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St. Joseph’s out to retain past glory

By Shamseer Jaleel
St Joseph's College Colombo cricket team for the season 2003-2004 is packed with players who possess experience and some exciting youth players who have already shown their class with three of their seniors having international exposure representing the junior National team. Joes have played against St Aloysius Galle, Isipathana and De Mazenod Kandana.

The match against the Galle school ended in a no decision as rain was the spoiler, they won on first innings against the Havelock Town school and they thrashed De Mazenod by innings and 117 runs.

The Darley Road school has produced some magnificent players who have gone on to represent the motherland with much pride. Cecil Horan, late Gerry Gooneratne, Fairley Dalpathado, Malcom Spittel, Hector Perera (snr), Malcolm Frankie, Brian Obeysekera, Ajith Weerakkody, Rohan Weerakkody, Ashley De Silva, Michael Van Dort, Chaminda Vaas and Ian Daniel are few of them. Gerry Gooneratne who passed away recently was an excellent coach respected by all and Brian Obeysekera is the Live Wire of Josephian Cricket for many years.

The unique feature of Josephian cricket is that they lead the series of victories against all leading schools such as Royal, St Thomas, St Anthonys, Trinity and Wesley. Against Royal they lead 26-20, St Thomas 24-17, St Anthonys 39-8, Trinity 33-13 and Wesley 32-10.

The side is led by 4th year player Ranesh Perera who is a middle order batsman and a useful right arm leggie who took more than 50 wickets and scored 450 runs last season. In the year 2001 he was the highest wicket taker ripping through some top order batsmen's defence with taking 65 wickets.

This young lad got the taste of international exposure when he was selected at the tender age of 14 years for the under 15 World Cup which was held in England three years ago. His deputy will be Hashan Gunatilake who is a 3rd year player who bats at number 3 amassed more than 500 runs.

Tharindu Ariyawansa who is a third year player scored over 700 runs with 8 half centuries last season. Tharindu who played for Bloomfield in under 23 tournament is the only Josephian in the history to score a century in the One-Day match against St Peter's. He was also judged as the best batsman in the recently concluded Old Wesley Sports Club Six a Side tournament.

Tall lanky Sandun Dias who is a second year player was sent to England by the Cricket Board on a scholarship is a six footer scored more than 500 runs and took 25 wickets last season. In 2003 One day game he was the best bowler. He got international exposure when he got selected for the under 15 World Cup held in England. He also represented the national team at under 17 level for the Tri Nation series.

The player to watch out this season without any doubt is young Angelo Matthew who is the opening bowler with genuine pace and a dependable middle order batsman.
He was the captain of the under 15 side for the Asian Cup held in Sharjah where the Lankan team became runners up. Angelo was declared as man of the tournament for his fine all round performances.

He also played against the Pakistanis in the recently concluded series with much success. The side is coached by Harsha De Silva who played for the Darley Road school from 1988-91.

He was the vice captain of the side in 1991 went on to represent the Colts CC from 1991-96. With Sporty Rector Rev Father Victor Silva, Vice Rector Rev Father Travis Gabriel, Prefect of Games John R Livera and Media Co-ordinator Supun Perera giving all the support, Joes is one of the sides very much in line to win the Lemonade League this year.

The Squad: - Ranesh Perera, Hashan Gunatilake, Tharindu Ariyawansa, Prasanna Pallewela, Shamal Warunakula, Danuka Hettiarachchi, Christopher Flemming, Rajiv Vadachalam, Rajiv Weerasinghe, Rukshan Perera, Danushka Lazaraus, Angelo Matthew, Sandun Dias, Roshan Silva and Anton Livera.

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