Dineth Jayakody, the centurion at last week’s 86th Battle of the Saints Big Match between St. Joseph’s College and St. Peter’s College despite contributing to his team in his maximum capacity, rues the fact that it was a slip between the cup and the lip of not winning the match at the P. Sara Oval.
Jayakody was the mainstay from a century stand to a personal 122 and eventually luck had the final say.
“Yes, we do regret not winning. Since we were the favourites with eight outright victories and you won’t get a chance to win the big match again in the next couple of years,” Jayakody rued.
Nevertheless, he was instrumental in placing the platform for a Joes win after 12 long years only for that to be snatched away by the Peterites, in the third and final session.
Speaking to the Sunday Observer, exclusively he explained: “The knock was special because it’s a dream, that you have as a kid to get a century in a big match and I was able to accomplish it while saving my team.”
When he entered the wicket at 43 for four, his only intention was to build partnerships and Jayakody did exactly that, living above and beyond expectations, giving a sense of joy to his fellow Joes.
His maiden century, on the big occasion, turned out to be a crucial hundred as that virtually placed them on the track to triumph.
It was not only euphoria and ecstasy, as he reached his hundred, but pure delight for all Darley Road supporters, as they did the customary pitch invasion at big matches.
He had to score the hundred inside the restricted 60-over first innings and Jayakody didn’t crack under pressure, but hit a hundred (122) in only 133 deliveries with three sixes.
“I didn’t feel nervous at all, because, I had two half centuries under my belt during the last two big matches so I wanted to score something big this time,” he said after entering the record books for the highest fifth-wicket partnership of 192, along with Sadeesh Jayawardena.
However Jayakody was given a reprieve when he was dropped on nine for which he will thank the Peterites.
“Yes, I’m very grateful for the chance that I got since I was on nine runs and was able to convert it to a biggie after that,” he said on a lighter note.
Informants and congratulatory messages had poured in from all quarters and corners as the Dineth-Sadeesh duo had concluded the day with a record partnership.
“After the day ended with me scoring a century not out and my partner scoring a half-century not out, we were told by the old boys, masters- in- charge and the Committee, that it will be a record partnership for the fifth wicket if we continue tomorrow,” Jayakody disclosed.
“We scored another 44 runs in the morning session and ended our partnership of 192 runs which is the new record for the fifth wicket.”