|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 29 February 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Sports |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Josephians hold advantage on first day by DINESH WEERAWANSA A penetrative three-wicket opening spell by medium paceman Christopher Flaming, followed by two solid half centuries opener Tharindu Ariyawansa and Sandun Dias put St.Joseph's on an advantageous position on day one of their 70th Battle of the Saints encounter against traditional rivals St.Peter's begun at Saravanamuttu Stadium, Colombo on Friday. Having bowled out their opponents for a modest 199 in 57.1 overs, the Josephians notched up a healthy looking 158 for 4 at close after an evertful opening day's play. Each team could bat for only 60 overs under agreed playing conditions. Accordingly, St.Peter's' innings fell short of 17 balls while St.Joseph's could bat for another 13 overs more when play resumes this morning at 9.30 a.m, unless they be bowled out before that. Dinesh Panditharatne, leading St. Peter's in the absence of Gihan de Silva who is on duty with the Sri Lanka U-19 team for the Youth World Cup in Bangladesh, won an important toss last morning and did not hesitate to take the first lease under ideal batting conditions. But the Peterite batsman did not live out to expectations and their carelessness in negotiating with the early life of the wicket made they pay the penalty. It was Joesphian quick bowler Fleming who provided day light shocks to St.Peter's batsmen in an attacking three wicket opening spell last morning to make them struggling at 44 for 3. He removed the first three opening batsmen, posing a serious threat to Peterite batting. It was the eighth over of the day which brought misfortune for Panditharatne's men as Fleming removed two most prolific scorers in the Peterite batting line up. Vice captain Prajeev Jansz bowled for 11 and four runs later Hans Fernando for 4. Fernando, who came in one down, hit Fleming for a boundary and in the very next ball, the bowler trapped his leg before to have St.Peter's two down at 22. Fleming continued his long opening spell to remove the other opener Dilan Udugamasuriya, stumped by Thrundu Ariyawansa down the leg side for ten with the total on 44. Fleming had figure of 3 for 21 after his first nine overs, which speaks the volumes of control he had with the new ball. Then walked out Shehan Wijetunga who believed in the motto the attack is best form of defence. Wijetunga (38 off 59 balls with five boundaries) made his intentions clear right from start, making some hard hitting. His arrival energised the other not out batsman Lahiru Peiris (21 off 60 balls with three fours) as the pair did the repair job in a fourth wicket partnership of 58. Their 50 stand came in just 65 minutes. But off spinner Rajeev Weerasinghe removed both of them within the space of one run to put St.Peter's in trouble again at 103 for 5. However, some attacking batting by Dasun randika Mahabogodage (46 off 69 balls with five boundaries), coupled with a useful 19 by skipper Panditharatne, helped St.Peter's to finally make 199 all out. Fleming finished with 3 for 56 while spinners Weerasinghe and Ranesh Perera had two wickets each. The Josephian top order batsmen Danuka Hettiararchchi (1) and Hashan Gunatillake (11) failed but the explosive 50 off 47 ball by opener Ariyawansa kept them going. The departure of Ariywansa and Shemal Warnakula (5 off 38 balls) put some pressure on St.Joseph's at 101 for 4. But Sandun Dias (58 n.o) and skipper Ranesh Perera (26 n.o) shared an unfinished 59-run partnership for the fifth wicket to give St.Joseph's the edge by the day's end. There were not more than four missed changes by Peterite fielders, which would have painted a different picture.. ST. PETER'S COLLEGE - 1ST INNINGS
D. Udugamasuriya st A'wansa b Flemming 10
P. Jansaz b Flemming 11
H. Fernando lbw b Flemming 4
L. Peris st A'wansa b. W'singhe 21
S. Wijetunga c A'wansa b W'singhe 38
S. Wickremasekera run out 16
D. Randika c V'chalam b Perera 46
D. Panditharatne c & b Perera 19
S. Fernando run out 5
U. Samsudeen run out 2
S. Boralessa not out 2
EXTRAS 25
TOTAL (all out) 199
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-18, 2-22, 3-44, 4-102, 5-103,
6-144, 7-177, 8-195, 9-195, 10-199.
BOWLING: Vedachalam 7-0-13-0, Flemming 17.1-3-56-3,
Dias 4-0-22-0, Weerasinghe 11-2-48-2,
Ranesh Perera 7-1-12-2, R.Perera 11-0-36-0.
ST. JOSEPH'S COLLEGE - 1ST INNINGS
T. Ariyawansa c sub b Boralessa 50
D. Hattiararchchi lbw b W'sekera 1
H. Gunatillake c Boralessa b Warnakula 11
S. Dias not out 58
S. Warnakula c Peiris b Boralessa 5
R. Perera not out 26
EXTRAS 7
TOTAL (for 4 wkts at close) 158
FALL OF WICKETS: 1- 27, 2- 61, 3-76, 4-101.
BOWLING (to-date):Wijetunga 2-0-20-0,
Samsudeena 7-0-18-0,
Udugamasuriya 3-0-13-1,
Wickremasekera 19-3-55-1,
Boralessa 14-4-38-2, Fernando 2-0-5-0.
|
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
