Mathushan heroics give Jaffna Central a thrilling win
An allround performance by Selvara Mathushan paved the way for Jaffna Central to record a thrilling one wicket win over traditional rivals St John’s Jaffna in their 112th Battle of the North encounter concluded at the Central ground in Jaffna yesterday.
Mathushan cracked a match winning 53 runs in 75 balls which comprised eight boundaries and took the responsibility on his shoulders in Centralites run chase of 109 runs as he came to the rescue when his side was reeling on 57 for 5 with his timely knock.
The third day’s proceedings saw St John’s resuming their second innings from their bad position of 8 for 4 and needing to erase a further 103 runs deficit making a great recovery which was spearheaded by skipper Vasanthan Jathushan who made a half ton.
Later buoyed by the skippers knock the middle and late order batsmen Devadas Sheropan, Theivendram Dinoshan and Kanagaratnam Kapilraj also made a half ton for the Johnians to make a recovery from five down for 31 to a respectable score of 219 runs.
Despite Johnian allrounder Kapilraj making crucial breakthrough’s his effort was in vain as it could prevent from the Centralites securing a thrilling win to regain the Old Boys Trophy and the Centralites are record a win in the series after a lapse of seven years with the last being in the year 2011.
Scoreboard
St. John’s 1st inning (217 – D. Sheropan 65, T.Dinoshan 28, M. Sowmiyan 22, J. Subeedsan 18 – V. Viyaskanth 4 for 58, S. Thasopan 3 for 38)
Jaffna Central 1st inning (overnight 17/1)
V. Viyaskanth c Jathushan b Kabilraj 5
A. Jeyatharasan c and b Abinash 77
S. Nishan lbw b Abinash 30
K. Iyalarasan lbw b Shanushan 22
S. Mathushan c Abinash b Kapilraj 52
S. Thasopan c Rathushan b Jathushan 49
R. Rajclinton not out 54
S. Gowthaman run out 1
S. Dilesian lbw b Kapilraj 8
S. Thushanthan b Kapilraj 6
S. Sujan c Dinoshan b Kapilraj 1
Extras (b4, lb 5, nb4, w1) 14
Total (all out: 101.2 overs) 328
Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-70, 3-127, 4-201, 5-204, 6-284, 7-287, 8-306, 9-318
Bowling: K. Kapilraj 31.2-3-94-5, T. Dinoshan 5-0-16-0, S. Shanushan 7-0-25-1, V. Jathushan 33-14-82-1, M. Abinash 21-6-72-2, J. Subeedsan 1-0-6-0, D. Sheropan 1-0-6-0, E. Denushan 1-0-3-0, N. Sowmiyan 1-0-7-0.
St. John’s 2nd innings
N. Sowmiyan c Nishan b Mathsuhan 2
E. Denushan c Iyalarasan b Sujan 0
J. Praveen lbw b Mathushan 0
M. Abinash b Sujan 8
J. Subeedshan b Sujan 0
V. Jathushan c Dilesian b Sujan 50
D. Sheropan c Jeyatharasan b Viyaskanth 46
T. Dinoshan c Jeyatharasan b Viyaskanth 33
K. Kapilraj b Mathushan 50
V. Abilakshan c Jeyatharasan b Thasopan 15
S. Shanushan not out 00
Extras (b4, lb2, w9) 15
Total (all out: 56.1 overs) 219
Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-3, 3-3, 4-8, 5-31, 6-80, 7-137, 8-182, 9-219
Bowling: S. Sujan 14-1-49-4, S. Mathushan 8.1-0-30-3, S. Thasopan 19-3-56-1, V. Viyaskanth 13-1-60-2, S, Thuasnthan 1-0-8-0, K. Iyalarasan 1-0-10-0.
Jaffna Central 2nd innings
V. Viyaskanth c Praveen b Dinoshan 19
A. Jeyatharasan c Jathshan b Kapilraj 1
S. Nishan c Abilakshan b Shanushan 3
K. Iyalarasan c Praveen b Kapilraj 0
S. Mathushan b Kapilraj 53
S. Thasopan b Kapilraj 3
R. Rajclinton run out 4
S. Kowthaman c Dinoshan b Jathsuhan 6
S. Thushanthan not out 14
S. Dilesian b Kapilraj 0
S. Sujan not out 1
Extras (lb2, nb1, w1) 4
Total (9 wickets: 36.3 overs) 110
Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-20, 3-20, 4-36, 5-57, 6-82, 7-87, 8-101, 9-101
Bowling: K. Kapilraj 16.3-3-45-5, V. Jathushan 6-1-23-1, S. Shanushan 5-1-17-1, T. Dinoshan 4-0-14-1, M. Abinash 3-0-9-0.