Josephians thrash Peters to regain Peter A. Pillai trophy
May 1, 2023.
A dominant performance from the Josephians saw them beating arch rivals St. Peter’s College by 5 wickets in the 49th Battle of the Saints limited overs encounter at the SSC grounds yesterday.
Peterite skipper Nimuthu Gunawaradane won the toss and elected to bat first in a placid surface at SSC. Josephians were always on top with the ball taking wickets in regular intervals.
The Peterites failed to make use of batting-friendly conditions as they gave wickets away cheaply.
Wicket keeper/batter Nathen David was the only player to hang around at the crease to score a much deserved half century for the Peterites. Apart from David, Rusanda Gamage starred with the bat scoring a flawless 32 before he gifted his wicket away cheaply.
Leg spinner Avintha de Alwis was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 27 while Yenula Dewthusa, Shevon Daniel and Lahiru Amarasekara picked up 2 wickets each.
In response, the Josephians got off to a decent start with the two openers. Sadeesh Jayawardane looked good for another long innings but he perished for 30. However, the strong Josephian batting line up made sure to get over the line with ease.
Hirun Kapurubandara was the main stay for the boys from Darley Road scoring a half century.
Vishen Halambage starred with the ball taking 2 wickets.
Brief Scores
St. Peter’s College, Colombo 156 (41.5) Nathen David 53, Rusanda Gamage 32, Avintha De Alwis 3/27, Yenula Dewthusa 2/18, Shevon Daniel 2/33 Lahiru Amarasekara 2/37
47th Encounter – Battle of the Saints Series at SSC Grounds on December 16, 2021.
Rev. Fr. Claver Perera’s tenure as Rector, St. Peter’s College that the limited overs cricket match between the Big Match rivals – St. Peter’s College and St. Joseph’s College was launched. Played on the 16th of March in 1975 it was the first such limited overs ‘Big Match’ among schools in Sri Lanka. St. Peter’s led by Bernard Wijetunga Jr. beat the Josephians led by Dushan Soza, in this short format of cricket between the two schools.
The Josephian-Peterite limited overs encounter earns the right to be called the ‘longest running Limited Over encounter in Sri Lanka among schools’ and played for the Rev. Fr. Peter A. Pillai trophy.
The 47th edition of this memorable encounter was played at the SSC grounds in Colombo on Wednesday, December 16, 2021. The match ended in a decisive victory for St. Joseph’s over St. Peter’s by 85 runs. St. Joseph’s won the last two encounters in 2018 and 2019. With this year’s win the Josephians extended their wins in the Joe-Pete limited-overs series to 24, while the Peterites have won on 20 occasions. Two matches ended without a result, while one game ended in a tie.
Given this background, St. Joseph’s won the toss and elected to bat at the picturesque SSC grounds – a decision that proved right judging by the result. However, the start of the innings was wobbly when opener Yesith Rupasinghe flicked the ball to the safe hands of Peterite skipper Nipunaka Fonseka for a duck. Two balls later No.3 batsman Hirun Kapurubandara was out lbw. Peterite pacer Danal Hemananda accounting for both wickets. Then came a 36-run partnership between Skipper Sheran Fonseka, 18, and Hiran Jayasundara, 58, that consolidated the Josephian innings. With Fonseka’s departure Jayasundara was associated in a match winning partnership with Mithira Thenura, 52, for 101 runs in 163 balls. A cameo by Dinal Anuradha, 30, contributed to a commanding Josephian total of 200 runs in 49.1 overs. Bowling honours for the Peterites went to Chamelkar De Silva 2/27 and Danal Hemananda 4/30.
St. Peter’s also had a disastrous start losing three top order batsmen in quick succession. Chasing a target of 201 runs to win, opener Vishen Halambage, No.3 bat Lahiru Dawatage and Nimuthu Gunawardene were back in the pavilion with three wickets down for 28 runs. The other Opener Shenal Boteju continued his form with the bat in the recently concluded ‘big match’ with another solid innings of 48 runs off 59 balls. Boteju and Skipper Nipunaka Fonseka, 31, held on for 69 balls but had little support from the other batsmen and St. Peter’s folded for 115 runs in 35.2 Overs. Lahiru Amarasekara spun a web round the Peterite batsmen with a splendid spell of five for 36 in 10 overs. Apart from off-spinner Amarasekara’s five-fer, Yesith Rupasinghe and Deshan Senevirathne picked up two wickets apiece.
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS:
Best Fielder – Sheran Fonseka (SJC)
Best Bowler – Danal Hemananda (SPC)
Best Batsman – Hiran Jayasundara (SJC)
Man of the Match – Lahiru Amarasekara (SJC)
BRIEF SCORES
St. Joseph’s College 200/10 in 49/1 Overs – Hiran Jayasundara 58, Mithira Thenura 52, Dinal Anuradha 30, Bowling: Danal Hemananda 4/30, Chamelkar De Silva 2/27.
St. Peter’s College 115/10 in 35.2 Overs – Shenal Boteju 48, Nipunaka Fonseka 31, Bowling: Lahiru Amarasekara 5/36, Deshan Seneviratne 2/14, Yesith Rupasinghe 2/17.
RESULT: St. Joseph’s College won by 85 runs.
TEAMS:
St. Joseph’s College – Sheran Fonseka (Capt), Yesith Rupasinghe, Hirun Kapurubandara, Hiran Jayasundara, Mithira Thenura, Dinal Anuradha, Shenuka De Silva, Kenneth Liyanage, Deshan Seneviratne, Lahiru Amarasekara, Yenula Dewthusa.
