110th Battle of the North: Johnians have the edge over rivals Centralites
Jaffna Central Team - S. Alanraj (Capt), S. Komethakan, T. Selvaraj, S. Karttheepan, S. Kowthaman, K. Theepanraj, S. Mathushan, Y. Kirubakaran, V. Dinojan, S. Thasoban, U. Priyalaxshan, V. Thisoth, A. Anasraj, S. Mathiyalakan, V. Kugasthus, K. Nicksan, S. Jaroshan, S. Sureshmohan (Coach), V. Nitharsan (MIC).
Like in the major parts of the island where schools clash in their respective or traditional big match encounters, it’s big match fever in the Jaffna peninsula as all arrangements have been finalised for the 110th Battle of the North big match between St. John’s Jaffna and Jaffna Central scheduled to be played over three days from March 10 to 12 at the Jaffna Central grounds.
The Battle of the North is the oldest playing big match in the Jaffna peninsula and according to records available from the 109 matches that have been played so far St John’s is leading the series with 35 wins as against 27 by Jaffna Central with 39 drawn and one abandoned while results of seven matches are not available.
Last year St. John’s came out as winners by 84 runs and in fact they have been winning it for the last two years as in the year 2014 they were awarded the win after the crowd invaded the field when they were on the verge of winning the encounter.
But this time out the match is evenly balanced with both schools having enjoyed a successful season and of course this will be the icing on the cake for whoever wins the traditional match.
Johnians have enjoyed a fairly successful season this year having played 17 matches securing four outright wins against Trinity, Carey, Jaffna Hindu College and Jaffna College Vaddukodai while losing two to P.de. S. Kularatne MV Ambalangoda and St. Mary’s Kegalle.
Jaffna Central’s last win in the series was achieved in 2011 winning it for the fifth successive year. Jaffna Central too has had a fairly successful season having played 11 matches recording five outright wins against Kokuvil Hindu, College, St. Patrick’s Jaffna, Jaffna Hindu College, Skandavarothaya Chunnakam and Malabe Boy’s School while losing two to Anuradhapura Central and St. Peter’s Negombo.
St. John’s this year will be led by fourth year coloursman Arulanantham Gnanamirtha. He has in his ranks two experienced players, both fourth year coloursmen Sebamalaipillai Jen Flemin and Vasanthan Jathusan.
St John's Jaffna Team - A. Gnanamirthan (Capt), S. Jeni Flemin, A. Herold Lasky, S. Dinojan, V. Jathusan, J. Krishanthujan, K. Kapilraj, M. Nilojan, C. Thevaprashanth, Subeedson Tipius, M. Abinash, S. Ajay, Benjamin Niroshan, P. Somaskaran, Joseph Stalon, M. Sowmiyan, S. Karunyan, P. Lavendra (Coach).
Apart from the trio the Johnians posses a host of players in the caliber of Amarasena Herold Lasky, Kanagaratnam Kapilraj, Jeyakumar Kishanthujan, Chandramohan Thevaprashanth and Mahalingam Nilojan who are capable of making useful contributions in the batting and bowling departments.
They posses a strong batting outfit which will be spearheaded by Jeni Flemin who was adjudged the man of the match in last year’s clash. Jeni Flemin has been in top form and consistent this season having scored a ton against Jaffna Hindu College and a few half tons.
Skipper Gnanamirthan, Thevaprashanth who has scored a ton also against Jaffna Hindu along with Krishanthujan, Sivagnanam Dinojan and Herold Lasky will be others that the Johnians will be expecting to perform.
The bowling will be in the hands of skipper and left arm spinner Gnanamirthan who has been the main wicket taker this season.
He has a best bowling return of 7 for 39 against P. de. S. Kularatne MV. Vasanthan, another left arm spinner too has been a reliable bowler for the side this season and along with Nilojan and Kapilaraj will be expected to provide the support to his skipper.
Right arm pacies Thuvarakaseelan and Kanagaratnam Kapilraj, the baby of the side, will open the attack but the cynosure of all eyes will be left arm spinner Raviendran Lohathieswar who was the star of the big match last year finishing with a match bag of 12 wickets.
Jaffna Central led by the experienced fourth year player Sivapalasuntharam Alanraj virtually has a new look side but they have five centurions in the side in deputy skipper S. Komehagan, Y. Kirubakaran, A. Jeroshan, S. Katheepan and U. Priyalaxshan who is a good all-rounder.So they too posses a strong batting line-up and would no doubt give the Johnian bowlers a torrid time.
Their bowling will be spearheaded by right arm pacies Priyalaxhana and Kirubakaran with skipper and right arm spinner Alanraj, pacies Kartheebanand and Jeroshan’s support being crucial for them to restrict the Johnian batting.
The Centralite batsmen will have to do something extra-ordinary in both batting and bowling departments if they are hoping to give their opponents some challenge. However looking back at the performances of the two teams this season it points out to being a closely fought out game.
But the supporters of the two sides will do justice to the players in the field and to their school if they don’t make a repeat of last year’s incident.
The three day match will be followed by the limited over encounter which is the 14th in the series scheduled to be played on March 19 at St. John’s ground. Jaffna Central having won the match last year leads the series with seven wins to the six by St. John’s.