Servatius eager to end winless drought on tricky Uyanwatta turf
St. Servatius College led by Charith Harshana will take the field with the hope of ending the 47-year winless drought when they are hosted to the 119th edition of the Battle of the Blues by St. Thomas’ College Matara at the Uyanwatta Stadium on March 22 , 23 and 24.
Front row from left: A.M. Priyantha (Junior Coach), Pasindu Manupriya, Roshan Priyankara (MIC), Charith Harshana Dayarathna (Captain), Mahesh K. Hewa (Principal), Shashika Dulshan (Vice Captain), T.D. Munasinghe (Coach), Kesara Nuwantha, G.H. Nayanada de Silva (Assistant Principal - Sports) Middle row from left: Chirath Nethsara, Rithik Anuradha, Pushpitha Dilshan, Pasan Nethsara, Ruvinda Rochana, Matheesha Madushan, Chethaka Denuwan, Janidu, Shanaka Didulantha, Hirun Anjana, Nipun Rangeeth, Risira Lakwin, Waruna Gamage Back row from left: Chihan Kalindu, Diniru, Navin Sahith, Dinura Dilmin
Much will depend on the Uyanwatta turf as within the past few weeks there have been games where strong Division I teams have been bowled out for two figure scores and a game where more than 30 wickets fell in a day. Therefore winning the toss will be crucial as well.
The Big Match in Matara is the third oldest in the island and is said to have been played continuously since 1900. The encounter has been known as the Battle of Ruhuna and Battle of Nilwala. The last time the Servatians won was in 1971 under the captaincy of Nimal Munaweera while the Thomians, led by Tharaka Dushantha won in 2007.
The Servatians have fared better than their rivals in the Under-19 Division I Cricket Tournament this season. Playing in Group ‘C’, they accumulated 108 points with outright wins over St. Aloysius and St. Mary’s Kegalle and losing outright to St. Sebastian’s Moratuwa to end in third spot. The Servatians were unable to enter the pre-quarter-final round losing to Thurstan. They also registered wins in the traditional games with Maris Stella, Gurukula and Rahula.
The Thomian’s playing in Group ‘D’ of the tournament were unable to register a single win and lost outright to the group leaders Trinity, Richmond and Thurstan and were placed eighth with 61.68 points. They can boast of winning the traditional encounters with Devapathiraja, St. Marys’ Kegalle and Sri Devananda.
Front row from left: Sachira Rashmika, Kavindu Ridmal, Charith Palliyage (Coach), Mihisal Amoda (Captain), W.B. Piyathissa (Principal), Gishanthika Jayaweera (Vice Captain), W.M.A.D. Lakmal (MIC), Ruwani Rubasinghe (POG), Hirantha Lakshan Middle row from left: Chamika Ranasinghe, Voshitha Athsara, Hasaru de Silva, Harindu Jayasekera, Enuka Budvin, Dumindu Hansaka, Hirusha Jeewadith, Sineth Sithara, Nimanthaka Bhashana Back row from left: Sathira Theekshana, Isuru Wihanga, Nipun Ruchira, Ashen Shawinda, Janaka Pawan, Sanchitha Ranasinghe, Sanjaya Maduranga
In the recent past the Thomians have been up against much stronger star-studded Servatian outfits but have played grittily to draw the three day encounters. It is recalled that not very long ago the gritty Thomians batted for almost five session.
The present team proved their staying power in the game against Ananda a few weeks ago and are even capable of turning the game in their favor as well.
The Servatians are led by third year player Charith Harshana Dayarathna who has scored 230 runs and captured 18 wickets this season. Shahsika Dulshan is the vice-captain of the team. He was a member of the Sri Lanka Under-19 team and was named the best bowler of the series against the visiting Under-19 team and the Youth Asia Cup. Shashika has 512 runs and 60 wickets to his credit this season.
Third year player Keshara Nuwantha is an allrounder. He has scored 460 runs and captured 44 wickets this season. Pasindu Manupriya is a third year player with 390 runs and 21 wickets to his credit. Pushpika Dilshan, also a third year player, opens the batting for the Servatians. He has scored 480 runs this season.
Ruvinda Rochana is an allrounder and a third year player. Ruvinda has scored 230 runs and captured 10 wickets this season. Left-hand batsman Chethaka Denuwan is the highest run getter of the Servatius team. He has s 845 runs including two centuries and has 50 wickets against his name.
Risira Lakwin is the wicketkeeper/batsman of the Servatian team. He has scored 770 runs this season. Chihan Kalindu is capable of standing behind the stumps as well. Chihan kept wickets for the Sri Lanka Under-19 team against the touring Australian Under-19 team and figured in five dismissals. Chihan has scored 230 runs this season.
Navin Sahith is a first year player and has scored 210 runs and captured 21 wickets. Matheesha Madushan is a first year player who shares the new ball. He has captured 20 wickets this season.
Shanaka Didulantha has scored 150 runs and has figured in over a dozen dismissals and is an asset to the team. Freshers Pasan Sathsara, Rithik Anuradha, Janidu, Hirun Anjana, Nipun Rangith, Waruna Gamage, Dinura and Dinura Dilmin strengthen the Servatian team at the 119th encounter.
The Thomians are led by fourth year player Mihisal Amoda. He is a hard-hitting right hand batsman, who has scored over 750 runs including a century and four half centuries. He bowls right-arm off-spin and has figured in 25 dismissals.
Allround player Gishanthika Jayaweera is the vice captain of the Thomian team. Gishanthika is a right hand batsman and bowls right-arm off-spin. He has scored over 600 runs including a century and two half centuries and captured 32 wickets this season. Gishanthika is a third year player.
Kavindu Ridmal is an allround player who opens the bowling for the Thomians. He bowls right-arm pace and has captured 47 wickets this season. Kavindu is a right-hand batsman with over 300 runs to his credit. Hirantha Lakshan is a third year player and an allrounder.
Sachira Rashmika is the Thomians highest wicket-taker this season. Sachira bowls right-arm off-spin and has claimed 70 wickets and is set to add more to his tally at this encounter. He is a safe batsman and an excellent fielder.
Sineth Sithara is the team’s left-arm leg-spin bowler with 52 wickets to his credit. He is a left-hand batsman. Nipun Ruchira is a second year player and keeps wickets for the Thomians. Nipun has claimed 38 victims this season. He is a middle order right-hand batsman scoring 380 runs with two half centuries.
Left-hand batsman Harindu Jayasekera faces the new ball for the Thomians. Harindu has scored over 650 runs with five half tons. He is capable of bowling right-arm off-spin. Hirusha Jeewadith is a right-hand batsman and a right-arm pace bowler. Chamika Ranasinghe is an allround player who is a right-hand batsman and a right-arm leg-spin bowler.
Sanchitha Ranasinghe is a right-hand batsman capable of opening the batting for the Thomians. He has over 360 runs against his name. Woshitha Athsara is a left-hand batsman and a right-arm medium pace bowler. Woshitha has scored over 350 runs and figured in 17 dismissals.
Hasaru de Silva, Nimanthaka Bhashana, Sanjaya Maduranga, Sathira Theekshana, Ashen Savinda, Janaka Pawan, Enuka Budvin, Isuru Vihanga and Dumindu Hansaka are freshers who are capable of excelling with bat or ball if the need arises. The Thomians are coached by Charith Palliyage and W.M.A.D. Lakmal is the Master-in-Charge.