Day 1 of U19 Division 1 Semi Finals started off today at the Thurstan Grounds between St Peter’s College and Thurstan College.
St Peter’s College after two big wins in their annual big match and the limited overs encounter against St Joseph’s College in the previous weeks was in peak form towards the latter part of this year’s season. Isipathana College was dominant in the league thus far but their upsetting performance at their big match against Thurstan College would have surely affected their confidence coming into this game.
Vinu Mohotty won the toss and elected to bat first. Anishka Perera and Inesh Fernando couldn’t play their natural game due to some brilliant bowling by Pramod Maduwantha. Inesh lost his wicket to the speedster Neranjan Wanniarachchi in the 8th over for the day. In form batsman Hashan Wanasekara came into bat at first drop and looked solid at the crease. Hashan and Anishka put up a good partnership before Anishka lost his wicket to part time spinner Heshan Fernando. Peter’s was in a spot of bother at 57 for 2.
Lakshina Rodrigo joined Hashan and together they looked on song at the crease. They put up a half century partnership before both of them got out in quick succession. Hashan reached his half century while Lakshina scored a quick fire 30. Ranmith Jayasena and Manelka De Silva got themselves in but gave their wickets away cheaply leaving Peterites at 222 for 7.
It was slow going for the Peterites as it was a hard pitch to bat on. However they managed to reach 246 all out in 90.3 overs. Chinaman Lahiru Dilshan took a fifer for Isipathana College while Neranjan Wanniarachchi and Iwanka Sanjula took 2 wicket each. Pramod Maduwantha could not get any wickets but his opening spell made a huge impact in the game.
At the end of the day’s play Isipathana College was 7 for no loss in 2 overs.
St. Peters College 246 (90.3)
Hashan Wanasekara 51, Ranmith Jayasena 41, Manelka De Silva 37, Lakshina Rodrigo 30, Lahiru Dilshan 5/59, Ivanka Sanjula 2/35
Vs
Isipathana College 7/0 (2)
