Thirimanne ‘ton’ only highlight

58th ‘Battle of the Golds’ at Moratuwa

By S.M.D. Sirisena

St. Sebastian’s opener Travin Fernando who scored a fighting knock of 56 plays one on the back foot. (Pic. By Ranjith Perera)

The 58th ‘Battle of the Golds’ annual cricket encounter between Prince of Wales and St. Sebastian’s ended in a no decision at the De Zoysa Stadium in Moratuwa yesterday.

If one was to analyze the play in the rain interrupted game, the Cambrians had the edge and the Sebastianites could not make a fight of it and if two full days play was possible, there could have been a result as well.

Prince of Wales raced to score 257 for six wickets and declare their first essay and at tea the writing was clearly on the wall that this game was heading for an inevitable draw.

Rain ruined the first day’s play on Friday and the match started at 11 am. When stumps were drawn on the first day the Cambrians, who took first lease of the wicket, were 170 for 4 from 58 overs.

The Cambrians made up for lost time on Friday when Rumesh Thirimanne, Sri Lanka’s under 19 opener who was unbeaten on 69, buckled down to score a fine century, with six hits to the ropes and one six. Thirimanne was associated in a fine 116 run stand for the third wicket with Sashan Silva and later put on 73 runs for the seventh wicket with Chamath Kariyawasam. Anuk de Alwis and Sajnjaya Fernando were effective bowlers claiming 3 wickets each for 75 and 102 runs respectively.

The chances of breaking a 31-year-old deadlock in the game seemed impossible when heavy showers took a good chunk of the first day’s play. A valuable 116 run partnership for the third wicket between Shashan Silva and Rumesh Thirimanne and the latter’s well made half century were the only highlight of the game on day one.

St. Sebastian’s who were 116 for 6 at the tea break yesterday took their score along to 153. Tevin Fernando was the top scorer with 56. Janitha Jayawardena (18) and Damith Dilhara (17) were the others to reach double figures.

The Cambrian bowlers Shivantha Kumara, Sanka Peiris and Chamesh Fernando found a good line and length to take 3 for 26, 2 for 9 and 2 for 29 respectively while Yohan de Silva claimed 2 for 51.