It’s almost like fitting at wind-mills – for around four decades, Vidyartha has been trying to win the Big Match against St. Sylvester’s. The latter somehow keeps getting away from them. It may be that St. Sylvester’s – an A Division side – has the richer experience by playing top-tier cricket. This year’s 56th match [...]

The Sunday Times Sri Lanka

Vidyartha has distinct advantage in bowling against St. Sylvester’s

56th Battle of the Babes
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It’s almost like fitting at wind-mills – for around four decades, Vidyartha has been trying to win the Big Match against St. Sylvester’s. The latter somehow keeps getting away from them. It may be that St. Sylvester’s – an A Division side – has the richer experience by playing top-tier cricket. This year’s 56th match promises to be no different.

In the run up to the Big Match, the Sylvestrians have four outrights and four first innings wins. They have lost two outright and lost one on first innings. Four matches have ended in no decisions.Vidyartha has an outright win, against Sri Jayewardenepura MV, and two first innings wins. They have lost three outright, and seven on first innings. The Sylvestrians have two centurions, their opponents have none. In Nimasha Mendis and Sivakumar Tyron, St. Sylvester’s have two bowlers who have reaped a rich harvest. Vidyartha’s answer lies with the skipper – a fifth year player – Chanaka Ratnayake whose best is 7 for 45, and he has five other hauls of five or more.

All the batting guns haven’t fixed for the Sylvestrians, but that department seems well covered. Hansamal Perera, who made a hundred in last year’s match, is one of the mainstays. He has five fifties, with a top score of 80. He has shown that is a big game player.Harsha Madushan made up the numbers over the past two years. However this year he has performed well with a hundred against St. Sebastian’s as his best. A superb, unbeaten 87 against Dharmaraja plus 106 against Carey are Parakrama Tennekoon’s best efforts.

Stumper Malith Prematilleka has done well in front of the stumps, with a seventy and 96. Vidyartha will be keen to see the back of him. Indunil Samarananda made 91 early season, but has lost his way and is not in contention. Vice captain Nimesha Mendis and leggie Sivakumar Tyron have been the main wicket takers. Mendis’ best analysis is 13 for 79 against Gurukula Vidyalaya. Tyron is the bowler to watch. He has captured an eight-for, twice. Joseph Vaz found him particularly devastating as he took 12 for 84 against them. Both Tyron and Mendis are capable batsmen. Not much can be said about the Sylvestrian pace attack.

Vidyartha’s hopes of knocking over the Sylvestrians lie with the left-arm spin of Chanaka Ratnayake and the medium pace of Ravishka Upananda. The latter bowled a restrictive line outside off stump against and bagged 7 for 48. Namal Perera has also enjoyed Kingswood some success with the ball.

Fifth year player and vice captain Isuru Weerasinghe has been a mystery. A talented batsman, who is prepared to graft, he has made only a solitary fifty. His medium pace is little used now. It may be that he has suffered a crisis of confidence.

Krishantha Jayasuriya, the stumper cum opener has batted well throughout. He is aggressive and likes to play his shots. The team will be looking up to him for a good start. Dushan Jayatilleka, the other opener seems to be improving with every outing.

Namal Perera and Nimesh Senanayake are two utility players who can contribute with bat or ball, sometimes both. Vidyartha has a few medium pacies, two of them left-armers. This is one department where the Vidyartha team has a distinct advantage.

St. Sylvester’s are coached by Roland Perera and Jaliya Weerasinghe, both old boys. Another old Sylvestrian, Sankalpa Gunasekera, coaches Vidyartha so there will be a battle within a battle.

St. Sylvester’s (from): Hansamal Perera (Capt), Nimesha Mendis (VC), Harsha Madushan, Pabasara Perera, Sivakumar Tyron, Parakrama Tennekoon, Malith Prematilleka, Indunil Samarananda, Manuja Perera, Tusitha Soysa, Thenuka Liyanage, Roshan Buvaneka, Sashika Raymond, Avindu Herath, Nisara Attanagalla, Kavishka Jayasekera.

Vidyartha (from): Chanaka Ratnayake (Capt) Isuru Weerasinghe (VC), Krishantha Jayasuriya, Namal Perera, Nimesh Senanayake, Ravishka Upananda, Dushan Jayatilleka, Bhavantha Bandara, Sandaruwan Jayasuriya, Dayan Dissanaike, Tharindu Dissanaike, Amila Madushanka, Nimsara Samaratunga, Chaturanga Ratnayake, Punila Gunatilleka.

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