By Dhammika Ratnaweera
Two fighting half-centuries by St Peter’s College ninth-wicket pair Ruwin Seneviratna and Danal Hemananda forced a draw to the 86th Battle of the Saints at the P. Sara Oval Stadium on Saturday. Resuming the first day on 191 for 4, the overnight St Joseph’s pair, Dineth Jayakody and Sadeesh Jayawardene added 44 more runs to put the Josephians in a strong position. Their 192-run stand for the fifth wicket broke the previous fifth-wicket record partnership in the series, which was 158 runs by Joe Misso and Patrick Perera in 1938. Dunith Jayakody scored 122 while Sadeesha Jayawardena made a good supporting role with 70.
However, after this successful combination Preterits once again fought back to struggle middle order and they were all out for 259 with 35 runs lead from the first innings St Peters total of 224 all out. The final six wickets of Joes fell for just 24 runs inside just 22 balls.
Peterites in their second essay made 67 for three wickets but vice-captain Nipunaka Fonseka(47) Rishika Dawatage(68) added 66 runs fourth wickets stand . Le spinner Dunith Wellalage game more expectations for Josehians with taking three quick wickets to struggle, St Peters, were 179 for 7 wickets.
However, the ninth-wicket pair, Ruwin Seneviratne and Danal Hemananda, batted till the end of the day. Both Senevirathne and Hemananda reached their half-centuries in the last hour of play as St. Peter’s College retained the Maurice Le Goc Challenge Trophy. Ruwin Seneviratna hit an unbeaten 53 in 104 balls with four fours and a six while Danal made his fifty not out in 54 balls with 4 fours and two sixes. They added 88 unbroken runs for the ninth wicket, which broke the previous Peterite record of 53 runs which was held by Tony Opatha and Rodney Patternott in 1965.
After 86 games, St. Joseph’s College lead the series tally with 12 wins, while St. Peter’s College have won on 10 occasions. All the other encounters have ended without a result.
Chief scores
St Peters 224 all-out Lahiru Dwwatage 64, Wanuja Sahan 48, Ashen Daniel 4 for 70 and 288 for 8 wickets at the close. Rishika Dawatage 68, Niunaka Fonseka 44, Kanishka Maduwantha 22, Ruwin Seneviratna 53 not out, Danal Hemananda 50 not out, Dunith Wellalage 4 for 84 St Joseph’s 259 all out. Dinesh Jayakody 122, Sadeesha Jayawardena 70, Vinuda Liyanage 4 for 56.
Individual Awards
- Best Fielder – Johanne De Zilva (SJC)
- Best Bowler – Vinuda Liyanage (SPC)
- Best Batsman – Dineth Jayakody (SJC)
- Best All-Rounder – Dinal Hemananda (SPC)
- Man of the Match – Dineth Jayakody (SJC)
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