Dilan and Sharujan shine as Bens in command

Paceman Dilan Thabrew finished with fine figures of 4 for 42 while left-hander Sharujan Shanmuganathan scored an unbeaten 46 runs with five fours as St. Benedict’s are in a commanding position after the first day’s play in their big match for the Cartman Cup started at Campbell Park yesterday.

Wesley scored 218 for 9 wickets (declared) while St. Benedict’s made a good reply by making 115 for 5 wickets at stumps. Bens are trailing by 103 runs. Sharujan Shanmuganathan, the number three stylish left-hander, better known as ‘Little Sanga’, produced a superb 99 ball knock to build up their innings. He was at the wicket just short of 4 runs to a well-earned half-century at the end of day one.

Bens skipper Pasan Suwahas was out for one run in the second over of the innings which was bowled by Uvin Perera. However, the number there batter Sharujan who stroked a fine century in their previous Limited Overs game against a stronger St. Joseph’s side, once again, continued his good form in this big match heading for a long innings. Sharujan also added a valuable second-wicket 41-run stand with Kojitha Himsara who scored 26 with 5 fours. He further added 49 runs for the fourth wicket with the help of Shenel Samarathunga who scored 24 in 25 balls with 4 fours and six. Uvin Perera was the successful Wesley bowler taking 2 for 16.

Earlier, Bens paceman Dilan Thabrew made an early breakthrough to struggle Wesley 117 for 6 at one stage. However, Linal Subasinghe (34) and Uvin Perera (24) added a fighting 54-run seventh-wicket stand while number nine batter Sanithu Amarasinghe scored an unbeaten 27 in 45 balls, steered to pass the 200-run mark for the Wesley side. Dilan Thabrew was the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 42 in his 12-over spell while Sachin Senanayake and Chamath Chathurya made a good supporting role with two wickets each.

Chief scores:

Wesley: 219/9 declared (Chamath Gomez 30, Ashan Isira 31, Semila Liyanage 25, Linal Subasinghe 34, Uvin Perera 24, Sanithu Amarasinghe 27*, Sachin Senanayake 2/29, Dilan Thabrew 4/24, Chamath Chathurya 2/50)

St. Benedict’s 115/5 at close (Kojitha Himsara 26, Sharujan Shanmuganathan 46*, Senal Samarathunga 25, Uvin Perera 2/16)