76th “Battle of the Saints”

St. Peter’s (Seated from Left to Right) Mr. Kito Fernandopulle (Assistant Coach), Mr. Piyal Salgado (Assistant Coach), Andri Berenger, Rev Fr. Shamira Nirosh Cooray (Sports co-ordinator), Chatura Peiris (Captain), Rev. Fr. Travis Gabriel (Rector), Akush Fernando (Vice Captain), Angelo Emmanuel, Kirthi Gunarathna (Head Coach), Wasantha Haputhanthri (Master-in-Charge), Mr. Sanath Chinthaka (Assistant Master-in-Charge). First Row (Standing from Left): Shanendra Fernando, Janika Kannangara, Jason Buultjens, Nilochana Perera, Ranitha Liyanarachchi, Aasif Maxkie, Denham Perera, Sudath Jayaweera, Lahiru Jayarathna, Lahiru Milantha, Shehan Fernando. Second Row (Standing from Left): Chamila Godallawatte, Dhushan Hemantha, Thrishan Fernando, Shanaka Panditharathna, Tharindu Samaranayaka, Dhanushka Kodikara, Julian De Zilva.

As it happens every year during the month of March the saints St Joseph’s and St Peter’s are ready to march on the cricket field for their annual Battle of the Saints which is the 76th in the series to be played on March 5and 6 at the P. Sara Stadium.

The Josephians last won in the year 2008 under the leadership of Ruwantha Fernandopulle and lead with 12 wins in the series while the Peterites are yet to record a win since 1972 when the side was led by Suraj Abeysekera have recorded seven wins and its left to be seen who will lay the hands on the Rev. Fr. Maurice Le Gog trophy which has been offered since 1946,

According to the form of the two teams this season they are equally balanced with the Josephians having played 17 matches winning five outright against Isipathana, Moratu MV, President’s Rajagiriya, Wesley and Trinity and a loss to Royal with the rest ending in draws.

The Peterites on the other hand have played 16 matches with three outright against St Aloysius Galle, De Mazenod and St Anthony’s K’tota with a defeat at the hands of Dharmapala. Nevertheless for any school their traditional encounter is something special and the “Battle of the Saints” is going to be a tussle for supremacy between the two schools. Let’s also not forget that in most of the matches played in the series have been dominated by the underdogs.

The Josephians will be led by fourth year Dinal Dambarage and will have the services of experienced players in the calibre of Chathuranga Kumara, Rosco Thatil, Supeshala Jayatilleka, Enrico Silva, Jaan Jaaysinghe and Vidusha Jayasinghe to name a few.The Peterites on the hand will be led by fourth year coloursman and the Sri Lanka youth captain Chathura Peiris who has three other players who represented the national youth team that played in the recently concluded U19 World in New Zealand in Andri Berenger, Akshu Fernando and Lahiru Jayaratne along with Angelo Emmanuel, Denham Perera and Nilochana Perera to do service for them.

The Josephians will be hoping that their all rounder Chathuranga Kumara get into his strides as he is the only batsman who has been consistent. Chathuranga has four tons and four 50s under his belt accumulating over 900 runs this season. He has also been in forefront in the bowling department too and is the second highest wicket taker of the side.

So much will depend on him in steering the side and he could be the headache for the Peterites in both batting and bowling department. To support him there is Jaan Jayasinghe, who has scored over 600 runs which includes five half tons. Enrico Silva and Rosco Thatil with over 500 runs will be other prominent players that the Peterites will have to keep an eye.

With the first innings restricted to 60 overs of course if the Josephians are to make an impression their openers should give them the right start for the others to gain confidence to put a challenging score.
The Josephians have two top bowlers the left and right arm pace combination of skipper Dambarage and Kumara who are two of their leading wicket takers with spinners. The support of the left and right spin combination of Jayatilleka and Thatil is going to be crucial.

Of course this will be the time for the four Sri Lanka youth players in the side to display their prowess. The foursome missed most part of the inter-school cricket season being due to national duty.
Skipper Peiris was not even available after the team landed in the island after their junior world cup assignment as he was selected to play for the inter-provincial tournament. But the other three put in some fine performance.

Nevertheless the Peterites have the ammunition as they have six centurions in the side with Andri Berenger, Denham Perera, Nilochana Perera and Shehan Fernando scoring two each with skipper Peiris and Angelo Emmanuel who deputised for Peiris hitting one each.

Andri will be their mainstay and he along with young Shehan who made a ton his debut to big cricket should give the Petes a good start and from there players in calibre of deputy skipper Akshu, Nilochana, Denham, and Angelo will be there to carry to keep the scoreboard moving.

The bowling department will no doubt be spearheaded by the left and right arm pace combination of the two Sri Lanka youth players Chathura and Lahiru another right arm pacie Nilochana and the two spinners Angelo and Sidath Jayaweera. It’s left to be seen who will lay their hands on the trophy or will it end in another stalemate draw.

St. Joseph’s: (Back Row) Hemantha Jayasundera, Sandeera Samarawickrema, Supechala Jayatilleke, Vidusha Jayasinghe, Kevin Bernadus, Sachin Hewawasam,(Middle Row): Rosco Thattil, Enrico Silva, Dinal Fonseka, Dimitri Cooray, Vyshal Wickremaratne, Nishitha Perera, Keshan Perera, Ravin Perumal, Angelo Rodriguesz, Ramesh Vidanarachi. (Seated From Left): Mr. Prashantha Ranaweera (Master-In-Charge), Mr. Susilough de S. Wijeyeratne (Cricket co-ordinator), Mr. Harsha de Silva (Head Coach), Rev. Fr. Chaminda Wanigasena (Prefect of Games), Dinal Dhambarage (Captain), Rev. Fr Sylvester Ranasinghe (Rector), Chaturanga Kumara, Rev Fr Sudath Gunatilleke (Vice Rector), Jaan Jayasinghe, Mr. Kapila Manohara (Asst. Coach), Mr. Dilshan Fonseka.