Like in the major parts of the island where schools clash in their respective big match encounter, its big match fever in the Jaffna peninsula. Last week one big match was concluded which was between St Patrick’s Jaffna and Jaffna College Vadukkodai.
The coming week will see two schools Jaffna Central and St John’s Jaffna clash in their traditional 105th Battle of the North encounter which is the oldest playing big match in the district on March 10, 11 and 12 at the Central ground in Jaffna. According to the records available from the 104 matches that have been played in the series so far, seven of the results are not available while St John’s are in the lead with 33 wins as against 26 to Jaffna Central with one being abandoned and the rest drawn.
Though the Johnians are the leaders in the series they have been unable to record a win for the last six years while the Centralians have won the encounter for the last four years.
The performances of the two during the season points out to a Jaffna Central win who will no doubt look forward to chalk up their fifth straight victory. The Centralians are unbeaten having played seven matches with five outright wins and the other two ending in draws. In contrast the Johnians who too have played seven matches have been able to secure two outright wins while losing three and the rest drawn.
Jaffna Central this year will be led by fourth year player Gnanaseelan Jerikthusan who is deemed to be a hard hitter. The right handed batsman sounded a warning to his opponents when he slammed a swashbuckling 270 against Mahajana College which was the last match before the big one.
He along with Edward Edin who has also hammered a blistering 247 against Manipay Hindu College are going to be a thorn in the flesh for the Johnians. In these two matches the Centralites posted mammoth scores of 418 against Manipay Hindu and 597 against Mahajana.
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