High riding S. Thomas’ brimming with confidence
Royal College squad: Kavindu Madarasinghe (Capt), Thevindu Senaratne, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Kamil Mishara, Isiwara Dissanayake, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Bhagya Dissanayake, Geshan Balasooriya, Manula Perera, Sonal Amarasekera, Kawshan Kulasiriya, Lahiru Madusanka, Sonal Amarasekera, Kanika Dayaratne, Manjitha Wijesekera, Kavindu Pathirana, Shehan Herath, Thejana Gunatileke, Thithira Weerasinghe, Ushan Boruppa, Dasis Manchanayake, Nethin Panapitiya, Resandu Tilekeratne, Ashen Gamage, Sadisha Rajapakse
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 140th Battle of Blues over three days beginning March 7 at the SSC grounds.
The encounter deemed to be the second oldest inter-schools match in the world after St. Peter’s College and Prince Alfred College in Adelaide, Australia which began in 1878, also has the honour of staving off two World Wars which did not prevent this game being played.
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 scales are much in favour of the boys by the sea who have remained unbeaten. Royal too are unbeaten but they are playing in the Division II category and have shown promise whilst playing their traditional matches.
The tally in the series is 35 wins for Royal whose last win was in 2013 under the leadership of Devin Pathmanathan and 34 for S. Thomas’ having recorded their last win in the year 2007 when the side was led by Ashan Peiris.
S. Thomas’ led by Sithara Hapuhinna and coached by Dinesh Kumarasinghe has had a successful season, having recorded six outright wins against St. Aloysius Galle, St Mary’s Kegalle. Prince of Wales, Ananda, Mahanama Colombo and St. Benedict’s. Royal led by Kavindu Madarasinghe on the other hand have been able to record five outright wins, two first innings wins and the rest ending in draws.
The two teams are oozing with talented players with the Thomian skipper Sithara having in his ranks five centurions. Sithara in fact is the leading scorer of the side having accumulated 824 runs inclusive of two tons and four half tons.
He has the services of players in the caliber of Shalin de Mel who has scored over 650 runs inclusive of two tons and two half tons, Ravindu de Silva over 500 runs with two tons and a half ton, Kalana Perera over 450 runs with a ton and a half ton, Umayanga Suwaris the other centurion who also has three half tons under his belt and Deon Fernando (393).
So their batting has the depth and the above mentioned players have been in the forefront when the Thomians expected the best from them and it’s left to be seen how they will confront the Royal bowlers in this crucial game.
The bowling will be spearheaded by left arm pacie Kalana Perera who has been in top form having taken nearly 75 wickets with a best of 8 for 1 against St Mary’s. In that match he ended with a match bag of 16 wickets.
Dellon Peiris who has also taken over 70 wickets will be expected to support his partner and he has a best of 7 for 26 against Wesley while Dilmin Ratnayake with 39 scalps and Shannon Fernando (38) are the other two bowlers from whom the Thomians will be expecting to curtail the Royal batting.
Royal too has a strong batting line which comprises seven centurions. Leading the way is last year’s skipper Pasindu Sooriyabandara who has made over 850 runs. He is one of two players to crack a double ton (202 n.o. vs Sri Sumangala Panadura) and apart from that knock he has a ton and six half tons. He achieved all this in only 12 matches as he was on national duty.
S. Thomas’ College squad: Sithara Hapuhinna (Capt), Shalin de Mel, RAvindu de Silva, Kalana Perera, Umayanga Suwaris, Deon Fernando, Kishan Munasinghe, Dellon Peiris, Thevin Eriyagama, Maneesha Rupasinghe, Dilmin Ratnayake, Mohamed Ishaq, Yohan Perera, Semal Samarawickrama, Tehan Schaffter, Gavin Boteju, Shannon Fernando, Shamilka Wickramaratne, Randiv Goonasekera, Shehan Silva
Sri Lanka youth player Kamil Mishara, the other double centurion was able to represent his side in only nine matches as he was unavailable due to national duty. Kamil scored over 500 runs with a top knock of 250 against Ananda.
So these two players will be the back bone of the Royal batting and will be expected to lead from the front. If the Thomians let them off the hook, they for sure will be in trouble.
There are two other batsmen whom Royal can rely on to bolster the scoreboard, both being centurions Isiwara Dissanayake who has scored over 700 runs inclusive of a ton and four half tons and skipper Kavindu Madarasinghe who has scored over 450 runs with a ton and three half tons.
Another batsman from whom much will be expected is Ahan Wickramasinghe who has scored over 700 runs inclusive of two tons and four half tons with a best of 135 against P de S. Kularatne MV.
The other centurions of the side Thevindu Senaratne (401) and Bhagya Dissanayake (366) too are there in the Royal batting line up to help them put up a formidable score.
The bowling attack will be spearheaded by Gishan Balasooriya who has taken over 50 wickets and Kawshan Kulasuriya (36). The duo has been in the forefront in most of the matches that Royal played and support will be expected from Manula Perera (26) who played in only five matches, Lahiru Madusanka (25), Kamil Mishara (19) and Kavindu Pathirana for them to prevent the Thomian batsmen from putting up a big score.
The two teams fight out the match for the D.S. Senanayake memorial shield and the match is sponsored by one of the island’s top mobile phone service Dialog Axiata.
These are some records to be surpassed with Royal’s Sumithra Warnakulasuriya being the highest individual scorer with 197, which he made in 1980, 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 highest 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 either 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.