The 64th Battle gold wraps up a in a draw at the De Zoysa Stadium on the 8th of March 2014.
On the second day of the Battle of the Golds Prince of Wales was in a very advantageous point batting with only 3 wickets down. Kusal Mendis who was already on his 80th run was not able to flourish further. Adding just 9 more to his total, Kusal was caught by Sangeeth Cooray bowled Anuk Fernando. This halted a half century partnership for the 4th wicket at 47 runs as well as Kusal’s century.
After Kusal’s break down the batting partnership following was limited to 2 runs. Suchira Fernando edging to the wicketkeeper was caught easily. The bowler was Umesh Morias who took down Suchira for 14 runs. As the 6th wicket Hasitha Lanka had to walk back to the pavilion for a run out. The mix up for the second run allowed Lahiru Heshan to directly hit the stumps stopping Hasitha who made only 4 runs in 10 balls.
A slight recovery was in place by the Cambrians since the quick fall of the wickets. A partnership of 24 runs was put together for the 7th wicket. When the total was 210 Senal Chethaka on his 6th run was caught by Sangeeth Cooray for a delivery by Lahiru Heshan.
The 8th and night wickets were off within 11 runs of each other. Krishen Aponsu going for a big shot was caught by Avishka Fernando off the bowling of Lahiru Heshan and Jayanga Pieris was stumped by the wicket keeper Sachintha Fonseka. This was Lahiru Heshan’s 4th wicket for the game. Yet by the 9th wicket Prince of Wales already have won the 1st innings which made them declare the innings over to Sebastian’s to bat.
Prince of Wales declared with one run ahead of Sebastian’s. Taking on the start for the second innings, Sangeeth Coorey and Luke Jayadewa weren’t at their best performances. The first three wickets of the innings fell for 50 runs while, Luke and Sangeeth were sent back to pavilion with just 15 runs on the board. Both these wickets were taken by Gayan Chamara’s fast bowling which were caught behind by wicket Keeper Kristopher Aponsu.
With 15-2 the partnership of 35 runs from that point onwards was a considerable recovery. Mudith Fernando was out caught Gayan Chamra by a Jayanga Peiris delivery. Though extended batting partnership were not evident Sebastians were able to gradually pile on the runs. Thilan Nimesh scalped Avishka Fernando lbw. Anuk Fernando and Kusal Lakthilan contributed equally to the batting scores where Kusal played the highest score in the second innings. As the 5th wicket Anuk Fernando was also lbw by Kusal Mendis and Kusal Lakthilan was castled by Thilan Nimesh.
Surprisingly the longest batting partnership came through for the 7th wicket of the innings, 40 runs between Shan Fernando and Sachintha Fonseka. Being the 7th and 8th batsmen the effort they pooled in was imperative at this crucial moment for Sebastian’s. Facing a delivery by Sachin Pushpakumara Shan tipped the ball into the wicketkeeper. This brought down the partnership and soon after Sachin Fonseka was also caught by Suchira Fernando off a delivery by Thilan Nimesh, which was Nimesh’s 3rd wicket for the second innings. With the fall of Umeshka Morris’s wicket the Sebasitan second innings wrapped up for 221 runs with 9 extras.
With only a few overs left of the day Prince of Wales just went on the offensive and were 32 for the loss of 2 wickets making the 64th Battle of Golds a draw.
St. Sebestian College – 1st Innings 220 All out : Avishka Fernando 47, Sangeeth Cooray 43, Anuk Fernendo36, Thilna Nimesh 41/4, Sachin Pushpakumar 23/3
Prince of Wales’ College – 1st Innings 221-9 Dec : Kusal Mendis 89, Gayan Chamara 43, Krishen Aponsu 23, Ashen Mendis 19,Lahiru Heshan 48/4 Sangeeth Cooray 17/1
St. Sebestian College – 2nd Innings 221 All out : Kusal Lathilina 40, Shan Mendis 39, Avishka Fernando 36, Thilan Nimesh 88/4, Gayan Chamra 8/2.
Prince of Wales’ College – 2nd Innings 32 for2
