Jaffna Central regain ‘Battle of North’ with 9-wicket win
A reason to rejoice for Jaffna Central cricketers and followers
Jaffna Central College won the 116th Battle of North, beating their traditional rivals St. John’s College by 9 wickets, with over two sessions remaining at the Central College ground in Jaffna yesterday. Needing nine runs for victory, Jaffna Central lost a wicket, but had little trouble in claiming a well-crafted win, despite losing the vital toss.
Put into bat first, Jaffna Central responded well scoring an imposing 279 in the first innings largely thanks to the brilliant batting of Ajay Nishanthan and Vithusan Jegatheeswaren. Nishanthan top scored with 74 and Jegatheeswaren played an equally dominating role to stroke 71. Sansayan Matheeswaran also contributed with 42.
Vithushan Yogathas was the pick of the bowlers for St. John’s claiming four for 70 runs while Anton Abishek with three scalps and Kajakaman Kirupananthan with two shone with the ball for
St. John’s.
Newton Ranjithkumar (4/27), Kajan Ananthan (3/8) and Anushanth Sutharshan (2/62) combined to run through the St. John’s, bowling them out for 127 runs in the first innings. Having enforced the follow on with a first innings lead of 152 runs, the hosts were once again bowled out for 160 runs–a lead of just 8 runs.
Newton Ranjithkumar, who picked up four scalps in the first innings bowled brilliantly once again taking five wickets for 53 runs to finish with a match bag of nine wickets for 80 while Paruthi Vikneswaran claimed the other five wickets for 58 runs.
Jaffna Central lost a wicket chasing 9 runs to victory.
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