Chenutha Wickramasinghe of S Thomas’cracked a delightful unbeaten hundred as St.Sebastian’s College and S.Thomas’ College settled for a draw in their Inter School cricket fixture at the St.Sebastian’s grounds Moratuwa.
With less than a week to go before the Royal-Thomian, Chenutha made sure he was the man to fear by the Royal camp, continuing his rich vein of form from his two half centuries against Trinity College couple of weeks ago. Chenutha’s stroked filled 128 ball 112 consisted of 16 fours and 3 sixes – the sort of innings a certain Duleep Mendis, who played for both the schools, used to muster regularly. Yohan Mendis made a workman like 68 while Captain Helakamal Nanayakara made a quick-fire 33 off 26 including 2 fours and 2 sixes as S.Thomas’ College ended the match 236 for 4 in 49 overs.
Earlier on in the day St.Sebastian’s were all out for 237 in reply to S.Thomas’ first innings total of 198. For the Moratuwa lads Sri Lanka U19 cap Avishka Fernando who is thus far the only school boy cricketer to score 1000 runs this season made another half century (57) while Kusal Edissooriya made a dogged 45 off 171 balls. For the Thomians Helakamal Nanayakara, Danush Peiris, Tharindu Rathnayake and Sajana De Silva bagged two wickets apiece.
On day one having won the toss St.Sebastian’s captain Visal Senanayake put the Thomians into bat and his bowlers responded magnificently as the visitors were reeling at 84 for the loss of 8 wickets largely due to the brilliant bowling performance by Nimesh Bandara who bagged a five wicket haul. However a counter attacking 71 run 9th wickets stand between S.Thomas’ spin duo Sajana and Tharindu and another 43 runs for the last wicket rescued them to 198. Sajana De Silva was the last man to go run out for a belligerent 65 in 37 balls including 5 fours and 5 sixes.
Chief Scores
S.Thomas’ 1st inn – 198 all out (Sajana De Silva 65, Tharindu Rathnayaka 33, Danush Peiris 24, Nimesh Bandara 5/78, Asher Warnakulasooriya 2/18)
2nd inn – 236/4 (Chenutha Wickramasinghe 112, Yohan Mendis 68, Halakamal Nanayakara 33, Asher Warnakulasooriya 2/16)
S.Sebastian’s 1st inn – 237 all out (Avishka Fernando 57, Kusal Edissooriya 45, Mishen Silva 30, Danush Peiris 2/25, Helakamal Nanayakara 2/31, Sajana De Silva 2/36)
