St. Peter’s College triumphed over St. Joseph’s College by 59 runs (D/L method) in their 41st annual limited-overs cricket encounter played at R. Premadasa Stadium on Saturday to regain the Rev. Fr Peter A. Pillai memorial trophy after a lapse of 2 years.
The Peterite skipper Chandula Jayamanne won the toss of coin early morning and elected to take first lease of the wicket. In-form opening batsman, Dineth Thimodya was castled for 2 by the Josephian off-spinner Hashindra Perera early on and he was successful in dismissing Didulana Medis as well. One-drop batsman, Savin Gunasekara played a gem of an innings for the boys from Bambalapitiya as he stroked a 60-ball patient 40 inclusive of 5 fours to steer the Peterite innings out of danger.
Wicket-keeper batsman, Lakshina Rodrigo chipped in with 20 runs but skipper Chandula Jayamanne steadied the innings with an unbeaten 40 runs to help St. Peter’s reach a score of 166 for 7 at 38.4 overs when rain disrupted proceedings. Left-arm spinner Malshan Rodrigo was the most impressive bowler taking 2 wickets for 22 runs in his 10 overs apart of Hashindra’s two early scalps.
Persistent rains continued for more than 2 hours and the match officials decided to shorten the game and set a target of 159 in 29 overs according to the Duckworth and Lewis method to the Josephians.
St. Joseph’s lost their ‘Big Match’ centurion, Sandaruwan Rodrigo in the 3rd over and wicket-keeper batsman and opener, Shewon Fonseka followed him to the pavilion as right-arm seam bowling partners, Randel Senevirathne and Manelkar De Silva rocked the Josephian top-order taking the prized scalp of their skipper Pathum Madusanka cheaply.
Young Jehan Daniel was the only hope for the boys from Maradana as he made a quick-fire 19-ball 30 with 2 sixes but he was unable to help Joes chase down a mammoth target under fading light. St. Joseph’s innings was wrapped up for only 99 with left-arm spinner Ashanth Malka and off-spinner Vinu Mohotti doing most of the damage.
Chief Scores:
St. Peter’s – 166/7 in 38.4 overs: Chandula Jayamanne 40*, Savin Gunasekara 44, Lakshina Rodrigo 20, Hashindra Perera 2/10, Malshan Rodrigo 2/22.
St. Joseph’s – 99 all out in 23 overs: Jehan Daniel 30, Randel Senevirathne 2/30, Ashanth Malka 2/10, Vinu Mohotty 2/09.
Individual Awards:
Best Fielder – Jehan Daniel (SJC)
Best Bowler – Ashanth Malka (SPC)
Best Batsman – Savin Gunasekara (SPC)
Man of the Match – Chandula Jayamanne (SPC)
