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A keen tussle could be expected today as DSS clash with Prince of Wales
The curtains of the all island schools cricket season will come down today with the finals of the limited over encounter between D.S.Senanayake College and Prince of Wales scheduled to be played at the SSC grounds. This is the second time in a decade that DSS has entered the knockout final, the previous being in 1993 when the team was led by Naveed Nawaz. They lost the final to Ananda by just three runs, for Prince of Wales its the first time they have come into the knockout final.

From the outcome of the league, pre quarter, quarter and semi final games in this tournament, the performance of both the teams could be termed as equal and the way the two teams qualified to the finals there seems little difference in their approach to the game. With both teams evely balanced a keen tussle is expected with no quarters asked or given. In the run up to the finals DSS led by Sri Lanka Under-19 player Sudeera de Zoysa overcame tougher opponents than the opponents they are meeting today.

They beat Isipathana, Nalanda in the pre-quarter finals, Ananda in the quarter finals and then the Peterites in the semi finals. It was sheer team work that helped the team reach the final. As they were chasing a huge target of 252 in 48 overs the win would have given the much needed confidence for DSS and they reached the target after having lost their star batsman Kanchana Gunawardena for a duck. Skipper Zoysa, Roshan Kulatunge, Dinesh de Silva, Pubudu Perera, Sameepa Sanasuma and Dasun Perera are the players who should come out good with the bat while the bowling will revolve around Sameepa Sansuma, Madawa Perera and Sudeera de Zoysa.

On the other hand Prince of Wales led by Kavinda Silva reached the final having beaten Dharmasoka in the pre-quarter final, St Joseph's in the quarter final and the All Island league champions President College Rajagirya in the semi finals. Their success this season has been their batting department spearheaded by Amila Sandaruwan supported by skipper Kavinda, Asanka Chetana, Achala Kurukulasuriya and Srimal Peiris while Dishan Sampath and Nisal Vithanage should pose a problem for the batsmen.

Whoever wins the game it will be the first knockout title for them so keep your fingers crossed, at the end of the day there will be a lot for the supporters of the winning team to celebrate.

The teams:
D.S. Senanayake - Sudeera de Zoysa (Capt), Dinesh de Silva, Kanchana Gunawardena, Pubudu Perera, Roshan Kulatunge, Sameepa Sanasuma, Dasun Perera, Damith Gunaratne, Madawa Perera, Dileepa Liyanage, Sandeep Rodrigo, Dilum Harischandra, Asanga Abeyratne.

Prince of Wales - Kavinda Silva (Capt), Amila Sandaruwan, Nisal Withanage, Dishan Sampath, Dinesh Madusanka, Srimal Peiris, Buddhika Hasaranga, Thulanidu Thirimanna, Rumesh Thirimanna, Pishan Hewage, Asanka Chetana, Achala Kurukulasuriya, Sarath Kumara, Nalin Lankeshwara, Isuru Gunasena, Ashira Meegoda, Pramil Hasantha.

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