Heavens change Peterite chase | Sunday Observer

Heavens change Peterite chase

24 March, 2019
The triumphant cricketers of St. Joseph’s College Johanne de Zilva, Sheran Fonseka, Shevon Daniel, Dineth Jayakody, Dilesh Perera, Dunith Wellalage, Sachintha Ravindu, Lakshan Gamage, Ashen Daniel, Shalinda Seneviratne and Ashan de Alwis celebrate with the Fr. Peter Pillai Shield after beating St. Peter’s College in their Battle of the Saints One-Day match at the SSC ground yesterday
The triumphant cricketers of St. Joseph’s College Johanne de Zilva, Sheran Fonseka, Shevon Daniel, Dineth Jayakody, Dilesh Perera, Dunith Wellalage, Sachintha Ravindu, Lakshan Gamage, Ashen Daniel, Shalinda Seneviratne and Ashan de Alwis celebrate with the Fr. Peter Pillai Shield after beating St. Peter’s College in their Battle of the Saints One-Day match at the SSC ground yesterday

Rain clouds hovered and poor light conditions compelled the umpires to call off play in the 45th Battle of the Saints limited overs cricket encounter as the run chase of St. Peter’s College was halted for no fault of theirs that gave St. Joseph’s College the win at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo yesterday.

When the match was brought to a sudden end the Peterites were progressing at 175 for 5 in reply to 250 made by the Joes. It meant the Peterites were just 10 runs short of the required target (185) that comes into play on the DL System for disrupted games.

But the Peterites will also rue the fact that they could have bundled out the Joes for a total of perhaps less than 200 when they let it slip away after having them reeling at 67 for 6 at one stage and many wondered whether the match could end early in the afternoon.

The let-off meant that the Joes had taken their total from 67 for 6 pass the 200-run mark when the seventh wicket that of Sachintha Ravindu fell.

Ravindu made 74 and together with Lakshan Gamage who made 101 shared in a 179-run partnership that set the foundation for a total of 250. Gamage hit seven fours and two sixes in his century.

The match was played to a large turn-out of supporters of both schools which was estimated to be the highest for a match between the two schools in recent history. The encounter is the oldest limited overs contest in the country dating back to1975 when the first match was played.

When the match was called off the Peterite pair of Nipunika Fonseka and Shivan Perera were at the crease having picked up the momentum to put their team on course before bad light stopped play.

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