by Richard Dwight
The determined Peterite juniors triumphed over an equally strong challenge put up by Maliyadeva, Kurunegala to become under-15 schools' cricket champions and win the Horlicks Challenge Trophy at Bambalapitiya yesterday. St. Peter's last won the trophy in 1994 and ever since has been in the finals these past five consecutive years.
Maliyadeva batting first on Tuesday batted almost the entire day to score 231 for 9 with Chaturanga Gunapala 65 and Malinda Gunawardene 43 making useful contributions. Peterite off spinner Jehan Jayasuriya claimed 5 for 41.
St. Peter's having to make 231 for victory were up against some accurate bowling and good fielding with runs hard to come by to be 150 for 5.
But a fine sixth wicket partnership of 74 runs between Nedula Wijeratne 40 and Ruchira Fernando 34 not out, saw them through.
Scores:
Maliyadeva 231/9 dec. (C. Gunapala 65, M. Gunewardene 43, M. Gunaratne 26, J. Jayasuriya 5/41, R. Fernando 2/33).
St. Peter's 232 for 6 (J. Jayasuriya 63, N. Wijeratne 40, S. Perera 37, R. Fernando 34 n.o., D. Gunatilleke 3/71, T. G. Konara 2/38).