St. Sebastian’s come out favourites
The cricket crazy town of Moratuwa will come alive again when the much looked-forward big match between the two leading cricket playing schools in the area St. Sebastian’s and Prince of Wales takes place on March 11 and 12 at De Zoysa Stadium in Moratuwa. This is the 66th in the series and the Cambrians are leading with six wins against the three wins of Sebs. St. Sebastian’s come out as favourites as they will be coming into the game with full of confidence due to the fact they are unbeaten.
St. Sebastian’s: Avishka Fernando (Capt), Sandaruwan Fernando, Nimesh Bandara, Mishen Silva, Sachintha Silva, Praveen Perera, Preshain Fernando, Tashika Perera, Tharusha Fernando, Damian de Buyzer, Nuwanindu Fernando, Praveen Jayawickrama, Nishitha Abilesh, Mevan Muhandiramge, Malintha Peiris, Gihan Senanayake, Imal Boteju (Coach), Frank Cooray (MIC).
The last win in the series was achieved by St. Sebastian’s in 2011 breaking a long standing hoodoo of either teams being unable to record a win for 33 years and also their first win which was achieved way back in 1966 which was after 44 years. On the other hand the last win in the two day series achieved by the Cambrians was in 1977 when the side was led by Pemlal Fernando so they have a 38 year hoodoo haunting them.
Looking at the performances of the Sebs they seem to have the edge over their rivals remaining unbeaten having played 16 matches with one outright win against St Benedict’s while Prince of Wales from the 14 matches that they have played have secured two wins against Dharmapala and Royal Panadura but have undergone one defeat to St Peter’s.
The Sebs this year is led by Sri Lanka youth player and fifth year coloursman Avishka Fernando who though being unable to represent his school the full season due to national duty but has scored two tons and two half tons in the few matches that he played. However the skipper has a host of players to guide his side in the batting department with Praveen Perera the highest run getter of the side who has scored over 900 runs expected to be the mainstay. Deputy skipper Sandaruwan Fernando who has scored two tons in his score of over 750 runs and the other centurion Mishen Silva who has a best knock of 175 against St Benedict’s and having accumulated over 700 runs will be the batsmen the Cambrians to keep an eye.
Apart from them Sebs posses batsmen who could rise to the occasion in the calibre of Tharusha Fernando, Damian de Buyzer, Nuwanidu Fernando and Sachintha Silva to bolster their scoreboard.
Prince of Wales: Thilan Nimesh (Capt), Vihanga Weerakkody, Anjula Sahan, Dilanka Gunasekera, Sandun Soysa, Savindu Peiris, Hasindu Wijewardena, Ravindu Janith, Sanoj Dharshaika, Suwath Mendis, Vishwa Peiris, Avindu Fernando, Dilesh Nanayakkara, Kasun Ekanayake, Dhanushka Kumara, Sanjaya Fernando, Kushan Jayawickrama (Coach), Kasun Wickramatileke (MIC).
The Sebs bowling department will be spearheaded by left arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama their top wicket taker who has taken over 80 scalps who along with Tharusha Fernando, Nimesh Bandara, Sachintha Silva and Mishen Silva will have to combine with effect to curtail the Cambrian batting. The Cambrians this year too will be led by a Sri Lanka youth player and fifth year coloursman Thilan Nimesh who has played only five matches this season due to national duty. The Cambrians batting will have to be shouldered by deputy skipper Vihanga Weerakkody who has scored over 700 runs and this will be the player that the Sebs will have to watch. Then they have Sandun Soysa who has scored over 550 runs and Vishwa Chathuranga with over 450 runs to his credit to bolster their batting with Dilanka Maduranga, Kasun Ekanayake and Avindu Fernando’s support being vital for them keep the scoreboard moving.
The Cambrians bowling will depend on their skipper and left arm spinner Thilan Nimesh who no doubt will be a big boost for the side and right arm spinner Savindu Peiris who has taken over 45 wickets while Dilesh Nanayakkara and Ravindu Jayasinghe expected to support them to curtail the Sebs batting. The two day encounter will be followed with the 31st limited over match due to be played on March 13 at the same venue. In this version the Sebs are leading with 14 wins to the 13 by the Cambrians with two matches being abandoned due to rain and one ending in a tie.