Could Vidyartha break the ice?
View(s):By Aubrey Kuruppu
Vidyartha College could be chasing shadows when they encounter St. Sylvester’s College in their 55th big match at the Asgiriya Stadium, on March 8 and 9.
Vidyartha (from): Muditha Elpitiya (Capt), Ravindu Dissanaike, Isuru Weerasinghe, Kasun Navaratne, Chanake Ratnayake, Dasun Navaratne, Avishka Ranaweera, Nayanagith Lokuliyana, Malaka Wickremaratne, Roshan Nanayakara, Krishantha Jayasinghe, Pathum Colombage, Heshan Dissandaike, Prince Roshan, Ruwan Ranaweera, Asanka Fernando. Sanjaya de Silva (Coach), J. Kalugamage (MIC).
Victory has long eluded them and even though hopes are high, they could be defeated come Saturday evening.
The Sylvestrians have been extremely disappointing for most of the season being shot out for hundred or less on quite a few occasions. But in this general gloom, there have been two performances which will give them plenty of optimism. Following on against the strong St. Sebastian’s team they made 148-2 again, they scored 254 against D.S. Senanayake chasing 300.
First drop batsman Hansamal Perera has been the solitary centurion for them. Tall and upright he drives well and moreover, sells his wicket dearly. Another key top-order batsman is Indunil Samarananda who top-scored with on unbeaten 66 against the Sebs. He has other sizable scores. Sumedha Dissanaike is a quality batsman but has not made the big scores expected of him. Harsha Madushan, an attacking player, has just returned after injury.
Left arm spinners Nimasha Mendis and Sumedha Dissanaike have not bowled for around a month on account of injury. In their absence, the other bowlers have struggled for little reward. Skipper Dushan Malalasena, who has not bowled all that much, picked up wickets latterly. Another right arm leggie Anthony Tyronne had a five for against Nalanda.
Manuja Perera, brother of Hansamal, has impressed with his medium paced deliveries in the few matches he has played. However, Sylvestrian hopes hinge on the fitness of Dissanaike and Mendis who enjoyed themselves in last year’s big match. Vidyartha supporters are hoping that captain Mudita Elpitiya will find form on the big occasion. Ravindra Dissanaike, an aggressive batsman, is the leading team-scorer. Even though he has not reached a fifty he has made many important contributions.
St. Sylvester’s (from): Dushan Malalasena (Capt), Sumadeha Dissanaike, Hansamal Perera, Indunil Samarananda, Nimesha Mendis, Akalanka Dissanayake, Harsha Madushan, Malith Prematilleka, Akalanka Dissanaike, Hashan Barammana, Mohamed Rifaz, Manju Perera, Dilan Mel, Rajitha Piyaratne, Anthony Tyronne, Kasun Samarakoon, Pramod Bhuvaneka. Roland Perera and Sankalpa Gunasekera (Coaches), Parinda de Silva (MIC).
Wicketkeeper/bat Kasun Navaratne like Dissanaike, Wanasinghe and Ratnayake (the last two are only sixteen) will be playing their third big match. Navarante has made two seventies plus some other twenties. Malaka Wickremaratne, batting in the middle order, has impressed with some hard hitting knocks. Isuru Weerasinghe, who opens the attack shows promise as a batsman, Weerasinghe together with left armer Chanaka Ratnayake and left-arm spinner Dasun Navaratne have the task of winkling out the Sylvestrian batsman. Ratnayake has a best of 9 for 65 against Sri Pangnananda and two other five wicket bags.
The Sylvestrians are yet to win a game while Vidyartha has won four (two against very substandard opponents). Too much can’t be read into this because St. Sylvester’s, as a Division I side, play against some of the best schools and besides they will play for dear life at the traditional encounter.
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