DSS did well in having the satisfaction of dismissing S. Thomas' for 137 and to be 122 for 3 at the close at Mt. Lavinia yesterday.
S. Thomas' having decided to take first lease of their wicket, did not make good use of it. For being fairly placed at 53 for 2 failed to consolidate, against some penetrative, accurate spin bowling of Malshan Alwis and Amila Dharmapriya, to lose wickets at regular intervals to be 80 for 6.
But a face saving seventh wicket partnership of 50 runs between the medium pacemen, skipper Naren Ratwatte (34) and Lakmal Fernando (24) enabled them to be eventually all out a little after lunch for 137 made off 49.2 overs and 190 minutes.
The DSS spinners Alwis and Dharmapriya, bowled well to finish with 4 for 42 and 4 for 30 respectively. DSS batting in their first match, scored freely to get up to 122 for 3, mainly through fluent contributions from Malintha Gajanayake 50 and skipper Shanthi Lafir 41.
The onus for a positive decision in this match, lies squarely on both teams, initially with DSS,
Scores:
S. Thomas' 137
(N. Ratwatte 34 n.o, L. Fernando 24, U. Fernando 28, S. Caldera 19, M.
Alwis 4 for 42, A. Dharmapriya 4 for 30).
DSS 122 for 3
(M. Gajanayake 50, S. Lafir 41, S. Rajakaruna 13 n.o., N. Ratwatte 1
for 23, H. Jayawardene 1 for 12).