The 1st XI cricket team of S.Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia took on Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala at the Big Club Grounds on the 16th of September in a limited-overs encounter in the cricket team’s limited-overs league campaign. Maliyadeva College won the toss and opted to bat first.
The decision to bat first, appeared to be a brilliant call as openers Jayamin Muthukumarana and Pasindu Menaka put on a partnership of 83 runs for the first wicket. This partnership was broken by some excellent bowling by Charuka Peiris, which resulted in Menaka walking back to the dugout. Muthukamarana soon followed as some brilliant fielding by Thisen Eheliyagoda resulted in Muthukarana being run out. Gayana Weerasinghe put on a valiant effort with the bat as he scored 56 runs, only to be removed by Dineth Goonewardena and Mahith Perera. Maliyadeva then began to collapse as wickets started to tumble. Ushan Bimsara did show some fight against the Thomian bowlers, but he too was run out by Thisen Eheliyagoda. Charuka Peiris and Dineth Goonewardena were the highlights of the Thomian bowling attack as both of them were able to get two wickets each, but some brilliant fielding engineered the impressive Thomian display as Maliyadeva College had four runouts in their innings and the Thomians taking some fantastic catches. Maliyadeva ended their innings at 227/9 after 50 Overs.
The Thomians had a rocky start to their innings as they found themselves 67- 4 after 19 overs. Mahith Perera walked in to bat and the momentum quickly shifted to the Thomians as Perera was able to build a 74-run partnership with Senesh Hettiarrachi. Perera showed valour and vigilance in his batting and stood up to the Maliyadeva bowling attack. The men from Kurunegala tried everything against Perera, but he just wouldn’t give in to them, demonstrating true Thomian grit as he got the Thomians out of a sticky situation with his 85 runs. Akash Fernando joined Mahith Perera at the latter part of the Thomian innings and smashed 33 runs off just 11 deliveries with a strike rate of 300 and got the Thomians home.
Mahith Perera became the Man of the Match for his heroics with the bat.
Match Result
MCK- 227/9 ( 50 Overs)
STC – 230/6 ( 48.3 Overs)
STC won by 4 wickets.