St. John’s aiming to break nine year hoodoo
It’s big match fever in the Jaffna peninsula as all arrangements have been finalized for the 108th Battle of the North big match between St. John’s Jaffna and Jaffna Central scheduled to be played over three days from March 13 to 15 at the Jaffna Central grounds.
This will be the 108th in the series with and according to records available St John’s are leading with 38 wins as against 33 by Jaffna Central while statistics of seven matches were not available and the rest drawn.
St John’s Jaffna team : St. John’s squad (seated from left): P. Lavendra (Coach), A. Gnanamirthan, S. Kapilraj, P. Thuvarakaseelan (Captain), Rev. N.J. Gnanaponrajah (Principal), G.A. Anojan, R. Lohatieswar, V. Kumanan (POG). (Standing first row): M. Nilojan, R. Pirishankar, S. Jen Flemin, S. Thuvaragan, J. Kishanthujan, V. Jathusan, R. Shelumiel, T. Sivatharshan, R. Lithoorjan. (Standing second row): A.H. Lasky, M. Sinthurjan, T. Kajeepan, S. Praveenshan, K. Kapilraj, C. Thevaprashanth.
Jaffna Central was the last to record a win which they achieved in 2011 winning it for the fifth successive year while St. John’s last win was way back in 2004. Now the Johnians come out aiming to break that hoodoo.
The two teams have had a successful season this time out with the Johnians having played eight two day matches from which they have recorded five outright wins against Canagaratnam MMV, Mahajana College Tellipalai, Jaffna Hindu College, Union College whom they defeated by a whopping innings and 369 runs and St Patrick’s College.
Their only defeat was against the strong Royal Colombo side while they held S. Thomas’ and Trinity to a draw. Apart from that the Johnians secured four wins in the limited over tournament against St. Thomas’ Matara, Skandavarodya College Chunnakam, St. Mary’s Chilaw and Ananda Sastralaya Kotte.
Jaffna Central team: Jaffna Central squad (Seated from left): S. Sureshmohan (Coach), J. Mohan (POG), K. Juniuskanistan (Captain), S.K. Eiliventhan (Principal), S. Sowmitharana, V.R.V. Dinesh (MIC). (Standing first row): R. Priyanthan, F. Jeyenthiran, B. Niruban, A. Thanushan, G. Nithushan, P. Nirojan, E. Krishanth, S. Mathusan’ (Standing second row): A. David, A. Priyalaxan, S. Senthuran. K. Rasiruban, V. Dinojan, S. Alanraj.
In contrast the Centralites have had a fair season securing outright wins against Skandavarodya Chunnakam, Canagaratnam MMV, Kokuvil Hindu College, Jaffna College and Jaffna Hindu with a draw against Devapathiraja MMV Rathgama in the two day encounters before losing to Ibbagamuwa Central in the limited over tournament.
St. John’s his year will be led fourth year coloursman Paramananthan Thuvarakaseelan who is an experienced player and will have in his ranks players in the calibre of Abraham Anojan, Sajeenthiran Kapilraj, Arulanantham Gnanamirthan, Mahalingam Nilojan and Jen Flemin who are players that have shone in this season. Skipper Thuvarakaseelan a hard and dependable left hand batsman who has cracked an unbeaten double ton against Union College will be the cynosure of all eyes and no doubt he will be expected to lead the Johnians batting from the front for others to gain the confidence.
Gnanamirthan will be the other batsman that the Centralites will have to take note as he too is a reliable batsman who has a century under his belt against Union College and the other centurion Jeni Flemin along with openers Kapilraj and Manivannan Sinthurjan will need to contribute if they are to make a challenging score.
The bowling will be spearheaded by the two left arm spinners Raviendran Lohathieswar who has taken nearly 60 wickets this season and Gnanamirthan with pacies skipper Thuvarakaseelan, Nilojan and Jeni Flemin expected to support the duo.
Jaffna Central this time will be led by the experienced fourth year player K. Juniuskanistan who will have the services of his deputy Sivalingam Sowmitharan and P. Nirojan who both have scored centuries along with Bavananthan Niruban and Kalliyugarathan Sarisayan to guide the side.
The others who will be expected to make impression in the batting and bowling departments are S. Mathusan, F. Jeyenthiran, S. Alanraj, A. Thanushan, K. Rasiruban and R. Priyanthan and their contributions are going to be crucial if they are to give the Johnians a challenge.
So with St. John’s aiming to regain the Old Trophy which is on offer which they surrendered to Jaffna Central three years ago a closely contested game could be expected.
The two day match will be followed by the limited over encounter which is the 12th in the series scheduled to be played on March 22 at St. John’s ground. The Centralites who has recorded wins in the last two matches lead the series with six wins to the five by the Johnians.