St. Peter's having been sent into bat couldn't have had a better start, when consistent rungetter and opener Nandika Herat, along with opening partner Jerome Fernando, laid the foundation for a good score by putting on 109 runs for the first wicket.
But with the exit of Herat (53) and Fernando (51) and the Antonian right-arm off-spinner Mahes Palihakkara coming into his own to bowl an immaculate length, the Peterites collapsed from 109 for no loss to be all out for 177 before tea. Palihakkara had the fine figures of O 20 -M 6 _ R 44 _ W 6.
St. Anthony's in their turn were well on 59 for no loss, when opener Sivakumar left, retired hurt, sooner after which his partner was dismissed and the Antonians closed the day with 71 for 1.
St. Peter's 177 (N. Herath 53, J. Fernando 51, G. de Alwis 14, S. Pinto 11, M. Warnapura 10, M. Palihakkara 6 for 44, S. Pinnaduwa 2 for 17, T. Gunaratne 1 for 44).
St. Anthony's 71 for 1 (S. Pinnaduwa 34, R. Sivakumar rtd 15, T. Sonal 1 for 12).
Joes bowl out Trinity for 44 runs
Trinity were bowled out for just 44 runs with Rodney Rafayal scoring 19 runs against St. Joseph's College, Colombo in their inter-school encounter played at Darley Road yesterday.
St. Joseph's were 183 for 5 at the close with Garden Wandert 54 and Ian Daniels 49. Mark Fernando took 5 for 14, Trevin Mathews 3 for 4 and Dylan Woutersz 2 for 16 for the Josephians.
The match will be continued at 9.30 am today.
Trinity 44 all out (Rafayal 19, Mark Fernando 5 for 14, Trevin Mathews 3 for 4, Dylan Wouterz 2 for 16).
St. Joseph's 183 for 5 at close (Ian Daniels 49, Garden Wandert 54, Trevin Mathews 20, Mark Fernando 37, S. Fernando 2 for 69).
DHARMAPALA DECLARE AT 236 FOR 7
Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya, declared their innings closed at 236 for 7 against Sri Sumangala, Panadura, in a rain delayed schools' cricket match at Panadura yesterday.
In reply Sri Sumangala were seven runs for no loss in 7 overs. The match will be continued today.
Dharmapala 236 for 7 decl in 33 overs (Saman Wijeratne 49, Chamil Prasad 27, Hiran Gunawardena 77 (8 fours), Amila Siriwardena 18, Chamara Nayanajith 14, Thisaru Seneviratne 11 n.o., Sudharshana Perera 2 for 41).
Sri Sumangala 7 runs for no loss. _ RD
Thomians win mini battle
S. Thomas' College 'A' beat Royal 'A' by four wickets in their mini-battle of the Blues against at Mt. Lavinia yesterday.
Royal 'A' 103 and 225 all out in 95 overs (N. Weerasinghe 76, D. Watawala 25, R. Perera 19, H. Rajakaruna 15, L. Fernando 4 for 46, R. Weeraratne 3 for 0, R. Mendis 2 for 17).
S. Thomas 'A' 222 and 110 for 6 at close in 19 overs (P. Perera 49, I. Hameed 14, H. Rajakaruna 2 for 19). HP
CRUSZ, DIAS IN 116-RUN STAND
Lloyd Crusz and Ranga Dias made 116 runs for the fifth wicket to steer Maris Stella College, Negombo to 244 all out in an interschool cricket match against St. Anthony's College, Wattala at the former's grounds yesterday.
The match will be continued today.
Maris Stella: 244 all out in 62.4 overs (Lloyd Crusz 77 (9 fours), Ranga Dias 62, (6 fours, 1 six), Chanaka Gunawardena 42, Dhammika Vaas Gunawardena 12, F. Joseph 4 for 57).
St. Anthony's College: 115 for 5 at close in 30 overs (T. Mahesh 57 n.o., S. Lasantha 14, Ranga Dias 2/41).
TISSERA FINE 118
A fine knock of 118 with 16 fours and 2 sixes by Duminda Tissera helped Government Science College, Matale to score 251 in their inter-school cricket match against Sri Sumangala Maha Vidyalaya which began at the Police Grounds, Kandy yesterday.
The match will be continued today at 9.45 a.m.
Government Science College: 251 all out in 59.3 overs (U. Bandara 19, U. S. Bandarage 41, D. Tissera 118, L. Herath 13, C. Wimalaratne 18, C. Wijesuriya 17, T. Tharanga 2 for 51, C. T. Ratnayake 6 for 76).
Sri Sumangala MV: 121 for 5 in 34 overs (G. Perera 26, C. Fernan- do 21, I. Fernando 25, H. Bandara 23, C. Ratnayake 25 not out, U. E. Bandarage 3 for 29).
SRI RAHULA SUCCUMB TO DEFEAT AFTER FOUR YEARS
Sri Rahula College, Katugastota, succumbed to their first defeat in four years when they were beaten by eight wickets by Moratu Vidyalaya in their schools' cricket tournament match concluded at Katugastota yesterday.
Sri Rahula went into this match without three of their regulars but this does not take the gloss away from Moratu Vidyalaya's victory as they played better.
Sri Rahula College 104 all out (G. Piyadigama 16, C. Wijeratne 26, M. Bogahalanda 10, G. Bandara 21 n.o, C. Dilruk 4 for 6, D. Wickremanayake 2 for 4, R. Jayasiri 2 for 18) and 127 all out (G. Piyadigama 38, C. Wijeratne 10, G. Bandara 16, M. Bogahalande 24 not out, C. Telwadana 10, R. Jayasiri 4 for 20).
Moratu Vidyalaya 198 for 9 declared (D. Wickremanayake 102, R. Jayasekera 17, A. de Mel 20, N. Ratnayake 4 for 62, N. Dis- sanayake 3 for 53) and 36 for 2 (R. Jayasiri 17, D. Aponso 11).