Matara clash is evenly balanced
View(s):St Servatius vs St Thomas’ 113th Battle of Nilwala on 22nd, 23rd and 24th at Uyanwatta
Text and pictures by P. D. De Silva
Matara’s big match — the 113th annual cricket encounter between St. Servatius College and St. Thomas’ College Matara will take place on 22nd, 23rd and 24th of March at the Uyanwatta Stadium. St Thomas’ College will host this year’s encounter while St. Servatius College will host the 50-over game on March 29.
St. Thomas’ cricket squad with officials
St. Thomas’ leading the series with 32 wins, with Tharaka Dushantha leading the Thomians to victory in 2007. St. Servatius’ have won 27 games and it was Nimal Munaweera that led St Servatius College to their last win in 1971.
St. Servatius College, playing their third season in the elite division one of the schools cricket tournament have outright wins against Maliyadeva College Kurunegala and S de S Jayasinghe MMV Dehiwela. They won first innings points against Royal College Panadura and Revatha College Balapitiya. The matches against Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda and Ananda College were drawn. St Servatius lost the first innings to Dharmaraja College Kandy and lost outright to Richmond College Galle.
Fifth year coloursman Gihan Nimsara leads the St. Servatius first XI this season.
He is a right-hand batsman who has scored more than 800 runs with a century and five half centuries to his credit. He is an economical right-arm medium fast bowler who has captured eight wickets and held on to 10 catches.
Vice captain Sanjika Ridma is a fourth year coloursman. He is an all rounder who has performed well with both bat and ball. Sanjika is a left-hand batsman who has passed the 500-run mark this season with a century against Royal College Panadura. He is a left-arm leg spinner and has 59 wickets to his credit with three five-wicket hauls. Sanjika is the only player in the 112-year history of the Battle of
St. Servatius cricket squad with officials
Nilwala who has scored a century on debut. He has the unique double of scoring a century in the limited over game as well.
Yohan Chanuka is a fifth year coloursman who is an explosive right hand batsman with an aggregate of over 780 runs with two centuries and five half centuries. Yohan opens the batting for St. Servatius College and bowls right arm off spin. He has held on to 17 catches this season.
Chalanaka Weerasinghe is a right-arm fast bowler who can reach speeds in excess of 130 kmph. He has 40 wickets to his credit with best figures of 6/56. He is an explosive left-hand batsman too.
Ashen Deemantha is a second year coloursman He bowls right arm off spin and has 40 wickets to his credit this season.
This includes three five wicket hauls and a match-bag of ten wickets. Ashen was named the best player in the under 15 inter provincial tournament last year.
Pradeep Nishantha is the team’s coach for a second season.
St. Thomas College, meanwhile, play in division two of the schools cricket tournament. They have registered an outright win against St Anthony’s College Wattala and first innings wins against Karandeniya Central, Piliyandala Central, St John’s Nugegoda and Veluwana College and lost the first innings to Presidents College Rajagiriya.
All-rounder Jayanga Nirmana de Silva leads the Matara Thomian first XI this year. Jayanga is a right-hand batsman, bowls right-arm medium fast.
This is his sixth year with the senior team. Jayanga has a century and a half century to his credit and has exceeded the 500-run and 20-wicket mark this season.
Left-hand batsman Dhanusha Lanka Kulasooriya is the Vice Captain for this season. He bowls right-arm leg spin and is a third year coloursman. Dhanusha is a safe fielder and has scored two half centuries and captured 10 wickets this season.
All rounder W W Lasith Lakshan is a third year coloursman and is a player with exceptional talent and potential.
He has captained his school and the Matara district team in the Under 13, 15 and 17age groups.
He was a member of the Under 15 and Under 17 povincial teams and the Sri Lanka Schools teams. He has exceeded the 500 run mark with a century and five half centuries to his credit. He bowls right-arm off spin and has captured 12 wickets
This is Hashan Vimarshana’s second year with the Thomian first eleven. Hashan was a member of the Matara district under 13, 15 and 17 teams and a member of the under 19 provincial team. He has captured 50 wickets and scored more than 250 runs. Hashan opens the Thomian attack bowling right arm fast.
Nevindu Udesh is a right-hand batsman, who scored 400 runs including three half tons and captured 31 wickets bowling right-arm leg spin last season. He was a member of the Matara district Under 15 team.
H.M. Thaleesha Dilan has been among the wickets bowling right arm leg spin with 50 wickets to his credit including three five wicket hauls. Thaleesha is a left-hand batsman.
Charith Palliyage, a former STC cricketer, continues to coach the senior team.
| ST THOMAS’ COLLEGE FIRST XI squad
Jayanga Nirmana de Silva (Captain), Dinusha Lanka (vice captain), Lasith Lakshan, Ishan Maduranga, Hashan Vimarshana, Nipun Achalanka, Sasindu Nishanka, Thaleesha Dilan, Prince Dalugoda, Rusiru Akshaya, Vidath Jayanidu, Rasika Damith, Danuka Dilshan, Nimantha Kavishwara, Kushan Rangana, Nevindu Udesh, Shashni Ahamed, Osanda Chanupathi, Akila Thiwanka, Tharusha Kavinda.  Jayanga Nirmana de Silva (Capt) |
ST SERVATIUS COLLEGE FIRST XIGihan Nimsara (Captain), Ruchira Jayathunga, Sanjika Ridma, Yohan Chanuka, Vidath Dilshan, Randika de Silva, Dilshan Madhusanka, Ramesh Nimantha, Pamal Abeysinghe, Dishan Indika, Chalanaka Weerasinghe, Lochana Mohotti, Mayantha Abeydeera, Thushan Eranga, Rajantha Chandula, Isuru Madhusanka, Kavindu Umesh, Nadun Bhagya, Ashen Deemantha. Officials: Pradeep Nishantha (Coach), Sanidu Ediriweera (Assistant Coach), Nayanananda de Silva (MIC), Mrs Asoka Kumari (Principal), J.H. Sumanasiri (Deputy Principal).  Gihan Nimsara (Capt) |
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