The 39th annual limited overs match between St. Joseph’s College and St. Peters College for the Rev. Fr. Peter Pillai trophy was held on Saturday, 9th March 2013 with the Josaphians bringing back the trophy to Maradana.
The event began with vehicle parades of both schools journeyed through the streets of Colombo to the R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium. Thousands of vehicles carrying blue, white and gold joined from the Peterites started off in Bambalapitiya. In the same manner thousands of vehicles carrying blue, white and blue joined from the Josaphians from Maradana. A helicopter too added to the delight of the crowd, with Joes flags high up decorating the sky.
Batting first the Josaphians lost wickets at regular intervals and were very much in trouble at 112 for 8 on a slow wicket and a slower outfield. However with the wicket drying out the 9th wicket pair pulled them out of trouble and managed to post a respectable 194 all out (in the 50th over) with major contributions coming from sixteen year old fresher Shammi Seneviratne who hit a top score of 42 after adding a valuable 72 runs for the ninth wicket along with Pasindu Madushan. Sachin Hewawasam 41, Pethum Madushanka 36 and Priyamal Perera 20 too added to the joes score. In the bowling for St. Peter’s Sahan Nanayakkara grabbed 3 wickets for 25 runs while Janith Liyanage and Chemila Obeysekera helped taking 2 for 39 and 2 for 46, respectively.
Chasing a target of less than 200 the Peterites seem to get about the job of overhauling the victory target with ease, but lost wickets with only the captain steady as a rock at one end. When rain clouds loomed overhead at one stage, though overcoming the D&L par scores, the idea of preserving wickets appeared to have been been lost and with the captain perishing they folded up for 166 in the 45th over. Skipper Dushan Hemantha played an almost lone- hand getting 60 while Sasheen Fernando chipped in with 22. Fabian Fernando got the best results in the bowling department for the Joes grabbing 3 for 31 while Yashan Samarasinghe, Priyamal Perera and Damith Weerasinghe got a wicket each. 4 Peterites being run out did not help their cause and contributed to their downfall.
In the 39th match of series the Joes leads the tally with 21 to the Peterites’ 17 with 1 no decision.
Shammi Senaviarathne was named the man of the match for his match winning 42 runs. St. Peter’s College skipper Dushan Hemantha who hit a fighting half century was named Best Batsman while his teammate Shaveen Nanayakkara won the Best Bowlers award. In addition Fabian Fernando of St. Joseph’s College was selected as the Best Fielder.
Brief Scores
St. Joseph’s College: 194 in 50 overs (S. Hewawasam 41, P. Perera 20, P. Madushan 36, S. Seneviratne 42, C. Obeyesekera 2/46, J. Liyanage 2/39, S. Nanayakkara 3/25)
St. Peter’s College: 166 in 44.4 overs (S. Fernando 23, D. Hemantha 60, F. Fernando 3/31)
