Sharujan Shanmuganathan’s all-round effort helped St. Benedict’s College retain the Luke Shield for another year, defeating Wesley College by a comprehensive margin of 6 wickets today (29th March) at the SSC Grounds.
After being asked to bat first, Wesley College were reduced to 33 for 4 within 16.3 overs as the St. Benedict’s bowlers made early inroads. However, Lithum Senuja and Dinuja Samararathne steadied the ship, stitching together a valuable 82-run stand for the 5th wicket.
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Senuja top-scored for Wesley with a fighting 59 off 91 deliveries, including four boundaries. His dismissal, however, opened the door for the Bens, who quickly capitalized by snatching two more wickets in quick succession, including that of the other set batter, Samararathne, who contributed 27 runs.
Wesley suddenly slipped from a promising position to 127 for 7. Some useful lower-order cameos eventually helped them post 168 before being bowled out in 47.4 overs.
For St. Benedict’s, Manikya Deshapriya was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3 for 23, while skipper Sharujan Shanmuganathan and Buddima Tharupathi chipped in with two wickets apiece.
In response, the top order provided a solid start for St. Benedict’s College, putting up 56 runs during the first powerplay while losing only one wicket. However, Didula Edirisuriya had to retire hurt at the end of the 13th over when he was on 20.
Soon after, Wesley managed to remove his partner, Janindu Nandasena, for 21, while Mevan Dissanayake’s stay at the crease lasted just two balls as he walked back without troubling the scorers, leaving the Bens at 62 for 3 in 14.4 overs.
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Skipper Sharujan Shanmuganathan and Samindu Peiris then revived the chase, stitching together a superb 94-run partnership for the 4th wicket. Shanmuganathan was the chief contributor, scoring a fine half-century before perishing the very next delivery. Peiris was later joined by Edirisuriya, who returned to the middle to continue his innings after retiring hurt earlier. The duo took St. Benedict’s home without any further hiccups.
Accordingly, St. Benedict’s College registered their 4th consecutive Luke Shield victory, leaving Wesley College waiting yet another year for their first win. St. Benedict’s captain, Sharujan Shanmuganathan, was adjudged Player of the Match for his brilliant all-round performance — not only with the bat but also with the ball and his captaincy.
Result
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sehandu Athauda | c Tehan Bitar b Ayesh Gajanayaka | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Binoth Sandil | c Buddima Tharupathi b Manikya Deshapriya | 16 | 40 | 2 | 0 | 40.00 |
| Anuga Pahansara | c Mevan Dissanayake b Nadun Fernando | 4 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 18.18 |
| Lithum Senuja | c Didula Edirisuriya b Buddima Tharupathi | 59 | 91 | 0 | 0 | 64.84 |
| Deneth Sigera | c b Buddima Tharupathi | 2 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 14.29 |
| Dinuja Samararathne | c Didula Edirisuriya b Manikya Deshapriya | 27 | 58 | 0 | 0 | 46.55 |
| Rukshan Tharanga | c Nadun Fernando b Manikya Deshapriya | 5 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 55.56 |
| Ahmad Nahyan | c Ayesh Gajanayaka b Mevan Dissanayake | 12 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 120.00 |
| Dulshan Nethmina | c Vihanga Ruwanara b Sharujan Shanmuganathan | 17 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 68.00 |
| Ali Ehren | c Ayesh Gajanayaka b Sharujan Shanmuganathan | 10 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 71.43 |
| Denuwan Nethmal | not out | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Extras | 15 (b 1 , lb 0 , nb 0, w 14, pen 0) |
| Total | 168/10 (47.4 Overs, RR: 3.52) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ayesh Gajanayaka | 7 | 1 | 18 | 1 | 2.57 | |
| Nadun Fernando | 8 | 1 | 22 | 1 | 2.75 | |
| Buddima Tharupathi | 9 | 0 | 38 | 2 | 4.22 | |
| Manikya Deshapriya | 10 | 2 | 23 | 3 | 2.30 | |
| Mevan Dissanayake | 7 | 0 | 43 | 1 | 6.14 | |
| Sharujan Shanmuganathan | 6.4 | 0 | 23 | 2 | 3.59 | |
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Didula Edirisuriya | not out | 23 | 48 | 2 | 0 | 47.92 |
| Tehan Bitar | c Rukshan Tharanga b Ahmad Nahyan | 9 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 47.37 |
| Janindu Nandasena | c Sehandu Athauda b Denuwan Nethmal | 21 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 87.50 |
| Mevan Dissanayake | lbw b Dinuja Samararathne | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Sharujan Shanmuganathan | c Dulshan Nethmina b Dinuja Samararathne | 50 | 53 | 3 | 0 | 94.34 |
| Samindu peiris | not out | 41 | 80 | 4 | 0 | 51.25 |
| Extras | 25 (b 0 , lb 1 , nb 1, w 23, pen 0) |
| Total | 169/4 (37.3 Overs, RR: 4.51) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ali Ehren | 4 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 5.75 | |
| Denuwan Nethmal | 6 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 1.83 | |
| Anuga Pahansara | 3 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 6.00 | |
| Ahmad Nahyan | 7 | 1 | 32 | 1 | 4.57 | |
| Dulshan Nethmina | 6.3 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 6.03 | |
| Dinuja Samararathne | 9 | 0 | 25 | 2 | 2.78 | |
| Binoth Sandil | 2 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 10.50 | |
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