Keen tussle for the GOLD
View(s):By Naushad Amit
The traditional big match encounter between Isipathana College and Thurstan College will reach its landmark golden jubilee this year when it comes to life on March 22 and 23 at the SSC ground in Colombo. Both teams will clash for the coveted Blackham Wijewardena Memorial Trophy for the 50th occasion with a keen tussle on cards as followers expect an outcome after 14 long years.
The encounter has not produced a result since 1999 after Isipathana won it under the captaincy of Krishantha Jayawardena at the P. Sara Oval. But both teams are optimistic of pulling out a memorable win despite their respective records which are mediocre in comparison to other school cricket outfits in the island. Both teams do not possess big names in school cricket.
Both teams have played their respective games in the schools cricket tournament but sans much fanfare, which promises a battle between underdogs. Both sides would definitely not give as they struggle to repair their respective lost prestige from the unimpressive performances of the schools.
Isipathana has played 15 games to enjoy a win against President’s College Rajagiriya by an innings and 10 runs. But they lost a couple of games against high riding teams like Prince of Wales’ College and St. Peter’s College. Against the Cambrians Isipathana suffered a massive innings and 59 runs and within a week St. Peter’s handed their second defeat by 4 wickets. They managed to secure 12 draws.
Isipathana could depend much on top batsmen Chenutha Wickramasinghe, Salinda Ushan, Matheesha Ranaweera and skipper Deshan Jayakumar. Right-handed Wickramasinghe comes in as their ace batsman after having scored 605 runs inclusive of six fifties with the highest of 66. Ushan, a dependable middle-order left hander has accumulated 531 runs with two half tons, with 96 being his highest in the season so far. Right-handed Ranaweera, who is also the wicketkeeper of the side, is Isipathana’s only centurion this season. With the best of 124 not out he has made a total of 471 runs while skipper Jayakumar has made 394 runs with a fifty to his credit. Among others who could strike for Isipathana are allrounders Chameera Dissanayake, Dilan Punchihewa, Kelum Bastiansz, Malid Dias and Yomesh 
Ranasinghe. Off-spinning allrounder Dissanayake, who has made 268 runs, is their best wicket taker with a tally 58 scalps. Punchihewa, also an off-spinner has captured 34 wickets but with the bat is yet to score a big knock. Pacemen Bastiansz and Dias have captured 24 wickets each and scored 169 and 272 runs respectively as batsmen. Off-spinner Ranasinghe has played lesser matches than others but he could be considered as an asset for the big match.
On the other hand Thurstan has played 16 matches. They recorded wins against Maliyadeva College and Sri Sumangala College Panadura but lost to Royal College by 10 wickets while ending 13 games in draws. During the latter stages of the tournament they impressed with an innings and 150-run win against Sri Sumangala followed by an inspiring 88-run win against Maliyadeva.
Among top contributors this season are skipper Ramindu Kumarasinghe, Minhaj Jaleel, Kavindu Kulasekara, Tharindu Silva, Rajith Perera, Charana Nanayakkara and
Sahan Hewawitharana. Kumarasinghe is the top scorer for Thurstan. As a left hander he has made an impressive 986 runs inclusive of three centuries while also claiming 40 wickets as an off-spinner. Jaleel, also a right hander has made over 750 runs and has picked 28 scalps as an off-spinner. Kulasekara also has scored over 750 runs with a brilliant 152 not out as his best. Silva is another silent contributor for Thurstan having scored over 500 runs while Perera the leading leg-spinner of the team has plucked over 60 wickets to his credit. Nanayakkara also can come as handy after having made 250 runs and captured 10 wickets with wicketkeeper Hewawitharana earning a reputation as a useful contributor as a batsman too.
In the entire Big Match series which began in 1964 only nine games have come in favour of either team. Thurstan heads the win tally with five under their belt including three wins in a row from 1990 to 1992, the last time they won, under Mackenzie Perera. This time can Deshan Jayakumar of Isipathana or Ramindu Kumarasinghe of Thurstan will be lucky skipper to make history by leading their team to a surprising win, in a clash between the less impressed. Or despite its milestone will the Isipathana-Thurstan big match end in another tame draw for a 14th time running.
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