Sri Lanka under 19 player Jehan Daniel rescued St. Joseph’s from total disaster with a gallant knock of 93 on the opening day of the 84th Battle of the Saints cricket encounter against St.Peter’s College at the P. Sara Oval yesterday.
Invited to bat first St Joseph’s were dismissed for 195 failing to last the 60 overs allowed for both sides in the first innings. The Joes were all out in 53.2 overs.
By stumps the Peterites had batted themselves into a strong position making 190-6 in 49 overs and will look to gain a first innings lead in the remaining 11 overs.
Daniel came to the crease when his side was in dire straits at 47 for 3 falling to the pace of Sri Lanka under 19 player Gunathilake and his right arm fast bowling partner Prabasara Herath who ripped through the Joes top order batting.
St. Joseph’s slid to 47 for 3 when left arm spinner Miflal Ameen took the prize wicket of left hander Revan Kelly who had scored 1000 runs for the season - caught by captain Gunathilake at first slip.
Daniel stood tall amongst the ruins playing a captain’s knock of 93 off 115 balls that included three fours and six sixes.
Incidentally when he was in his late thirties he went for an expansive square drive of off spinner Sachin Silva to be caught brilliantly by wicket keeper Shalith Fernando off a thick edge, but to the utter dismay of the whole Peterite team as well as their supporters umpire Lindon Hannibel shockingly ruled him not out.
Daniel made use of this lucky break to put on a valuable partnership of 46 runs for the seventh wicket with right hander Dineth Jayakody and 34 runs for the eighth wicket with 14 year old former St. Sebastian under 13 left hander Dunith Wellalage to see St. Joseph’s to a decent first innings score of 195.
The Peterites got the wicket of Jehan Fernandopulle run out for 15 by a brilliant piece of fielding by Herath and Joes were 68 for 4 at the time.
A fifth wicket partnership of 39 between Daniel and wicket keeper Sachintha Ravindu the left hander took the score to 107 before Ravindu was caught at first slip of spinner Sachin Silva.
Within quick succession Joes slumped to 107 for 6 when left handed all-rounder Lakshan Gamage was caught brilliantly by Ruvin Seneviratne at extra cover for a duck once again off Silva.
Then Jayakody was stumped by wicket keeper Shalith Fernando of 14 year old left arm spinner Kanishka Maduwantha for 13 and Daniel was finally out caught by Sulakshana Fernando of left armer Ameen seven short of a well deserved century with the score 187 for 8. At the same score Wellalage was bowled by off spinner Silva for 13 and Joes were soon all out for 195 when Miranga Wickramanayake was run out for 10.
The Petrites coming to bat after tea were soon in trouble at two down for nine runs when Joes right arm fast bowlers Lakshan Gamage and Johan de Zilva sent both openers skipper Gunathilake (2) and Shanon Fernando for a duck.
But the Peterites recovered to score 190 for 5 at close thanks to fighting partnership of 91 runs for the third wicket between one drop batsman Sulakshana Fernando (16) and wicket-keeper cum number four batsman Shalith Fernando who hit a superb 58 off 73 balls with six fours and two sixes.
Ranmith Jayasena who is expected to lead St Peter’s next season joined the run parade cracking 55 off 68 balls with four boundaries. He was unfortunately dismissed two overs before the close by right arm leggie Ashain Daniel who had him stumped by keeper Sachintha Ravindu.
The match continues today.
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