114th Battle of the Blues on March 21, 22, 23 at Uyanwatta
The 114th Battle of the Blues encounter between two of the biggest educational institutions of Southern Sri Lanka — St. Servatius College and St. Thomas’ College Matara will be played at the Uyanwatta Stadium on March 21, 22 and 23.
St. Servatius College hosts the three-day encounter and Servatians will be the guests at the 15th 50 over game on March 26. The series is the third oldest big match in the country and has been played continuously since 1900. St. Thomas’ lead the series with 32 wins with Tharaka Dushantha leading the Thomians to victory in 2007. St. Servatius’ last achieved victory in 1971 under the captaincy of Nimal Munaweera and this year they are all out to break the 43-year-old jinx.
The Servatians
St. Servatius College plays in the elite Division I of the All-Island Schools Cricket Tournament. Of the 16 matches played in the tournament they registered outright wins against Maris Stella and S. de S. Jayasinghe. Seven first innings wins were registered against Mahanama, Thurstan, Bandaranayake Gampaha, Dharmasoka, Sri Devananda, St. Aloysius and Rahula Matara. They conceded first innings wins to Isipathana, St. Benedicts, Zahira, St. Sylvester’s and Mahinda College and loosing outright to Lumbini and to Division I champs Richmond. The Servatians are ranked 18th in the Division I points table with 185.48 points.
Fifth year coloursman Sanjika Ridma leads the St. Servatius team at the 114th encounter. He was a member of the Sri Lanka Under-19 team which toured Bangladesh and played against Indian Under-19 team that toured Sri Lanka. Being a member of the Sri Lanka Under-19 team, Sanjika lost the opportunity in representing his college in most of the school fixtures. Being an allrounder, Sanjika a left hand batsman and a left-arm leg spinner has scored 696 runs which includes tons against Maris Stella and Thurstan and had captured 52 wickets. Ruchira Jayathunge, also a fifth year coloursman is the vice captain of the team. Ruchira is a hard hitting left hand batsman and as a left-arm paceman. He has captured 20 wickets this season and has scored more than 300 runs.
Dilshan Madusanka is the stumper of the side is a third year coloursman. He bats right hand. Allrounders in the side are Lochana Mohotti, Ashen Deemantha, Ramesh Nimantha, Mayantha Abeydeera, Thushan Eranga, Randika de Silva, Kavindu Umesh, Chanuka Dilshan. All of them are third year coloursmen while Rajantha Chandula is a second year coloursman. Thilan Prashan Kumara is a first year coloursman.
Lasith Sahluka Suwandarathne, who captained the St. Servatius first XI at the centenary encounter, has taken over the duties of head coach from Pradeep Nishantha who groomed the team last season. He has the able assistance of Chanaka Komasaru, who led the Thomians first XI in 2003. Nayananda de Silva continues as the master-in-charge of the Servatian first XI for the third consecutive year.
The Thomians
St. Thomas’ College plays in Division II of the Schools Cricket Tournament and were placed 14th with 200.88 points. Of the 16 encounters, they registered outright wins against Taxila, St. Xavier’s, St. John’s Panadura, Sri Devananda and Asoka College Colombo. They registered two first innings wins and have conceded five first innings losses. Two games ended in no decisions and they lost out right to Vidyartha and Division I champs Richmond.
All-rounder Hashan Vimarshana, who was a member of the Sri Lanka Under-19 team at the recently concluded ICC Under-19 World Cup, leads the Thomians this year. He was only able to lead his team in five of the 16 encounters this season. Hashan bowls right arm fast and has captured 23 wickets with three five wicket hauls. A right hand batsman he has scored over 200 runs. Hashan is a third year coloursman.
Nevindu Udesh led the Thomian team in 11 inter-school games and is the vice captain of the side for the 114th big match. He is a right hand batsman and bowls right-arm leg spin.
Fourth year coloursman Laith Lakshan is the most senior player in the team. A hard hitting right hand batsman, Lasith has scored more than 1000 runs including four centuries and six fifties. Lasith has captured more than 50 wickets and has captured five wickets in an innings on four occasions. Lasith was a member of the Sri Lanka Under-17 team which toured England.
Allrounder Vidath Jayanidu is a third year coloursman, Rusiru Akshaya keeps wickets and is a second year coloursman. Osanda Chamupathi, Mohammed Sasni, Prince Dalugoda, Nimantha Kavishwara, Dilum Krishan, Dilip Tharaka, Heshan Hasanka, Sasindu Nishanka, Tharusha Kavinda, Akila Thiwanka, Nipun Akalanka are all first year coloursmen. The freshmen in the side are Sanun Pramuditha, Ishan Jayawardena, Hasitha Suneth, Hasheen Dilmal and Kavindu Gimhana.
Charith Sanjeewa Palliyaguru is the head coach of the St. Thomas’ College team. Dumindu Hewapathirana is his deputy. K.H.C. Pradeep is the master-in-charge of the team. The big match in Matara has been known as the ‘Battle of Nilwala’, ‘Battle of Ruhuna’ and ‘Battle of the Blues in Matara’ in the past. A request was made by the organisers that this age old encounter be simply called the Battle of the Blues in the future and hence we comply.
St. Servatius College: Sanjika Ridma (Captain), L.H. Thushan Eranga, Lochana Mohotti, Dilshan Madusanka, H.R. Chanuka Dilshan, K.P.D.P. Nimantha, Saviru Dhananjaya, Ramesh Nimantha, Kavindu Umesh, Ramish Madushan, Mayantha Abeydeera, Randika de Silva, Rajantha Chandula, Nimesh Maduranga, Sandaru Nethmina, Thilan Prasanna Kumara, Ashen Deemantha, Chamil Dhananjaya, Danushka Prabath Priyadarshana.
Officials: Lasith Shaluka Suwanderathne (coach), Chanaka Komasaru (Assistant Coach),
Nayananada de Silva (MIC),
St. Thomas’ College: Hashan Vimarshana (Captain), Nevindu Udesh (Vice Captain), Lasith Lakshan, Mohamed Sasni, Hasitha Suneth, Rusiru Akshaya, Sanuth Pramuditha, Hasheen Dilmal, Dilum Krishan, Kavindu Gimhana, Vidath Jayanidu, Nimantha Kawishwara, Prince Dalugoda, Dilip Tharaka,Tharusha Kavinda, Nipun Achalanka, Akila Thiwanka, Sasindu Nishanka, Osanda Chamupathi, Heshan Hasanka, Ishan Jayawardena.
Officials: Charith Palliyage (Coach), Dumindu Hewapathirana (Assistant Coach), Janath Mathangadeera (POG), K.H.D. Pradeep (MIC).
St. Servatius College team
St. Thomas’ College team
