Ayeshan leads Sebs fight back

By M. Shamil Amit

Ayeshan Perera of St Sebastian’s College square cuts one to the boundary during his unbeaten 73. Pic by Ranjith Perera

An all-round performance by Ayeshan Perera almost put St. Sebastian’s back in contention after the stranglehold they had on their opponents DSS when play stopped for tea on the second day of their Under 20 inter-school cricket encounter at Wijerama Mawatha yesterday. In the end they had to be satisfied with a draw when falling short of the target of 145.

The home side held the whip hand after making a modest score of 186 and then had the Sebs struggling on 86 for 6 on day one. But overnight batsman Ayeshan Perera who was unbeaten on 33 carried his side’s recovery single handedly as he denied the home team from taking the upper hand with an unbeaten knock of 73 that included seven boundaries and two sixes.

His dogged innings off 130 balls helped the Sebs to end their innings on a respectable 154. Then later on he had the DSS batting in tatters as the home side struggled to come in terms with his right arm pacies. His three scalps in the early part of DSS innings saw them sliding to 80 for 8.

Useful knocks at the latter stage of the innings enabled DSS to get past the 100 run mark but they did not last long with Ayeshan getting support from Sanjaya Fernando and Janitha Jayawardena bundled out the home team for 113 and Ayeshan ended with top figures of 4 for 18. Sebs chasing a target of 145 for victory from 32 overs finished on 77 for 4 when stumps were drawn.

DSS 186 (Harendra Udugamvithana 39, Nadun Pathirana 26, Dimuthu Samarakkody 25, Hasitha Dharshana 22, Gayshan Weerasekera 18, Cahrith Jayampathi 17, Nadeesha Jayakody 16.; Anuk de Silva 3 for 48, Sanjaya Fernando 2 for 31, Trevin Fernando 2 for 37) and 113 (Lahiru Weragala 26, Nadeesha Jayakody 21, Charith Jayampathi 15, Dimuthu Samarakkody 15.; Ayeshan Perera 4 for 18, Janitha Jayawardena 2 for 18, Sanjaya Fernando 2 for 24)

St Sebastian’s (86/6 o’night) 154 (Ayeshan Perera 73 n.o.; Navin Kavikara 4 for 53, Kasun Sooriyaarachchi 2 for 15, Charith Jayampathi 2 for 30) and 77 for 4 (Vidusara Perera 24, Rajitha Mendis 21.; Navin Kavikara 3 for 24)