This game was played on the 23rd and 24th of September at St. Peter’s College grounds in Bambalapitiya. St. Peter’s won the toss and elected to bat under overcast conditions and on a wicket having a good covering of grass.
They lost two early wickets due to poor stroke selection rather than to good bowling. The Peterite Captain Lakshina Rodrigo joined Shalitha Fernando, the No.3 batsman, and batted responsibly to steady the Peterite innings with a partnership of over 50 runs. The pace attack of the Aloysiuns was weak and was unable to exploit the conditions that were suited for pace bowling. After the first 10 overs of the Peterite 1st innings where it was mandatory that pace bowlers be used, the Aloysiun Captain introduced spin and continued to operate with them for the rest of the innings.
Although Ashen Bandara had figures of 3 for 31 with his fast-ish right arm leg spin, a left arm spinner Hareen Buddila was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 2 for 91 in 27 overs. He bowled a good line and length and would have had better bowling figures had the Aloysiun fielders 
held on to the catches off his bowling. At the fall of the 3rd wicket No.05 left handed batsman Manelka de Silva came to the crease and from the very 1st delivery he faced, attacked the bowling with powerful stroke-play to all parts of the grounds to score 49 runs. He appeared to be a batsman with a lot of natural flair. Meanwhile, skipper Rodrigo, who continued to bat responsibly, had a sudden lapse of concentration and was caught on the mid wicket boundary for a well complied 75 runs. St. Peter’s was still not in complete control having lost 5 wickets for 170 runs. The tall No. 07 left hander Ramith Jayasena who came in next then batted with good technique and concentration and with the support of the lower order batsmen enabled St. Peter’s to declare at 265 for 9 in 87 overs.
St. Aloysius had an hour’s batting in fading light and the unenviable task of facing some lively pace bowling by Santhush Goonetilleka and Manelka de Silva. Although the batsmen played and missed a number of times they were able to end the day losing only one wicket for 21 runs.
Day 2 began in sensational fashion, when with the very first delivery Manelka de Silva bowled the St. Aloysius overnight batsman. Thereafter the pace bowling duo of St. Peter’s bowled with hostility and accuracy in capturing 3 early wickets which put the Aloysiun batsmen under tremendous pressure. After the initial damage done by the pacemen, the lanky left arm leg spinner Miflal Ameen bowled splendidly maintaining a good loop, line and length to capture 3 for 27. Pacie Santush Goonatilleke also impressed with 3 for 26. St. Aloysius was bowled out for 135 runs in 66 overs, with Captain Navindu Nirmal top scoring with 28 runs.
With 50 overs remaining to be bowled for the day, the Peterite captain quite rightly enforced the follow on. The Peterite bowlers were able to pick up wickets at regular intervals and aided by 3 run outs put their side in a position to gain an outright victory. However the Aloysiun Captain prevented this from happening with a resolute 62 runs. Ashen Bandara scored 31 runs but was seen to gift his wicket in both innings due to rash strokes. Left handed Sanjana, looked a good player with some fluent strokes although he failed to make many runs in this match. St. Aloysius ended the game on 157 for 8 wickets in 50 overs. Once again Miflal Ameen the left arm spinner proved to be a bowler of quality taking 4 for 65.
On the whole, St. Peter’s outplayed the Aloysians in all 3 departments of the game and has a well balanced side to make a big impact this season. St. Aloysius’ will have to find 2 good pace bowlers, improve their fielding and running between the wickets if they are to compete well with the better sides in this tournament.
