Peterites regain Fr. Peter Pillai Trophy

Ranjan ANANDAPPA

St. Peter’s regained the Rev. Fr. Peter Pillai Memorial trophy with a pulsating 118 run win over St. Joseph’s in their 35th annual limited over cricket encounter played at the R. Premadasa Stadium Khettarama yesterday.

The Josephians chasing an imposing victory target of 334 runs were reduced to 215 for 9 in their stipulated 50 overs.

The Joes have only themselves to blame for letting the Peterites to accumulate such a huge total as they gave a poor fielding display. Dinal Dhambarage although conceding 67 runs in his 10 overs took 5 for 67.

The Peterites won the toss and decided to bat first, but left arm paceman Dinal Dhambarage provided the early breaks through when he got the wickets of Andri Berenger, Angelo Emmanuel and Denham Perera cheaply with the score reading 34.

But the Joes could not really capitalise from these early dismissals due to poor catching which caused them dearly.

Angelo Perera, the Peterite skipper and the in form batsman was dropped by Nishika de Silva at extra cover when the total was 93 for 3 and Perera’s individual score at 27 and then Chatura Pieris was reprieved twice at 7 and 22 and the duo took the maximum advantage laying the foundation for the massive Peterite score.

Angelo Perera and Ranasooriya (44) added 83 for the fourth wicket and thereafter Chatura Pieris and Angelo Perera launched a terrific onslaught with a rapid 143 run stand for the fifth wicket.

Angelo Perera remained unbeaten on 128 with 14 fours facing 132 deliveries while Pieris struck a quick 83 with the inclusion of six sixes and a couple of fours facing 63 deliveries.

The Joes in their run chase were never on target losing half of their batsmen for 94 runs. Paceman Vinodh Perera produced a lively spell carving through the three top order batsmen.

Skipper Shameera Weerasinghe and Jaan Jayasinghe added 82 runs off 110 balls for the fourth wicket and left- hander Shalindra Perera (43) and Chaturanga Kumara (17) were engaged in a 51 run stand for the seventh off 69 balls. Shalindra Perera hit three sixes and a four, two consecutive sixes off Sidath Jayaweera after facing 63 balls prior to being run out.

St. Peter’s College: 333 for 7 in 50 overs (S. Ranasooriya 44, Angelo Perera 128 n.o., C. Pieris 83, Akshu Fernando 22, Vinodh Perera 12 n.o., D. Dhambarage 5 for 67).

St. Joseph’s College: 215 for 9 in 50 overs (Jaan Jayasinghe 44, Shameera Weerasinghe 41, N. De Silva 19, Shalindra Perera 43, Chaturanga Kumara 17, D. Dhambarage 15 not out, Vinodh Perera 3 for 18, Angelo Perera 2 for 39).