 |
| S. Thomas’; Standing Second Row left to right; W.A.I.Fernando, L.J.De Silva, D.Dolapihilla, C.Kumarasinghe, R.Mathugama, C. Fonseka, H.T.Ariyaratne, S.C.V.Pathirana, N.Wickremasekera Standing First Row left to right; P.Wijewardena, K.Perera, R.De Silva, S.Liyanarachchi, H.D.K.Silva, D.C.Wickremaratne, L.Peiris, A.Kerner, S.Peiris, H.A.T.Fernando Seated left to right; Mr.Lakmaal De Zoysa (Master-In-Charge), R.Nirrushan (Captain), Mr.Harshana Perera (Acting Warden), D.Walpita (Vice Captain), M.F.Saleem (Secretary) |
It is that time of the year again. March - fever or whatever you wish to call it. But in Sri Lanka, arguably the biggest event on its sporting and social calendar is just four days away. Royal will take on S.Thomas’ on the 130th edition of the ‘battle of the blues’ at the Sinhalese Sports Club Grounds from Thursday.
Just two years ago, Royal got thumped by an innings and will be out for revenge in this encounter. The boys from Reid Avenue have a very experienced side which includes the skipper of the 2007 team in ace leg spinner Haroon Mowjood.
Royal has gone through the season without being defeated. In fact they won three matches by an innings. The Captain in Yasith Abeykoon and his deputy Kusal Perera are both 4th year Coloursmen along with Janith Perera and 5th year coloursman Mowjood in the side. Bhanuka Rajapakse and Kithruwan Vithanage have scored over 1000 runs... The latter played a brilliant 165 runs against Isipathana while Vithanage hammered a well compiled 142 against St Sebastian’s.
The bowling attack is led by 3rd year coloursman Maneesha Tantirigoda with 68 wickets under the belt, while Mowjood has 44 Wickets and skipper Abeykoon with 41 scalps.
 |
| Royal ; Standing Second Row left to right; Aqeel Sathuk, Dhanika Rajakaruna, Chirath Devasurendra, Lakshan Landewela, Ramith Rambukwella, Charutha Rajaratne, Anjula Rajapakse, Tharindu Abeysekara. Standing First Row left to right; Chalaka Bogoda, M. Lakshitha De Silva, Sahan Hettiarachchi, KithruwanVithanage. Seated left to right; M.T.A. Rauf (SGM), Bhanuka Rajapakse, Haroon Mowjood, Yasitha Abeykoon (Captain) Mr. H.A.U. Gunasekara (Principal) Kusal Perera, Maneesha Thanthirigoda, E.G.M. Rajakaruna (MIC) Gamini Perera (Coach) |
S. Thomas’ on the other hand have experienced mixed fortunes this year. They have recorded three outright victories against Dharmaraja, Isipatana and Wesley, but have also suffered two defeats. Led by P. Nirrushan, S. Thomas’ are very much the underdogs with only three coloursmen in their squad albeit performers for the big occasion.
The lads from Mount Lavinia will depend a lot on M. F. Saleem who opens the batting. Saleem has scored over 1000 runs this season and is also a useful right arm leg spinner. He will expect good support from his skipper Nirrushan who has made over 700 runs and a number of freshers who have proved themselves over the season.
S. Thomas’ has a good bowling attack with their trumps being their spinners. Left arm leg spinner Chamod Fonseka has 74 scalps under his belt. And Fonseka has back up from the likes of Saleem, Aldrin Koerner and L. Peiris to name just a few.
Thus if Royal are to emerge victors they will have to be on the ball from the toss. And it is common knowledge that when it comes to the big match all the statistics count for nothing. When the Thomians last won they took a grip of the match from day one as did Royal the year prior.
Thus though Royal are the favourites, it remains to be seen which team is more determined to emerge victorious and in the process bag the bragging rights for one more year at least.
Royal from; Y. Abeykoon (Captain), B. Rajapakse, H. Mowjood, K. Perera, M. Tantirigoda, C. Bogoda, M. Lakshitha De Silva, S. Hettiaratchi, K. Vithanage, A. Sathuk, D. Rajakaruna, C. Devasurendra, L. Landewela, R. Rambukwella, C. Rajaratne, A. Rajapakse and T. Abeysekera
S. Thomas’ from; R. Nirrushan (Captain), D. Walpita (Vice Captain), M. F. Saleem, P. Wijewardena, K. Perera, R. De Silva, S. Liyanaarachchi, H.D.K. Silva, D.C. Wickramaratne, L. Peiris, A. Koerner, S. Peiris, H.A.T. Fernando, W.A.I. Fernando, L.J. De Silva, D. Dolapihilla, C. Kumarasinghe, R. Matugama, C. Fonseka, H.T. Ariyaratne, S.C.V. Pathirana, and N. Wickremasekera.
|
E-mail