Trinity enter quarters

S M Jiffrey ABDEEN, Kandy Sports Correspondent

Trinity College squeezed through to the quarter-finals of the Schools Manchee limited over cricket tournament when they beat St Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya on a faster run rate under the Parabola system at the Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy yesterday.

When play was called off due to bad light at 5.50 pm the Trinitians had made 174 for 9 in 41.2 overs. The Peterites had made 169 for 8 in the same number of overs.

The Peterites batting first were off to a very bad start as they lost 6 wickets for 41 in the first 24 overs. It was only a heroic knock of 90 not out which had 6 fours and 5 sixes off 80 balls by Nilochana Perera helped them to recover. Nilochana Perera helped by Lahiru Jayaratne (30) put on 94 for the seventh wicket.

Chasing a victory target of 183, Trinity were not quite in the chase losing wickets at regular intervals. They were 62 for 4 which later became 81 for 6.

Only a heroic knock of 51 with 6 fours off 71 balls by young Rajitha Jayatunga saved them from a collapse.

More wickets fell and the Lions were struggling at 157 for 9. But they were ahead on the run rate. The last pair Alvin Fernando (19 not out) and Aamil Anas (1 not out) did the most sensible thing to play out time till bad light.

St Peter’s College: 182 for 8 wickets in 50 overs (Shantha Fernando 18, Sheshan Fernando 18, Nilochana Perera 90 not out, Lahiru Jayaratne 30, Sidath Jayaweera 11 not out, Alvin Fernando 2 for 35, Janishka Premasinghe 2 for 27, Heshan Wanniarachchi 2 for 32, Tissa Bandara 1 for 25).

Trinity College: 174 for 9 in 41.2 overs (Niroshan Dikwella 15, Heshan Wanniarachchi 34, Rajitha Jayatunga 51 not out, Akila Jayasundera 22, Alvin Fernando 19 not out, Julian de Silva 3 for 39, Nilochana Perera 2 for 16, Sidath Jayaweera 2 for 32).