Shenal and Shevon shine on day one
Shenal Botheju of St Peter’s made a fine knock of 81 in 136 balls with 10 fours and six while St Joseph’s skipper Shevon Daniel made 71 in 93 balls with 7 fours and 4 sixes on the day on of the 88th’ Battle of the Saints cricket encounter played at P Sara Oval grounds yesterday.
St Peter’s made 251 for 8 wickets in their first innings while Josephians were bowled out for 163 and once again Peterites were 35 for 2 wickets at close. Peterites led by Wanuja Sahan having 140 runs lead with eight wickets in hand are in top after end of the first day’s play.
Apart from Botheju Danal Hemananda scored 55 in 58 balls with 2 fours and 2 sixes while Shanshay Gunatilleke hit 47 in 46 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes made useful knock to build up the St Peter’s innings.
The experienced leg spinner Dunith Wellalage who came from the National Test squad at Galle once again bowled well with taking 3 for 92 in 24 overs spell while skipper Shevon Daniel 3 for 67 in his 15 overs spell took bowling honours for St. Joseph’s.
St Joseph’s first innings skipper Shevon Daniel made a superb knock of 71 while experienced Dunith Wellalage scored 36 in 26 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes but others were failed to impress with the bat. They were bowled out for 163.
St Peter’s skipper Wanuja Sahan the leg spinner came up with good performance to finish 4 for 63 in 18.1 overs spell while Shenon Rodrigo made a fine supporting role to finish 3 for 26 in his 7 overs spell.
In the second innings, St Peters lost opener Vishan Helambage who scored 22 in 21 balls while leggie Dunith Wellalage took the solitary wicket of the second innings.
Chief scores
St Peter’s 251 for 8 wickets Rusanda Gamage 13,Shenal Botheju 81,Nimuthu Gunawardena 36, Danal Hemananda 55*,Shanshay Gunatilleke 47, Dunith Wellalage 3/92, Shevon Daniel 3/67 and 35 for 2 wickets at close .Vishen Halambage 22,Dunith Wellalage 1/17
St Joseph’s 163 all out Sadeesh Jayawardena 15,Shevon Daniel 71,Dunith Wellalage 36,Lahiru Amarasekara 11,Wanuja Sahan 4/63,Shenon Rodrigo 3/26