Sri Lanka under 19 world cup player cum right hander Santhush Gunathilake rescued St. Peter’s College from a disastrous position with a brilliant knock of 72 on the opening day of the 85th Battle of the Saints cricket encounter against St. Joseph’s College at the P. Sara Oval yesterday.
Invited to bat first St. Peter’s were all out for 219 in the 60th over which was allowed for both sides in the first innings. By stumps the Joes had batted themselves into a strong position making 189-3 in 44 overs and will look to gain a first innings lead in the remaining 16 overs.
Santhush came to the crease when his side was in trouble at 21 for 1 when opener Bhanuka de Silva - who was a real failure for the Peterites as he let down his team very badly getting out LBW plumb in front falling to the right arm fast bowler Ashan de Alwis for just 5 runs.
Santhush stood tall playing a responsible knock of 72 off 105 balls that included six fours.
Incidentally before he opened his account he went for an expansive square drive off opening bowler de Alwis which off a thick edge flew to slips where Dilesh Perera dropped a sitter at second slip to the utter dismay of the whole Josephian team as well as their supporters.
Santhush made use of this lucky escape to put on a valuable partnership of 59 runs for the second wicket with left handed opener Dineth Anjula who scored a superb 41 off 74 balls with four fours and two sixes before he was caught at the boundary by substitute Miranga Wickramage off left arm spinner Dunith Wellalage. He then added another 30 runs for the third wicket with captain cum left hander Ranmith Jayasena before Ranmith was clean bowled by Joes left arm spinner Shalinda Seneviratne for a well played 21. Santhush added a further 52 runs for the fourth wicket with left hander Nipunaka Fonseka and when the score read 172 he was caught at deep cover going for a rash shot for a brilliant 72.
The Josephians then got the wicket of Shivaan Perera caught by Sachintha Ravindu off Ashain for 9 and Peters were 176 for 5 at the time. Within the space of one run St.Peters lost two wickets with Nipunaka Fonseka LBW to Ashain for a well made 21 and left hander Shannon Fernando caught by Shiran off left arm spinner Shalinda Seneviratne for a duck as Peters slumped to 177 for 7.
Then at 202 left handed low order bat Kanishka Maduwantha was caught by Shiran off right arm fast bowler Lakshan Gamage for 10. Peterites lost their 9th wicket at the same score when right hander Ruvin Seneviratne was clean bowled by Gamage for a duck Left hander Wanuja Sahan was finally run out by Gamage for a superb 28 off 26 balls and Peterites were all out in their first innings for 219 in their allocated 60 overs.
The Joes coming to bat after tea put on a fine 72 runs partnership for the opening wicket through their openers Johann de Zilwa and Sheran Fonseka. But were soon in trouble at two down for the same score of 72 runs when Peterites left arm spinner Kanishka Maduwantha sent opener Johann de Zilwa caught at first slip by Santhush for a quick fire 45 off 56 balls inclusive of four fours and one six and Shevon Daniel LBW for a duck.
When the score reached 111 left handed opener Fonseka was caught by Nipunaka Fonseka off skipper and right arm off spinner Ranmith Jayasena for a well compiled 37 runs off 69 balls with four fours.
But the Joes recovered to score 189 for 3 at close thanks to a fighting partnership of 78 runs for the fourth wicket between two drop batsman right hander Dineth Jayakody who hit a classy unbeaten 62 off 85 balls with six fours and two sixes. Another right hander Dilesh Perera joined the run parade cracking a undefeated 37 off 55 balls with four boundaries.
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