Thurstan and Isipathana seeking to break hoodoo
It’s time again for big match fever in Sri Lanka. The first in line is the Thurstan vs. Isipathana clash scheduled to be played on February 27 and 28 at the SSC ground starting from 9.30am on each day.
Isipathana squad
This will be the 52nd encounter in the series and the winning margin between the two teams is just a one match lead with Thurstan in front having recorded five wins as against to the four by Isipathana. The rest of the games ended in draws.
No result has been produced since 1999 when the Isipathanians came out winners under the leadership of Krishantha Jayawardena while Thurstan’s last win came in 1992 under the leadership of Mackenzie Perera and no doubt both teams will go all out to put their best steps forward with the aim of breaking the hoodoo.
The clash this time is going to be keenly and closely contested as the two teams are coming into the game having had a successful season so far as both are unbeaten. Thurstan has secured six outright wins and Isipathana four outright victories at the time of writing, having not completed the matches due to be played this season.
Thurstan spearheaded by fourth year coloursman Thimira Jayasinghe have played 13 matches securing outright wins against Richmond, Carey, Wesley, Dharmapala Maliyadeva and Maristella while gaining first innings wins over St. Joseph’s, St. Benedict’s, S. Thomas’, Prince of Wales’ and St. Sebastian’s.
Isipathana on the other hand anchored by Chameera Dissanayake have played 14 matches recording outright wins against Moratu MV, St. Aloysius Galle, Bandaranayake MV Gampaha and Vidyartha while gaining first inning wins against Lumbini MV, Mahanama Colombo, Dharmapala, St .Peter’s, Zahira and St. Sebastian’s.
Thurstan skipper Thimira will be the cynosure of all eyes and also he will have to carry the burden of his side with a lot of responsibility. Thimira is one of the two centurions of the side having scored two tons. Apart from that he has three half tons to his credit having accumulated over 550 runs with a top score of 111.
Isuru Fernando the other centurion of the side with three half tons has scored nearly 500 runs and he will be the other player that the Isipathana bowlers will have to take note of.
Chameera Dissanayake - Isipathana captain Pix by Susantha Liyanawatte
To support the duo there is Kasun Abeyratne and Charana Nanayakkara who both have scored over 450 and 350 runs respectively inclusive of three half tons from each of them.
The others from whom much will be expected are: Rusira Munasinghe, Sajith Gunatileke, Navod Samarakoon and Imesh Viranga who all have been making useful contributions in the batting department.
The bowling attack will be spearheaded by right-arm pacies Sulochana Silva and Charana Nanayakkara with left-arm pace and spin combination of Nipun Lakshan and Naveen Gunawardena who has been their top wicket-taker this season to support and curtail the Isipathana batting.
Thimira Jayasinghe -Thurstan captain
Isipathana’s batting will no doubt be in the hands of the Sri Lanka youth player Salinda Ushan who had a successful stint against the Bangladesh Under-19s that concluded recently.
Salinda was able to represent his side in only ten matches and is one of the two centurions of the side and apart from that he has scored two half tons for a total score of over 550 runs. Of course he will be the thorn in the flesh for Thurstan and dislodging him early is going to take a long way for them.
Beside Salinda the Isipathanians have Pramod Maduwantha the other centurion of the side with two tons and two half tons. Pramod has accumulated over 6600 runs so far in the 14 matches he has played.
Then they have a host of others in skipper Chameera and David Imesha who both have scored over 400 runs along with Vishad Randika the other Sri Lanka youth player of the side. Sanjula Abeywickrama, Senal Deelaka and Ayana Siriwardena too could bolster the Isipathana scorecard.
The bowling attack will no doubt revolve around their ace spinner and skipper Chameera who is their top wicket taker with over 60 wickets. Chameera will be looking forward for support from Shehan Sandaruwan, Pramod Maduawantha, Sanjula Bandara, Senal Deelaka and Yomesh Ranasinghe to curtail the Thurstan batting.
Thurstan squad
Nevertheless the two teams know that a win is needed and positive cricket is the need of the hour if they are to achieve that. So let us hope that the approach of the two teams will be based on a result oriented game.
The two teams share the records of the big match with Isipathana’s Saman Nishantha holding the best individual score of 150 not out made in 2002 and the best bowling figures is by Thurstan’s Jayajeewa Karunaratne who took 7 for 28 in 1992. The highest score of the series is 331 for 9 made by Thurstan in 2012 and the lowest of 56 by Isipathana way back in 1968.
The two-day encounter will be followed by the limited over encounter scheduled to be played on March 15 at P. Sara Stadium.