S. Thomas’ College registered a first-innings win over St. Joseph’s College in their drawn 111th annual cricket encounter played for the Gilmour Jayasuriya Memorial Trophy on Saturday at Darley Road.
The boys from Mount Lavinia were led by all-rounder Helakamal Nanayakkara while the hosts were skippered by opening batsman Pathum Madusanka. The visitors came to the Joes den seeking a win after 20 years while the Josephian last recorded a win in 2009 under the captaincy of all-rounder Shameera Weerasinghe.
Helakamal won the toss of coin on Friday morning and elected to bat first. Debutant seamer Ruchira Ekanayake sent both the Thomian openers back to the pavilion early on. One drop batter Navodh Fernando steadied the ship with a fluent and fighting knock of 54 which enabled the visitors to lay a solid foundation though wickets continued to fall around him. Navodh was dismissed in the 35th over and the score board read 95 for 5.
Skipper Helakamal played a gritty knock of 61 in 121 deliveries to anchor the strong Thomian middle order as they posted a strong 266 with two other contributions of 33 and 49 coming from the bats of Sachitha Jayathilake and Tharindu Rathnayake respectively. Vice-captain and off-spinner Hashindra Perera grabbed four wickets for the hosts while leg-spinner Aravinda Akurugoda claimed two wickets as well.
Josephian reply was led by their skipper Pathum Madusanka who made a patient 206-ball 87 while his opening partner Kevin Corteling scored 26 runs. Josephians were 180 for 4 at one stage and looked well set to claim first innings points but leg-spinner Sachitha Jayathilake totally disarrayed the Josephian middle order with a five-wicket haul to bundle them for 196.
Thomians started their 2nd innings with a lead of 70 runs and they batted in attacking mode in order to put pressure on the hosts. Left-handed opener Ravindu Sasanka stroked an elegant 34 with 6 fours but the off-spin duo of Charuka Raveen (3/39) and Hashindra Perera (2/14) dragged down the Thomian surge before they declared their innings on 105 for 5 in 22 overs.
Thomians set a target of 176 in 25 overs for the Josephians and the blue & white college team made only 48 for the loss of 4 wickets at close of play.
Individual Awards:
Best Batsman – Pathum Madusanka (SJC)
Best Bowler – Hashindra Perera (SJC)
Man of the Match – Sachitha Jayathilake (STC)
The series now stands at 25 wins for SJC and 17 wins for STC with 69 games ending as draws.
Chief Scores:
STC – 266 all out in 71.1 overs: Helakamal Nanayakkara 61, Navod Fernando 54, Tharindu Rathnayake 49, Ruchira Ekanayake 2/29, Aravinda Akurugoda 2/62, Hashindra Perera 4/60.
SJC – 196 all out in 71 overs: Pathum Madusanka 87, Kevin Corteling 26, Sandaruwan Rodrigo 23, Sachitha Jayathilake 5/25, Dellon Peiris 3/56.
STC (2nd inn) – 105/5 declared in 22 overs: Ravindu Sasanka 34, Charuka Raveen 3/39, Hashindra Perera 2/15.
SJC (2nd inn) – 48/4 in 25 overs: Hashindra Perera 11*, Tharindu Rathnayake 2/23.
