Vidyartha in with a chance to break 50-year hoodoo
St. Sylvester’s (from):Manuja Perera (Capt.) Avidu Herath, Tusith de Soysa, Nimsara Attaragalla, Janakantha Rajapakse, Manoharan Pavitran, Sashika Viraj, Udara Yatawathura, Husindu Nissanka, Kanishka Jayasekera, Kavindu Munaweera, Chandula Jayakodi, Thareesha Wickremaratne, Vinod Yasintha, Nadeera Balasooriya, Mohamed Reeza, Hiroshan Chandrababu. Â Jaliya Weerasinghe (Coach), Â Parinda de Silva (MIC)
Vidyartha (from): Ravishka Upananda (Capt.) Sahan Danwatte, Nimesh Senanayake, Pulina Gunatilleka, Nipuna Kumarasiri, Kasun Ekanayake, Kasun Karunatilleka, Sashika Priyamal, Isuru Prabodha, Kevin Nimeshan, Tilina Bandara, Chaturanga Ratnayake, Gihan Jayasekera, Nethumal Vidanagamage, Medunaka Wijetilleka, Harindu Mahagedeva. Â Sanjay de Silva (Coach), Ajith Weerasuriya MIC)
Without a Big Match win for 50 years, Vidyartha has a whiff of an opportunity to register one, when its 59th Big Match against St. Sylvester’s gets under way at the Pallekele Stadium on March 3 and 4.
However, those aspirations, fuelled by a never-before win over the Katugastota Antonians, have been dissipated somewhat, by subsequent moderate efforts against St. Anne’s and Kingswood.
The Sylvesterian bowlers will be under orders to dismiss the rival skipper cheaply. Scores of 61 n.o. and 81 in the previous year’s match makes him a prized catch. Vidyartha Skipper Ravishka Upananda is one of the best batsmen in Kandy. He plays straight, has a long reach and a good timer of the ball. His chief scores have been 100 (Devananda), 56 (Debarawewa), 75 (Karandeniya) and 59 (Carey). He also opens the attack with his brisk medium paced deliveries.
Left-arm spinner Nipuna Kumarasiri has made quite an impact as an all-rounder. He scored 50s against Royal Panadura and St. John’s Jaffna and a 45 against the Antonians, when runs were hard to get. His best figures are 4-28 against Royal Panadura.
Pulina Gunatilleka has two 50s, while opener Kevin Nishan has got into the 40s four times. Sashika Priyamal bats correctly and well. His unbeaten 46 against Kingswood was impressive. Isuru Prabodha is the other centurion in the team, who made a 100 against St. John’s Panadura. Nimesh Senanayake, best of 65Â against Royal Panadura, is a competent middle order player.
Left-arm pacie Kasun Ekanayake leads the attack. He was among the wickets last season, but has failed to impress this year. He has a best of 5-32 against Debarawewa. Ekanayake would do well to keep the ball up. In striving for pace, he tends to lose control.
Vidyartha has plenty of off-spinners. Kasun Karunatilleka is probably the best. Sashika Priyamal and Nimesh Senanayake also bowl off-breaks. Thilina Bandara, a leggie, can be useful. He probably has been under-bowled. Tall, gangling all-rounder Manuja Perera leads the Sylvesterians. He has been a consistent scorer, with efforts of 72 (Dharmaraja) 79 (Gurukula) 57 (St. Aloysius) 54 (Joseph Vaz) and 42 n.o. (Mahanama). He likes to attack. As an opening bowler, he is fairly quick and has bagged quite a few wickets. His best effort was 4-65 against Gurukula.
Left-arm spinner Tusith Soysa is the stand-out bowler. He bowls a good line and has a nice loop. He was in his element against Anuradhapura Central, bagging 4-26 and 7-12. He has a 5-for against Kingswood and a 4-25 in the Moratu Vidyalaya game.
Opener Avidu Herath started off like a house on fire, with scores of 30, 70 (Kingswood) 94 (Anuradhapura Central) 81 (Dharmaraja) and 61 (Joseph Vaz). He hasn’t been in the news of late, but being a solid player, he should come good in the Big game.
Big-made pacie Nimsara Attaragalle has come up with knocks of 62 (Moratu Vidyalaya) and 55 (Joseph Vaz). He probably has disappointed in his role as opening bowler. Janakantha Rajapakse is the only batsman who has made a 100. He has picked up a few wickets with his medium pace.
Sashika Viraj 57 (Dharmasoka) and Nadeera Balasuriya 76 n.o. (Zahira) have made half-centuries. All told, the Sylvesterian batting has been a tad disappointing.
Vinod Yasintha who took 4-80 against the Rajans and Husindu Nissanka 4-40 (Dharmasoka) are two bowlers who will have a role to play in this match.
At the time of writing, St. Sylvester’s have played 13 games, only won against Anuradhapura Central and suffered losses against St. Aloysius, St. Thomas’ and Gurukula. They led Dharmaraja, Zahira and Moratu Vidyalaya, but were led by Kingswood, DS Senanayake and Dharmasoka. The Mahanama and Joseph Vaz matches ended in no decisions.
Vidyartha were able to defeat Debarawewa, Royal Panadura and St. Anthony’s Katugastota. They suffered a debilitating innings defeat against St. Thomas’ Matara. They took the lead against Devananda, Carey and St. Johns Jaffna, but surrendered it to Karandeniya MV, Issipatana, St. Anne’s and Kingswood.
Vidyartha College squad
St. Sylvester's College squad