77th Battle of the Blues:

Shehan shines in drawn game

by Chris DHAMBARAGE

CRICKET: Dashing opener Shehan Fernando hammered an unbeaten century as St. Peter's College forced a draw to their 77th annual inter school Battle of the Blues Big Match against the traditional rivals St. Joseph's College which ended in a draw at the P. Saravanamuttu Oval yesterday.

Trailing by 35 runs on the first innings the Peterites went on to occupy the crease during the last two sessions of the innings and to score an impressive 260 for 4 in their second attempt.

Elegant opener Shehan Fernando made the maximum from his first innings setback to compile a magnificent 159 not out from 166 deliveries inclusive of five sixes and 14 boundaries.

Fernando took the Peterites off to a flying start in their second innings while putting on 147 runs for the first wicket together with Sashin Fernando who also hit a solid half century.

Skipper Denham Perera joined Fernando and the pair added a further 102 runs for the second wicket in almost even time before the game was halted early due to bad light with more than 25 overs yet to be completed.

Earlier St. Joseph's College took a first innings lead of 35 runs with skipper Rosco Thatil and Piyamal Perera both completing valuable half centuries. The pair also went on to extend their fifth wicket partnership to 90 runs.

Sri Lanka youth cap Lahiru Jayaratne added two more scalps to his tally and finished with the best bowling figures of four for 65.

However it was Chaturanga Kumara of St. Joseph's College who clinched the Best Bowlers award for his four wicket haul in the first innings. Peterite opener Shehan Fernando was named Best Batsman and Fabin Fernando from St. Joseph's College won the Best Fielders award.

In addition Nilochana Perera was named Man of the Match for his fine all round performances with both bat and ball.

	ST. PETER'S - 1ST INNINGS

(189 - Nilochana Perera 77, Chaturanga Kumara 4 for 39).
 
	ST. JOSEPH'S  - 1ST INNINGS
(Overnight 126 for 4)

Vidusha Jayasinghe b Jayaratne 			01
Kevin Bernardus b Jayaratne 			04
Sadeera Samarawickrema b Perera 		16
Sachin Hewawasam c de Silva b Perera 		00
Dilan Fernandopulle not out 			30
Rosco Thatil c Jayawardena b Perera 		50
Piyamal Perera run out 				50
Chaturanga Kumara c Jayawardena b Jayaratne 	38
Supechala Jayatilleke c Hemantha b Zilva 	14
Dinal Dhambarage b Jayaratne 			10
Extras 						11
Total (for 9 wkts decl.)	  	       224

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-7, 3-9, 4-41, 5-131, 6-170
		 7-192, 8-211, 9-224.
Bowling: Perera 13-3-38-3
	 Jayaratne 16.1-1-65-4
	 Khan 4-0-29-0
	 De Zilva 13-3-47-1
	 Fernando 1-0-15-0
	 Hemantha 5-0-20-0

	ST. PETER'S - 2ND INNINGS
 
Sashin Fernando b Fernando 			51
Shehan Fernando not out 		       159
Denham Perera c Jayasinghe b Dhambarage 	29
Nilochana Perera not out 			06
Extras 						15
Total (for 2 wkts ) 			       260

Bowling: Dhambarage 9-1-33-1
	 Kumara 10.4-0-46-0
	 Jayatilleke 6-0-47-0
	 Perera 6-1-15-0
	 Thatil 2-0-7-0
	 Hewawasam 9-0-45-0
	 Fernando 9-0-55-0