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124th Battle of the Blues
Royal out to make a right royal finish
By Bernie Wijesekera
The uninterrupted glamour event of the schools cricket calendar - ‘the Battle of the Blues'- between Royal and S. Thomas' - the 124th encounter will commence next week at the SSC grounds. This is the second longest unbroken event in the World of Cricket and played in the right spirit and brings back nostalgic memories for Royalists and Thomians from whatever corner. They will forget political rivalry and will mingle around freely with eachother, come March 13, 14 and 15.

Royal, despite a few hiccups are enjoying a right royal season under all rounder Rochana Wijeratne. Since 1983 - Royal has been heading the school cricket points table. Consistency has been their code word. This has been instilled by gritty former Sri Lanka Cricketer Roger Wijesuriya, who is coaching the team and who has done an excellent job, supported by the cricket committee and the Senior Games Master Ranjith Senanayake.

Wijesuriya was interviewed by The Sunday Times. The players in the team are a blend of youth and experience. The lads are totally committed and enjoy playing the game. They are prepared to learn from their mistakes and are a disciplined lot, he said.

The Reid Avenue School has played 16 matches, won four games outright against St. Benedict's, Dharmaraja, Dharmasoka and St. Anthony's Katugastota. Bad weather baulked two games - Ananda and Nalanda - and they ended in no-decisions.

They won seven matches on the first innings - Isipathana, Dharmapala, Richmond, St. Peter's, Prince of Wales, Wesley and Trinity. The batting looks sound and has much depth. Last year's captain Ganganath Ratnayake is the leading all-rounder in the side. He has notched over 500 runs with a highest 120 against Dharmaraja (his father's old school) G.S. Ratnayake (Snr.) played with a lot of success for the Rajans and Police S. C. He has been among the wickets too capturing 55 wkts., with his 'offies'.

Skipper Rochana Wijeratne, too is a chip-of-the-old block. His father Sunil, played for the Mt. Lavinia school and for the Navy with a lot of success. He has scored over 650 runs. Velu Arum Prakash, the vice-captain - is a competent wicket-keeper batsman. He has scored over 450 runs and has 45 victims behind the sticks. As a 'keeper the lad has the makings of a Mahes Rodrigo (double International who played for Sri Lanka at cricket and rugby). Velu could make the grade, provided he improves his skills.

Among the middle-order batsmen - Tharanga Edirimuni has shown a lot of application and concentration. Batting under pressure, he has proved his mettle. The 15-year-old fresher, Dimithri Siriwardena, who captained the junior team has scored over 500 runs. He top-scored with 155 runs against Richmond. Janith Jayawardena, another fresher, has been a consistent run-getter. His best score is 112 against Isipatana. The duo shows much promise for the future.

The bowling has a lot of variety. The 'cherry' will be shared by Charaka Kottehewa (42 wkts) and Pradeep Jayaprakash (20). The three-prong spin attack, headed by Ganganath Ratnayake (off-spin 55 wkts) with off spinner D. Edussuriya (who has taken 43wkts.) and left-arm spinner Heshan Morawake (40 wkts) has been most troublesome to the opposing batsmen. The fielding has shown a marked improvement.

Cricket is a glorious game of uncertainties said coach Wijesuriya. Though Royal has the edge on paper, the Thomians are no pushovers. They have done reasonably well this season. Royal won last in the 1991 under Rohan Iriyagolle. The Thomians hit back in 1997 under Nilantha Peiris and in 1999 beat Royal again under Harein Ratwatte, while Royal was led by Thushan Amarasuriya.

The spirit is high - the fully fit Thomian outfit led by Arjuna Rajawasam will take up the gauntlet, said coach Ranil Abeynaike, when he was interviewed whilst the team was preparing for the 124th 'Battle of Blues' in their own backyard.

Ranil took over the coaching from Dinesh Kumarasinghe. Incidentally Abeynaike will be creating a new milestone in the annals of Thomian cricket. He captained the team in 1973. After 30 years he has taken over the coaching. His amiable father late Orville coached the team from 1963 to '69 and produced some outstanding Cricketers during his tenure such as Dr. Sarath Seneviratne, Mevan Pieris, Sriyantha Rajapakse, Promodaya Kariyawasam, late Premalal Gunasekera who led them to win the Blues Battle in 1964. The present Warden David Ponniah was one of his products. David, as a fresher, in 1967 created history. He led a great Thomian fight back to score a 100 on debut.

