusive of five sixes and eight boundaries.

He also put on 75 runs for the third wicket along with Angelo Emmanuel after the Peterites had lost two early wickets including the prize scalp of wicket keeper batsman Andri Berenger.

The more experienced Denham Perera also failed to make an impact but Emmanuel joined Fernando and the pair batted intelligently to repair the early damage. Emmanuel fell for a well compiled 42 from 94 balls and his innings was studded with four boundaries.

St. Peter’s College of course lost wickets thereafter at regular intervals but they were able to maintain a tremendous scoring rate throughout the innings. Middle order batsman Akshu Fernando, skipper Chatura Peiris and newcomer Jason Buultjens all made valuable contributions to boost their total.

The Peterites also proved that their batting has a great amount of depth with all rounder Lahiru Jayaratne and Buultjens adding a crucial 57 runs for the eighth wicket in almost even time.

Jayaratne hit a 31 ball 44 with the aid of three sixes and three boundaries.

ST. PETER’S
1ST INNINGS 

Andri Berenger lbw b Kumara			 6
Shehan Fernando c Vidanarachchi b Kumara	83
Denham Perera c K. Perera b Kumara 		10
Angelo Emmanuel run out				42
Akshu Fernando b Kumara				28
Chatura Peiris c K. Perera b Kumara		19
Nilochana Perera c Fonseka b Thattil		21
Jason Buultjens run out				20
Lahiru Jayaratne b Jayatilleke			44
Dhushan Hemantha c Jayatilleke b Dhambarage	 4
Janika Kannangara not out			 0
Extras (7lb, 9w)				16
Total (all out in 56.3 overs)			293
Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-55, 3-130, 4-156, 5-182, 6-212, 7-223, 8-280, 9-292.
Bowling: Dinal Dhambarage 18-1-109-1, Chaturanga Kumara 17.4-1-84-5, Supechala Jayatilleke 12.3-1-38-1, 
Rosco Thattill 7-0-42-1, Ramesh Vidanarachchi 1.2-0-13-0.

ST. JOSEPH’S
1ST INNINGS

Vidusha Jayasinghe retired not out		35
Keshan Perera run out				 0
Enrico Silva lbw b Peiris			 5
Sadeera Samarasinghe c Peiris b Jayaratne	19
Jaan Jayasinghe not out				41  
Chaturanga Kumara c Berenger b Peiris		 0
Rosco Thattil b Emmanuel			 5
Supechala Jayatilleke c and b Kannangara	 2
Dinal Fonseka c Berenger b Kannangara		 6
Ramesh Vidanarachchi not out			 0
Extras (7b, 5w, 7nb)				19
Total (for 7 wickets in 45 overs)		132
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-10, 3-55, 4-76, 5-93, 6-107, 7-117. 
Bowling: Chatura Peiris 13-2-27-2, Lahiru Jayaratne 9-1-33-1, Nilochana Perera 6-1-13-0, 
Angelo Emmanuel 10-2-15-1, Janika Kannangara 6-0-36-2.