The 81st Battle of the Saints played between St.Peter`s College and St.Joesph`s College ended up in a draw after a nail biting finish with Hashindra Perera taking 6 wickets in the Preterite second innings as he diminished the hopes of a victory for the arch rivals.
The second day commenced at 9.30 a.m. with perfect weather conditions for a good game of cricket. Sachin Dalepthado and Tanesh Weerakoon walked out into the middle to bat through the remaining overs of the Preterite innings. Dalpethado was the first to be dismissed for the day off an outside edge which carried on to the keeper Shevon Fonseka where he made no mistake indeed which was the end of sensible knock of 114 runs which saved the game for St.Peter`s. Tanesh Weerakoon the unsung heroes of that record breaking partnership of 159 for the eighth wicket; went after the bowling right after and bought up his half century within a couple of overs making sure that they enjoyed a 100 run lead when the preterites were dismissed for 267 all out with 36 extras in that innings.
Bowling honors stood by Ruchira Ekanayake who took the first three wickets and ended up taking one more wicket with a total of four wickets for forty nine runs while the preeminent bowler of the Joesephian attack Aravinda Akurugoda took three wickets at consecutive intervals to dismiss the set batsman and ended up with four wickets for forty seven runs.
Josephians returning to the field with their batting pads on were in need of a total that would wipe out the lead also a total that could set a competitive target to the opposition. The two openers Pathum Madushanka and Sandaruwan Rodrigp delivered as required and played positive cricket from the word go. Pathum Madushanka playing his normal game smashed the Peterite bowler all over the park getting himself as well as his team off to a decent start. He made a whirlwind 36 which set the platform for the rest to follow on before he was dismissed cheaply over a stumping breaking the opening partnership of seventy seven runs.
St.Joeseph`s needed a sensible knock from either one of their top order batsmen and Sandaruwan Rodrigo anchored the innings and made a judicious knock of 118 with one six and fourteen fours and made the dangerous Peterite bowling attack look pretty ordinary. He remained as the top scorer for his outfit for the second consecutive time putting up his hand in the time of need. Vimukthi Peries partnering up with Rodrigo put on a vital fifty plus partnership for the second wicket before he was dismissed for 34 runs.
Wickets started falling at regular intervals until Akurugoda came in; smashed four sixes and a boundary while he made a 34 run contribution to the total. There were three scores of 18 for Jehan Daniell who was run out, Nipuna Fonseka remained not out and Shevon Fonseka who was dismissed off an outside edge. Bowling card for the Peterites was once again lead by Taneesha Weerakoon who got four wickets for hundred runs while Manelka De Silva chipped in with two wickets. The Josephian`s declared at 268-8 giving a target of 193 in for the Peterites to chase down if they had the idea of taking this game back home.
St.Peter`s with a strong batting line up thought that they could do so but a after decent 38 run first wicket partnership between Didulana Medis and Dineth Thimodaya wickets kept on rattling putting them under pressure which bought the game up to a point where they had to defend themselves from losing the game. Top scorer was vice captain Dineth as he made a breezy 65 with six sixes and two fours. Lakshina Rodrigo and Hashan Wanasekara were dismissed without scoring in both innings. Skipper Jayamanne made 12 runs while first innings centurion Dalpethado made 14 runs and Manelka De Silva made 18 runs not out who made sure that they didn’t lose the match as they ended up at 110-7 in 26 overs as play was called off due to bad light.
Hashindra Perea who opened the bowling for the Josephian’s picked up six wickets for forty seven runs scattering the Peterite batting line up while Malshan Rodrigo picked up one wicket. Josephian’s being on the top of the game on day two with their positive approach playing smart cricket while batting as well as bowling literally overcame an experienced Peterite side.