If one studies past Thomian cricket history, it was their courage and determination that has helped them to overcome impending setbacks. I had the opportunity of watching some of them. The best was in the Centenary Year -1979. The Thomians were facing defeat at the SSC grounds. Royal going hell bent for a victory.

The Thomians made 154. Royal replied with 312 for 8 Dec. Made to follow on, the Mt. Lavinia school facing imminent defeat were 161 for 8. Royal had plenty of time with over one session to grab two wickets for an epoch-making Royal victory.

However a gritty unbeaten 91-run ninth-wkt. stand between Mahinda Halangoda 70 n.o., and C. P. Richards 20 n.o., thwarted Royal's aspirations. This season S. Thomas' has played 16 Lemonade trophy games. The records don't look all that healthy comparing to Royal who have won two games outright - over Thurstan and Dharmapala. They have won six games on the first innings - Mahinda, D.S. Senanayake, St. Sebastian's, Nalanda, Prince of Wales, St. Benedict's and Richmond. They had a close call against Ananda, losing on the first innings, with the visitors firing all cylinders for an outright win.

They lost to Wesley, St. Joseph's and Trinity on the first innings. According to Ranil the team was plagued with injury problems. Is there any injury problems now? No. we will be at full strength for the big 'un. Skipper Arjuna Rajawasam has been a consistent run-getter batting at No. 4. He has notched over 500 runs. Kaushal Silva, an attractive and aggressive batsman. He has made over 650 runs - with a best 160 n.o., against D.S.S, M.V. Rajawasam made a perky 110 against Nalanda (away) and 109 against P.O.W. The batting looks sound. Openers Isuru Warnakulasuriya and Navin Perera has been regularly given solid starts. The other batsman, who made an impact was Pamith Warusawitharne with over 500 runs.

Sanjeev Mendis (son of legendary Duleep) is an useful allrounder. There is a lot of batting depth in the side. The bowling has a lot of variety. Tarindu Fernando, the vice-captain, is a left-arm medium pacer. He bowls to a line and has captured 45 wickets to date. He will share the new ball with P. Rodrigo (fast medium) and will be supported by Shanthi Kumar. V. Balasubramaniam - a right-arm 'leggie'.was side lined for most part of the season with injury problems.

The Thomians possess a balanced attack to match the keen fielding of the Royalists.
Abeynaike, a keen student of the game says, he believes in positive and entertaining cricket. No point playing a three-day game which could turn out to be a yawn. The game has to be enjoyed by all on and off the field. In 1997 S.Thomas' defeated Royal under Nilanka Peiris and in 1999 under Narein Ratwatte.

98th Battle of the Lovers
Richmond-Mahinda contest evenly poised
By M. Shamil Amit and Gamini Mahadura
The 98th Battle of the Lovers between the two leading schools in the southern district Richmond and Mahinda is scheduled to be played on March 14 and 15 at the Galle International Cricket Stadium.

The encounter which began way back in 1894 is a much looked forward one in the Galle district. Of the 97 matches played so far Mahinda lead with 21 wins while the Richmondites are just one behind with 20 wins.

Both the schools have produced top class players who have represented the national team, players of the calibre of D.L.S. de Silva, Jayananda Warnaweera, Athula Samarasekera and Upul Chandana from Mahinda and Champaka Ramanayake of Richmond who dazzled for the country are things of the past. Gone are the days when cricketers entertained their fans from these schools.

The standard of cricket in the two schools have detoriated, nevertheless it is a grand occasion for the old boys it will always remain as the major event which keeps the old school ties refreshed. The teams are well balanced and a closely contested match is in the offing. Richmond will be led by third year player Saranga Ratnayake with another third year W.G. Ravindra as his deputy while Mahinda will be led by third year player T.M. Tharindu Randima.

Richmond skipper Saranga and his deputy Ravindra have been their main players this season and a lot will be expected from them. The two have scored over 700 runs between them, with Saranga having a century against Kingswood while Ravindra is a fine all-rounder who has also taken over 35 wickets with his left arm spinners. Another player whom the Mahindians should watch is Udaya Kumara captained the Under 17 team last year.

The Mahindians will have the services of last year captain Chatura Athukorala, a stylish left handed batsman who has scored over 450 runs. A right arm medium pacie who has taken over 40 wickets, he will be opening the bowling attack too. Skipper Tharindu who was adjudged the best batsman and the man of the match in the encounter last year will be hoping to repeat his feat this year too. Has been in the runs with over 300 runs and taken over 25 wickets. The middle order batting will consist of Sanjeewa Chinthana a fine allrounder, Dharshana Kumara, Charith Keerthisinghe, Lasith Malinga and G.V. Roshan.

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