Sri Lanka Schools: Peterites beat Royalists by 7 wickets (7 February 1999)

7 February 1999

Sri Lanka Schools: Peterites beat Royalists by 7 wickets

Ranjan Anandappa

A combined team effort coupled with a few individual brilliant performances helped St. Peter's inflict Royal's first defeat for the season, beating them by 7 wickets in their inter-school cricket match at Bambalapitiya yesterday.

The Peterites were given a victory target of 250 runs off 55 overs and the home team reached the target 253 for 3 in 49.2 overs.

The Peterites owe their success to their opener Suranga Pinto who smashed a rapid 110 not out off 130 deliveries which included 11 fours and Mahesh Perera who set the pace with an aggressive 77 with 12 fours. This second-wicket pair added 146 runs and with the dismissal of Perera, Sean Gunasekera (36) joined Pinto and added a further 66 runs for the third wicket.

The Royal fielding was not in conformity to the match situation. They grassed many catches at crucial stages and the Peterites were never under pressure at any stage of the game.

The Peterites, after conceding a 97-run first innings lead fought back to restrict the Royalists 152 for 8 after being 10 for no loss in their second innings.

Spinners, left-armer Chrishantha Pieris and Kaushal Lokuarachchi did the restricting job exceptionally well for the Peterites while M. Thotuvilage (49) and Ruchira Jayasuriya (42) batted with determination in the Royal second innings.

Royal 218 for 6 declared and 10 for 0 overnight 152 for 8 declared (M. Thotuvilage 49, Ruchira Jayasuriya 42, A. Kariyakarawana 14, Chrishantha Pieris 4 for 48, Kaushal Lokuarachchi 2 for 30).

St. Peter's 121 and 253 for 3 in 49.2 overs (Suranga Pinto 110 n.o, Mahesh Perera 77, Sean Gunasekera 36, Kaushal Lokuarachchi 14 n.o).

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)