Sylvestrians strong on paper, but a draw is on the cards
View(s):With both teams – St. Sylvester’s and Vidyartha – being similar in terms of experience and all round strength, hazarding a guess as to the outcome of the 58th encounter this Friday and Saturday at the Pallekele Stadium is difficult.
The Sylvestrians who play in Division I are slightly more battle-hardened than their opponents who play in Divison II. Traditionally, they are a bunch of fighters who will not surrender their wickets cheaply. They are not averse to batting a whole day (and a bit more if need be). Thus, the Vidyartha bowlers will have a tough task to take 20 wickets if they are hoping for the win which has eluded them since 1968.
St. Sylvesters team
Small in stature, but quite big in deed — that sums up the Sylevstrian skipper Sumedha Dissanaike. A left-arm spinner who has chipped in with wickets (best of 4 for 51), and a smooth-stroking right hander, Dissanaike is also a very good fielder. His sixties against Kingswood and St. Sebastian’s were very special.
Hansamal Perera is the main danger. He reeled off five fifties in the first six games and then took a siesta. He woke up last week and produced a stunning 158 against Joseph Vaz, obviously, his hunger for runs has returned. Opener Mohamed Rifas has a top score of 99 against S. de S. Jayasinghe, while Parakrama Tennekoon made an unbeaten 90 against St. Benedict’s in addition to two sixties.
Harsha Madushan, Sivakumar Tyron and Indunil Samarananda can all help out with the bat. Pace bowling is definitely not the Sylvestrians’ forte. Left-arm spinner Nimesha Mendis is the fulcrum of their attack. A match bag of 12 for 43 against the Antonians and a 7 for 67 against St. Servatius attest to his quality. The skipper also purveys the same stuff.
For off-spin, the Sylvestrians have Pabasara Perera and Indunil Samarananda. Leggie Tyron Sivakumar has proved his worth with two five wicket hands.
With three fourth year players in the team, Vidyartha, led by batsman cum stumper Kasun Navaratne, can match up to their opponents. Navaratne has a top score of 72 in addition to a couple of fifties.
Vidyartha team
The player who has made the biggest impact is left-arm spinner Chanaka Ratnayake. His best analyses are 10 for 100 vs. St. Xavier’s and 10 for 88 vs. P. de S. Kularatne. Vidyartha depends a lot on him. Isuru Weerasinghe is a consistent all rounder. His medium pace has earned him a fair number of wickets. But he has shone with the bat, coming to the rescue of the side on many occasions. His best contributions are 52 vs. Dharmaraja, 50 not out vs. Sri Sumangala and 78 vs. Sri Jayewardenepura.
Krishantha Jayasuriya, the solitary centurion, has three half centuries to his credit, too. He is the leading run-getter. Madhawa Samarkoon (three fifties), Nipuna Ratnayake, Namal Perera and Dasun Navaratne are the others from whom runs can be expected. Pacie Chintaka Nayanajith has a best of 6 for 18 vs. St. John’s Panadura, but lacks a bit of consistency. Medium pacie Hashan Dissanaike has a fair bag of wickets. Dasun Navaratne has bowled his off breaks tidily.
St. Sylvester’s have two outright wins, four first innings wins, one outright defeat, four losses on first innings and five no decisions. Vidyartha have three outright wins, three first innings wins, seven losses on first innings and three no decisions.
St. Sylvester’s: Sumedha Dissanaike (Capt), Hansamal Perera, Nimesha Mendis, Indunil Samarananda, Pabasara Perera, Malith Prematilleka, Harsha Madushan, Sivakumar Tyron, Manuja Perera, Mohamed Rifas, Parakrama Tennekoon, Ashan Barammale, Lakshan Buvaneka, Devinda Bandara, Chetiya Perera, Upula Ratnayake.
Officials: Roland Perera (Coach), Sankalpa Gunasekera (Coach).
Vidyartha: Kasun Navaratne (Capt), Chintaka Nayanajith, Chanaka Ratnayake, Isuru Weerasinghe, Krishantha Jayasuriya, Dasun Navaratne, Roshan Nanayakkara, Nipuna Ranaweera, Madhawa Samarakoon, Heshan Dissanaike, Dinuka Gunaratne, Namal Perera, Lahiru Jayasuriya, Bhavantha Prabath, Ravishka Upananda, Nimesh Senanayake.
Official: Bandula Ranasinghe (Coach). -AK