St. Sylvester’s approach Big Match against Vidyartha with confidence
The Sylvestrians approach the 59th Big Match on March 11 and 12 with a certain degree of confidence. They have played some of the better Colombo Schools and come off unscathed. The Mt. Lavinia Thomians almost upset their apple cart. When the game finished, they were 54-9 in the second innings, still 118 behind! They have wins over Dharmapala and Holy Cross. Their performance against St. Peter’s and Dharmaraja was especially creditable.
Vidyartha (from): Namal Perera (Capt), Ravishka Upananda, Tharindu Dissanaike, Dushan Jayatilleka, Sahan Danwatte, Nimesh Senanayake, Pulina Gunatilleka, Bimsara Samratunga, Kasun Ekanayake, Hiran Jayawardana, Nipuna Kumarasiri, Kasun Karunatilleka, Isuru Prabodha, Kevin Siriwardena, Chaturanga Ratnayake Sanjaya Silva (Coach)
Malith Prematilleka, a stylish bat and wicket-keeper leads the team. He has been useful, rather than spectacular, in front of the stumps. His unbeaten 52 against DS Senanayake was particularly good. Leg spinning all rounder Sivakumar Tyron is one of the leading performers. Bowling is his forte. A math bag of 10-36 against Dharmapala is his best effort. He also picked up 5-66 against DS and 6-100 against Mahanama. He has made several important thirties.
Pacie Manuja Perera has a few three wicket hands. He has made several note-worthy contributions with the bat. His 44 against the Peterites was good. Opener Avindu Herath (93) missed a hundred against Holy Cross. He has generally got the team off to decent starts. His 68 (St. Sebastians) and 47 (Nalanda) were timely knocks. New-comer Muditha Hashan is the pick of the batsmen. Rain, when he was on 94, prevented a hundred against Kingswood. He made 70 (Holy Cross) 76 (Mahanama) and 56 (Dharmaraja). Vidyartha will have to see him off soon as he can infect a lot of damage.
Thenuka Liyanage, the only hundred-maker in the side, is a tower of strength. A hard-hitting batsman, he also uses the new ball well. His best as a bowler is 4-21 versus Holy Cross. Left arm spinner Thusitha Soysa is a key member of the side. He bowls a tight line and can be difficult to hit. He bagged a five for against Joseph Vaz. All in all, the Sylvestrians look fairly formidable. One’s gut feeling is that Vidyartha, whose last big match win was in 1967, may not do it this time, too. Over the last few years, the Sylvestrians have been unable to pull off a win despite having a better team.
St. Sylvester’s (from): Malith Prematilleka (Capt), Sivakumar Tyron, Manuja Perera, Thenuka Liyanage, Avindu Herath, Pabasara Perera, Muditha Hashan, Thusitha Soysa, Nimsara Attaragalla, Kavindu Munaweera, Udara Yatawatura, Manmohan Pavithran, Kusindu Nishantha, Vinod Yasintha, Janakantha Rajapakse, Aman Ahmed Jaliya Weerasinghe (Coach)
Vidyartha’s cricket this season has been beset by a lack of matches. They have tried to off set this by playing a few practice games on turf and by also having a lot of practice on turf. But matches are the real thing. Vidyartha’s coach Sanjaya Silva, a former cricketer, is optimistic that things will improve as three has been a change at the top. Namal Perera, a capable all rounder, captains the team. He, generally, opens the attack and has made some break-through. Ravishka Upananda, another paceman, is one of the better cricketers. He made a battling half-century in a previous big match. He can be a thorn in Sylvestrian flesh.
Nipuna Kumarasiri, with knocks of 49 and 45 not out against St. John’s Jaffna gave glimpses of his capabilities. All rounders Tharindu Dissanaike and Pulina Gunatilleka, provide some balance to the side. Sahan Danwatte has been quite a heavy scorer. He is an attacking player.
The bowling is spear- headed by left arm pacie Kasun Ekanayake who has a best of 6-77 against the Jaffna lads. Vidyartha has a surfeit of left arm spinners. Hiran Jayawardena, Isuru Prabodha and Nipuna Kumarasiri all bowl left arm spin, but with a difference.
Nimesh Senanayake and Kasun Kumaratilleka bowl off spin. Taken altogether, Vidyartha does have plenty of bowlers. Vidyartha has two first innings wins against Carey and Sri Sumangala, first innings losses against Debarawewa and St. Anne’s, a no-decision against Kingswood and an outright defeat against Dharmaloka in a match played at Suriyawewa. Vidyartha who have always played against St. Anthony’s and Dharmaraja, did not play them this year, St. Sylvester’s look the better side, but whether new coach Jaliya Weerasinghe can get the lads to do the trick remains to be seen