Big Match: 18th Battle of Heroes in Jaffna

Thellipalai Mahajana and Kandarodai Skandavarodhaya will battle for supremacy when they meet each other in the 18th Battle of the Heroes to be played at Mahajana grounds in Jaffna this weekend. 

The match will be played on Friday (23) and Saturday (24).

Both teams are equally balanced and an exciting cricket is expected during the end of the week.

This will be the first big match to be played in the Jaffna peninsula this year and a vast crowd of students and old students of both schools are expected to beat the grounds to support and cheer their respective schools.

In the past 17 encounters of this encounter Mahajana leads with five wins as against four by Skandavarodaya. 

Rest of the eight matches have ended without result.

Mahajana tasted victory a couple of years back and Skandavarodhaya's last victory was in 2014.

In the current school cricket season pitted in the same group the league match between the two schools ended in a draw with Mahajana leading in the first innings. 

But you cannot expect the same when it comes to the big match as both teams will be going all out to get the better of each other.

Led by A. Thayustan this year Mahajana won two, drew one and lost two. 

Thayustan is the main bowler of side and has more than 40 scalps in his bag. 

He recorded the best match figures of 13 wickets for 81 runs against Jaffna Hindu. 

In this match he claimed 7 for 43 in the first innings.

Their batting strength lies in the hands of K. Kirushan who smashed 187 runs against Union College and he has scored more than 350 runs in six matches.

Skippered by P. Ajinthan this season Skandavarodaya won three, drew two and lost two.

Vice captain and allrounder A. Thanushan and batsman J. Kalistan are the strength of the side and both have scored a century each. 

Thanushan scored brilliant unbeaten century (136 n.o) against Jaffna Central and he is also the highest wicket taker of the side with 34. 

His best bowling performance in an innings was recorded against Jaffna Hindu with 6 for 34.

Kailstan is the other centurian in the side who scored 155 against Union College.

S. Danson (29 wickets) and S. Sobithan (18 wickets) are the other main bowlers along with Thanushan.

Mahajana Thellipalai: T. Thayustan (Captain), M. Sujeepan (VC), K. Kirushan, B. Kirishanth, R. Sujan, M. Rajinthan, S. Dinesh, N. Janushan, M. Bakeerathan, R. Thanishtan, S. Samilan, K. Sujith. S. Sathurjan,   S. Sarujan, S. Kapilthas, S. Jamshan. 
Coach: K. Rasikaran

Skandavarodaya: P. Ajinthan (Captain), A. Thanushan (VC), J. Kalistan, S. Thanusraj, K. Nitharjan, V. Rahulan, T. Jesuran, K. Rexan, J. Relaxan, S. Deluxan, L. Lakshan, S. Shopithan, S. Pirashan, S. Dansan, P. Kajeepan. 
Coach: E.S. Jasitharan