St. Peter’s College – Nipunaka Fonseka (Capt), Shenal Boteju, Vishen Halambage, Lahiru Dewatage, Nimuthu Gunawardena, Vinuda Liyanage, Niman Umesh, Danal Hemananda, Shelon Rodrigo, Monil Silva, Chamelka De Silva
The Josephian-Peterite limited overs encounter which is the longest running Limited Over encounter in the country and played for the Rev.Fr. Peter A. Pillai trophy was worked off for the 44th consecutive year at the SSC grounds in Colombo on Saturday, March 24, 2018.
A solid all-round effort by St. Joseph’s College enabled them to beat arch rival St. Peter’s College by 87 runs in their 44th Battle of the Saints annual limiter overs cricket encounter and win the Fr. Peter Pillai trophy at the SSC ground in Colombo yesterday.
The Joes electing to bat first made 259 in 49.2 overs as Revan Kelley (59), Nipun Sumanasinghe (53) and Dunith Wellalage (37) piled up the runs.
The Peterites got off to a disastrous start losing three wickets for just six runs and never recovered only to be bowled out for 172 as the Daniel duo of Jehan and Ashian grabbed four scalps each. Only Santhush Gunathilake with 49 and Ranmith Jayasena (48) offered some resistance.
Jehan Daniel skipper of St. Joseph’s was adjudicated as man of the match.
St. Joseph’s: 259 in 49.2 overs (Revan Kelly 59, Nipun Sumanasinghe 53, Dunith Wellalage 37, Jehan Daniel 26, Lakshan Gamage 26, Dilesh Perera 19, Shivan Perera 2/32, Santhush Gunathilake 2/44, Mohamed Ameen 2/60)
St.Peter’s: 172 in 38.4 overs (Santhush Gunathilake 49, Ranmith Jayasena 48, Dinith Anjula 25, Jehan Daniel 4/21, Ashian Daniel 4/32)-(YK)
The Josephian skipper and Sri Lanka U19 vice captain, Jehan Daniel called correct at the toss and the Josephians batted first on what looked like a good track to bat on. Johanne De Zilva fell early to the left arm spin of Miflal Ameen but experienced campaigners Revan Kelly and Nipun Sumanasinghe resurrected the innings with both batsman making half centuries. Skipper Daniel hit a couple of lusty blows during his short stay but he fell to some canny bowling from Ameen.
The Josephians struggled during the middle overs to gain any momentum but 15 year old Dunith Wellalage gave the innings much needed impetus with a fluent 37, though his dismissal sparked a mini collapse as the Josephians were all-out for 259 after being 237/5. Ameen, Santhush Gunathilaka and Shivan Perera all picked two wickets apiece for the Peterites.
The Peterite run chase got off to a horror start with their top order bar skipper Gunathilaka being dismissed in quick succession as they were reduced to 3/06. Jehan Daniel had his tail up for the Josephians dismissing both right handers with in-swingers to trap them in front while Lakshan Gamage picked up the first wicket to fall.
It was a grand recovery from there onwards for the Peterites through Gunathilaka and Ranmith Jayasena as the duo initially took time before starting to break free as they added 103 runs for the fourth wicket. Then came the most telling point in the match when Jehan Daniel brought himself back into the attack to capture the vital scalp of Jayasena who was unfortunate to be dismissed on 48.
The other Daniel (Ashain) also got into the act as he dismissed the Peterite skipper who was looking well set for a big one to put a halt to the Peterite run chase. The boys from Bambalapitiya never really recovered from there onwards as they eventually folded up for 172 handing a massive 87 run victory to the Josephians.
Ashain Daniel was unfortunate to not pick a five wicket haul but he ended with outstanding figures of 4/32 while captain Jehan Daniel picked up the last wicket to fall to end with a stunning 4/21 as the Josephians recorded a win in the series after 2014.
Jehan Daniel and Ashain Daniel were named man of the match and best bowler respectively while Revan Kelly won the best batsman’s award for his crucial 59. Sulakshana Fernando was named best fielder in the match for his catch and an amazing run out while Santhush Gunathilaka and Ranmith Jayasena won the award for the ‘partnership of the match’.
The limited over "Battle of the Saints" was launched in 1975. The honour of captaining the inaugural game belonged to Dushan Soza (SJC) and Bernard Wijetunga (SPC).Around this time, the 50-over game was gathering momentum throughout the cricketing playing nations. The Josephian-Peterite limited over game was the first amongst schools in Sri Lanka. St. Joseph's College is ahead with 21 wins while the Peterites have won 20 matches including a daring win in 2017.
2018 marks the 44th encounter and the game will be played on Saturday, March 24th at SSC grounds.
Recap of 43rd Encounter played at SSC Grounds on March 25, 2017.
St. Peter’s College recorded their third successive win against traditional rivals St. Joseph’s College with a 54-run victory in their 43rd annual Limited Overs cricket encounter played at the SSC ground in Colombo today (25). The high-scoring match saw St. Peter’s taking first lease of the wicket were steered by two batting displays by Sulakshana Fernando, who made 90 and Manelker de Silva, an unbeaten 107.
The Peterites ended up with a formidable score of 311 for 8.
St. Joseph’s in their run-chase, despite a fine knock of 73 coming from Dineth Madurawala, was bowled out for 257 with three deliveries to spare.
St. Peter’s 311 for 8 wickets (50) (Sulakshana Fernando 90, Santhush Gunatilleke 31, Lakshina Rodrigo 23, Manelker de Silva 107n.o, Thineth Madurawala 2/22, Nipun Sumanasinghe 2/58)
St. Joseph’s 257 all out (49.3) (Dineth Madurawala 73, Havin Perera 47, Jehan Daniel 35, Pahan Perera 23, Sachin Silva 3/55, Manelker de Silva 2/23, Santhush Gunatilleke 2/30)