(By S. M. Jiffry Abdeen - Kandy South group corr.)
St. Sylvesters College look set for the kill at the end of the first day's play in the 40th 'Battle of the Babies' against Vidyaratha College, Kandy which began at the Asgiriya Stadium yesterday. The match will be continued today at 9.30 a.m.
Having dismissed Vidyaratha for 137 the Sylvestrians put themselves in a very strong position scoring 104 for 2 in only 25 overs. They could well have the match under their belt if they go for quick runs this morning and make an early declaration and put their opponents to bat again.
Sulvestrians who won the toss sent Vidyaratha to bat on an easy paced wicket. Superb bowling by the seamers and well planned field put Vidyaratha into a tight spot. Chaminda Bandara and Ranga Dissanayake bowled splendidly and they were backed up by good fielding by the slips and the wicket keeper Chaminda Ranaweera.
Vidyaratha batsmen paid the penalty for hanging their bats to balls leaving the stumps. At lunch they were struggling at 50 for 6 and by tea 132 for 9. It was very slow progress indeed but they had a fight in their hands.
Vidyaratha would have been dismissed for a lower score if only wicket keeper Chaminda Ranaweera held on to a catch offered by Sanjay Nanayakkara the first ball he faced which would have made the total 50 for 7. Sanjay Nanayakkara went on to score 30 with 6 fours and faced 60 balls which really kept the Sylvestrian attack in check when they were threatening to run through.
Right arm medium pacer Chaminda Bandara in a sustained spell captured 7 for 32 and Ranga Dissanayake took 3 for 38. Wicket keeper Chaminda accounted for four catches behind the stumps.
When the Sylvestrians batted they found no terror in the wicket. Opener Arosha Perera 45 (5 fours, 60 balls) and Ranga Dissanayake 24 (2 fours, 30 balls) put on 62. With the run getting prodigy Chanaka Wijesinghe at the wicket, the Sylvestrians could afford to take risks this morning to force a decision.
Double international Ishak Sahabdeen who has won national honours at both cricket and hockey will be the chief guest today.