School Cricket Review:

Kingswood in stunning win over Wesley

CHRIS DHAMBARAGE

Kingswood College came out with a stupendous performance to register an innings victory over Wesley College in their annual inter school cricket fixture worked off at Campbell Park last week.

This was a easily their best effort for the current season as they completely outplayed their opponents in all departments of the game. The only major concern for them was the bad weather which was somewhat threatening to spoil their chances.

In fact they were running out of time at one stage as the Wesleyites made a determined effort to force a draw through some stubborn batting in the second innings. But the Kingswoodians kept on picking up wickets at regular intervals and were eventually rewarded for all their hard work.

The key bowler who played a major role in their success was the acting captain Chalitha Dharmaprema who had a splendid six wicket haul in the second innings. The entire team rallied around him to dismiss the home side for a low score for the second time in the match after they had piled up over three hundred runs in the first innings.

Krishan Silva also made it a memorable outing while completing a superb century to boost their total. But the real matchwinner was Chalitha Dharmaprema who produced a tantalizing spell of bowling under tremendous pressure.

He was forced to lead the side in the absence of their regular captain and he responded immediately with his best effort for the season.

St. Joseph's v Royal

St. Joseph's College had to be content with a draw after they had come very close in defeating Royal College in their annual inter school encounter played at Darley Road.

The Josephians opened the gates for their third win this season when they reduced the opposition to 59 for seven wickets at one stage.

But their hopes of adding the finishing touches was shattered by some dogged batting from the Royal late order batsmen with the more experienced Haroon Mowjood leading the way. The former went on to hit un unbeaten half century under trying circumstances to pull his team from the jaws of defeat.

Mowjood defied the Josephian attack during a tense final session after their top order batsmen had completely failed for the second time in the match. Royal were trailing by 96 runs on the first innings and they had a tough task in saving the game.

They did not make a good start and the pressure was really on the late order batsmen. Mowjood rose to the occasion with a determined batting performance that would have even brought some embarrassment to their more established batsmen in the side.

Mowjood stood between a draw and defeat for Royal who had earlier been dismissed for 183 runs in their first innings.

St. Joseph's College soon took the initiative and made a quick declaration with Anton de Livera and Harin Perera striking form with the bat.

St. Joseph's College had been deprived of a certain victory in the previous weekend too against St. Benedict's College following the bad weather. But this time it was the bat of Haroon Mowjood that really stood against them after having performed almost everything to seal a victory.

Ananda v S. Thomas'

Ananda College also staged a great fight back to force a creditable draw to their annual inter school cricket match against S. Thomas' College worked off at Mount Lavinia last week.

The two teams in fact had figured in some of the most fascinating contests during the past and this was exactly another occasion where the players were involved in a high drama that saw the honours been shared at the end of the day.

The Anandians were almost down and out at one stage after they had been shot out for a shocking 99 runs in their first innings. It has been smooth sailing for the Anandians in their last few outings as the team came under pressure probably for the first time in the current season.

Ananda were left with the daunting task of batting the entire second day to avoid a humiliating defeat which they have never experienced in the recent past. The situation was really frustrating for the Anandians because they were well aware that even if they had batted for more than two sessions they could achieve only a draw.

But Udara Peiris came into their rescue and he did pull his team out of danger in the most spectacular manner while scoring a magnificent century. He led the way through some intelligent batting and made certain that the team will not make the same mistake twice in the same match.

As a result the Anandians not only averted defeat but they also went on to make a solid declaration while scoring an impressive 256 for 7 in their second innings. S. Thomas' College of course could look back at this game with great satisfaction having being on top over their opponents for most of the time.

Even then the lesson that they could gain from this outing is that they just cannot relax at any stage and even the slightest error on the field could make a huge impact in the final outcome of the match. Their motive should be to remain on top until the final delivery and not to dominate just one or two sessions as they performed in this game.

Prince of Wales v St. Peter's

Prince of Wales College took major honours while completely dominating their annual inter school fixture against St. Peter's College worked off at Moratuwa last week. The Cambrians put up a stunning performance to rattle up a massive 305 for 9 in their first innings with skipper Shashan Silva reaching the three figure mark.

The game turned out to be a survival for the Peterites from there onwards as they battled the entire second day to force a draw. In the meantime they had the humiliation of being asked to bat for the second time having failed to avoid the follow on.

St. Peter's College struggled to reach two hundred runs in their second innings but batted with a more purpose in the second attempt with Sri Lanka under 19 discard Shiwanga Ranasuriya playing a major role with the bat.

The Peterites no doubt badly felt the absence of two of their better players Chatura Peiris and Angelo Perera who have being called for national duty for the Tri Series tournament.

Nalanda v D. S. Senanayake

Nalanda College and D. S. Senanayake played out a draw in a high scoring inter school encounter worked off at Wijerama Mawatha last week. There were only batting points to take in this game because the Nalandians occupied the crease almost the entire first day to make 251 runs.

D. S. Senanayake College then gave their opponents the taste of their own medicine by piling up a huge 310 runs while leaving little room for a second innings. Gayashan Weerasekera led the run spree while compiling a splendid 124 that made sure that his team would take a good first innings lead.