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| Sebastian batsman Brian Paul is trapped in front by POW left arm spinner Buddika de Alwis for 9. (Pic by Ranjith Perera) |
A record breaking spell of off spin bowling by Anuk De Alwis was the only beacon of light in the 59th edition of the Battle of the Gold’s between St. Sebastian’s and Prince of Wales which ended in a tame draw at the De Zoysa Stadium in Moratuwa yesterday.
The right armer took all eight wickets to fall in the Cambrian second innings, conceding 53 runs in the process. De Alwis thus broke a Suchetha Wijenayake’s record of the best innings figures of 7 for 33 for St. Sebastian’s set back in 1995.Replying to Prince of Wales’ first innings score of 209, St. Sebastian’s limped to the interval with a score of 150 for the loss of 9 wickets a before being bowled out shortly after for 161. The Cambrians in their second essay declared at 120 for 8 and thus setting St. Sebastian’s the rather impossible target of 169 runs for victory in a maximum of 19 overs.
The pre-lunch session on the second day belonged to the spin twins from Prince of Wales namely -- right arm off spinner Shehan Jayasuriya and left arm leg spinner Buddika Alwis.
Both Jayasuriya and Alwis were able to get a lot of bounce and turn off the pitch. Thus plunging the batsmen of St. Sebastian’s into confusion. The Sebastianites did try advancing down the crease and tried to be positive. However, they were forced on to the back foot literally and metaphorically time and time again, by some very accurate and penetrating spin bowling.
Jayasuriya in particular, was very impressive. He bowled 27 overs out of which 14 were maidens. He gave away only a miserly 26 runs and claimed four scalps in the process.
Charith Fernando and Jeyaran Fernando played the spinners with at least a semblance of confidence, but once Jayasuriya trapped Charith Fernando, any hopes that St. Sebastian’s had of overtaking the Prince of Wales first innings score evaporated faster than ice during a heat wave.
Meanwhile the 24th annual limited overs encounter between the two sides will be played today at the same venue.
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