Both teams brimming with confidence
It is celebration time again for the young and old boys of two prestigious schools in the island, Royal and S. Thomas’ when their cricketers battle it out in the 136th Battle of Blues for over three days beginning from March 12 at the SSC grounds.
The encounter deemed to be the second oldest inter-schools match to be played in the world, also has the honour of staving off two World Wars which did not prevent from this game being played.
Royal College squad
Joining the celebrations will be the young and old boys domiciled in various countries around the world converging along with the present boys in a carnival atmosphere.
This time out the two teams are evenly balanced and there are no favourites. Both sides will be coming into the game brimming with confidence. The two teams have played 17 matches each with S. Thomas’ in the process being unbeaten while Royal lost one outright.
The tally in the series is 34 wins each with Royal coming out winners in 2013 under the leadership of Devin Pathmanathan while S. Thomas’ recorded their last win in the year 2007 when the side was led by Ashan Peiris.
S. Thomas’ led by Helakamal Nanayakkara from their 17 matches have recorded six outright wins against St. Anthony’s Katugastota, St. John’s Jaffna, Dharmasoka MV Ambalangoda, President’s Kotte, Wesley and Mahinda.
Royal led by Harith Samarasinghe on the other hand have recorded seven outright wins against St. Anne’s Kurunegala, Mahinda, St. Anthony’s Katugastota, Kingswood, St. John’s Jaffna, Wesley and the morale boosting win against Trinity before the big game while losing to St. Peter’s.
The two teams are oozing with talented players with the Thomian skipper Helakamal having in his ranks players in the caliber of Chenutha Wickramasinghe, Ravindu Sasanka, Nipuna Gamage, Yohan Mendis and Sachitha Jayatileke in the batting department.
In the bowling department Helakamal has one of the top spinners in the school cricket arena in Tharindu Ratnayake to spearhead them along with Senal de Silva, Sachitha Jayatileke, Sajana de Silva and make shift bowler Chenutha.
Royal skipper Harith have in his ranks Naveen Vidanapathirana, his brother Hasitha, Geeshanth Panditharatne, Randev Pathirana and last year’s captain Chamika Karunaratne to keep the scoreboard moving.
The bowling will be spearheaded by Harith himself and will have the support of Lasith Embuldeniya, Randev Pathirana Chamika Karunaratne to curtail the Thomian bating.
S.Thomas' College squad
The Thomians will bank their batting in Chenutha who has been the top scorer of the side with over 800 runs to his credit inclusive of two tons and six half tons. Helakamal and Ravindu has scored over 600 runs each with the former having made six half tons and the latter four.
If that is insufficient they have Nipuna Gamage, the other centurion of the side who has scored over 500 runs, Yohan Mendis (440), Sachitha Jayatileke (430) and Rashmika Opatha, if he makes it to the playing eleven to bolster the Thomians score.
Dual purpose spinner Tharindu Ratnayake has been one of the successful bowlers in the school season this year with over 80 wickets to his credit that includes eight five wicket hauls.
So the Royal batting will be tested to the hilt as Tharindu will be the thorn in the flesh for them along with Senal de Silva, Sachitha, skipper Helakamal and Sajana who has done yeoman service in the bowling department for the Thomians.
Royal too are not second as they too posses efficient run makers with Naveen Vidanapathirana being the best having scored over 950 runs while Hasitha Samarasinghe has over 850 runs to his credit.
There are two batsmen, Geeshanth Panditharatne and Randev Pathirana who both have scored over 700 runs while skipper Harith and Chamika Karunaratne, who missed some matches due to his inclusion in the Sri Lanka U19s team, have also made contributions with their batting. So the Royalists are not going to be easy nuts to crack for the Thomians.
Skipper Harith will be the backbone in the Royal bowling and he has taken over 75 wickets this season and also Lasith Embuldeniya, who also has 75 wickets to his credit and the Royalists will no doubt depend on these two along with Randev and Chamika who have taken over 35 wickets to depend on.
The two teams have some records to be surpassed with Royal’s Sumithra Warnakulasuriya being the highest individual scorer with 197, which he made in 1980 and Duleep Mendis holds the Thomian record of 184 made in 1972. The partnership of 254 runs for the third wicket between Anushka Polonowita and Yasas Dharmaratne made in 1996 stands as the best for any wicket in the series.
Royal holds the record of the best score of the series which is 432 for 9 declared achieved in 2006 eclipsing the best of 388 for 9 held by the Thomians.
So with both the teams evenly balanced either of the team cannot stand on their laurels and take for granted the performance of this season. However the supporters of the two teams are assured three days of entertaining cricket as no quarter will be asked or given and a keen tussle is no doubt on the cards.