Sri Lankan wonder Perera takes six wickets and hits half-ton to see Prestatyn to victory

LIVERPOOL AND DISTRICT CRICKET COMPETITION

1st XI Second Division

Prestatyn (23) 167-10 Old Xaverians (7) 156-10

Sri Lankan ace Sampath Perera took six wickets and scored a half-century as Prestatyn celebrated a narrow, but crucial victory at Beach Close.

A tremendous result against the high-flying Xaverians lifted the North Wales side out of the bottom three in the Second Division.

Winning the toss and electing to bat, the hosts were all out for 167 in 49.2 overs.

After dipping to 9-2, Perera and skipper Andy Taylor put on 69 for the third wicket.

Prestatyn fell to 82-4 when Perera departed for a season’s best 61.

After struggling for runs for most of the season, the overseas star made it back-to-back fifties, the latest effort coming off 54 balls and containing nine fours.

Rohit Kaimal added a useful 33 and Rhys Jones 21, Colin Gibson snapping up 5-67 for the visitors.

Lying third in the table, Xaverians would have felt confident of making the 168 needed to win, but the magic of Perera was the main reason for them crashing to 156 all out.

Perera notched 6-53 off 21.4 overs, while Adam Tidswell grabbed 2-21 and Kieron Tidswell and Sheil Sethi a wicket each in a good all-round effort.

It was Perera’s third five-for of the campaign and lifted him up to 36 victims for the season at 12.75.