Kegalle Marians in command

S M Jiffrey ABDEEN- Kandy Sports Correspondent

St Mary's College, Kegalle were in a very strong position at the end of the first day's play in their Kegalle's 34th 'Battle of the Golds' against Kegalu Vidyalaya which began at the Kegalle esplanade yesterday.

Having dismissed Kegalu Vidyalaya for a paltry 98, the Marians have put themselves in a position of strength scoring 173 for 7 at stumps and could well march towards victory.

Kegalu Vidyalaya won the toss and elected to bat first and were 23 for no loss at one stage. The openers departed at that total and the score moved up to 56 for 2 and later 61 for 3 before the slump started with the introduction of left arm spinner Dhanuska Sandaruwan who bowled with venom and guile. Kegalu Vidyalaya batsmen got trapped to his flighted deliveries and were in all sorts of difficulties.

From the total at 61 for 3 it was a procession from the pavilion to the wicket and back. Half the side was out at 74 and the tail to wag and the last four wickets were lost for the addition of 18 runs. It was 84 for 7 and 98 all out.

Dhanushka Sandaruwan who wrecked the innings had the excellent figures of 6 for 26 to bring his season's tally to 61 wickets. Off spinner Eraj Jayamanne took 2 for 21.

Left arm spinner Chamika Karunaratne with 96 wickets looking for his 100 wicket milestone bowled rather flat to take 1 for 36 and will have to wait for today whether he could get the balance three wickets towards this glory which no Marian had ever achieved before.

St Mary's College facing a challenge of a modest total of 98 were off to a good start with the openers Mohamed Malik and Nuraj Ratnayake putting on 60 runs before being separated. Mohamed Malik in particular was in an aggressive mood scoring 45 in 30 deliveries despatching 10 of them to the ropes.

Off spinner Tharaka Somatilleke bowled his heart out to capture 4 for 51 to bring his season's tally to 62 wickets.

Kegalu Vidyalaya 98 all out in 31.1 overs (Bimshendra Ranaweera 20, Lahiru Perera 11, Tharindu Somaratne 11, Eraj Jayamanne 2 for 21, Dhanushka Sandaruwan 6 for 26, Chamika Karunaratne 1 for 36).

St Mary's College 173 for 7 in 50 overs (Mohamed Malik 45, Nuraj Ratnayake 22, Mahesh Kumara 28, Dhanuskha Sandaruwan 26, Banuka Manelanga 18, Tharaka Somatilleke 4 for 51, Chinthaka Bandara 1 for 20, Chaturanga Prematillake 1 for 10, Bimshendra Ranaweera 1 for 48).