K. Kapilraj and M. Abinash starred as St John’s College Jaffna stunned Royal College Colombo, winning by 10 runs in a thrilling encounter played in Jaffna. It was the first time St John’s defeated Royal since this traditional fixture was revived in 2014 after three long decades. This season, it was also an official Division II game for both teams.
Winning the toss, Royal invited the home side to bat first and from the beginning Manula Perera and Kavindu Pathirana carved early inroads, without allowing the hosts to settle down. Seven wickets between them saw St John’s bundled out for a paltry 65 runs.
However, the visitors struggled as well as wickets fell at regular intervals but a grappling 30 by Gayan Dissanayake allowed them to annex 111 runs. For St. John’s, K Kapilraj took 6 for 39. At the close of day one, St. John’s were in a less daunting position, 55/3 considering an onerous first essay.
On the following day, the hosts made 163 before they were subdued. D Shorapan top scored with 37. Needing 118 to win, the pendulum was swinging both ways as the match was on a cliffhanger by lunch with Royal losing 4 wickets for 54.
The second session unveiled a thrilling finish as the determined home side, led by M Abinash’s 6 for 36, shocking the Royalists and ceasing the pursuit at 104. For Royal, Ahan Sanchitha scored a hard-faught 27. It was a momentous win for St John’s Jaffna, against their traditional rivals from Colombo and for Royal, a taxing season is on the cards.
Chief Scores
1st innings –
St. Johns College, Jaffna – 65 all out (29.1 overs) (Manula Perera 4 for 13, Kavindu Pathirana 3 for 17
Royal College, Colombo – 111 all out (33.2 overs) (Gayan Disanayaka 30, Kavindu Chathuranga 29; K Kapilraj 6 for 39)
2nd innings –
St. John’s College, Jaffna – 163 all out (34.3 overs) (D Shorapan 37, V Yadushan 32, K Kapilraj 30, M Abinash 29; Kamil Mishara 5 for 23)
Royal College, Colombo – 107 all out (33 overs) (Ahan Sachithra 27, Kavidu Chathuranga 22; M Abinash 6 for 36, K Kapilraj 2 for 31)
Result – St. John’s College, Jaffna won by 10 runs
