St. John’s has the edge over rivals Jaffna Central
Jaffna Central College
The 112th Battle of the North encounter between traditional rivals St John’s Jaffna and Jaffna Central will usher the big match fever in the Jaffna peninsula.
All arrangements have been finalised and is scheduled for the game to be played over three days from March 8 to 10 at the Jaffna Central grounds.
The Battle of the North is the oldest playing big match in the Jaffna peninsula. From the available records of the 110 matches that have been played so far, St John’s is leading the series with 35 wins as against to 27 by Jaffna Central with 40 drawn and one abandoned. Results of seven matches are not available.
The Johnians were the last winners of the encounter which they achieved in 2015 and the Centralites’ last win was recorded in the year 2011.
St John’s led by fifth year coloursman Vasanthan Jathushan. They have enjoyed a fairly successful season; having played 13 matches securing eight outright wins against Kilinochchi Central, Royal Colombo, Siri Piyaratana MMV Padukka, Kingswood, Kegalu Vidyalaya, Mahajana Thellipalai, Skandavarothaya Chunnakam and Jaffna Hindu while losing two to Sri Sumangala Panadura and Sri Dharmaloka MV Kelaniya.
But this time out even though the two teams seem to be balanced the Johnians seems to have the edge due to the fact that they posses a strong batting line up comprising allrounders.
Skipper Jathushan is a player with loads of experience and a fine allrounder who has had two successful seasons and led the Northern Province U19 team and a member of the Northern Province U23 team. He was adjudged the best batsman in last year’s encounter and also the man of the match last in the limited over game. So he no doubt is going to be a thorn in the flesh for the Central side.
Jathushan has in his side two experience player’s fifth year coloursman Kanagaratnam Kabilraj the best bowler and the match in last year and Murfin Abinash who has performed with success both in the batting and bowling departments.
Their batting strength will revolve around these three players –Naganthiarajah Sowmiyan, Devadas Sheropan, Theivendram Dinoshan, Joel Praveen and Vadivel Abilakshan expected to support the trio with their useful contributions.
The bowling will be in the hands of skipper and left arm spinner Jathushan who was adjudged the best bowler and best allrounder in in the 110th encounter and the support of Kabiraj, Abinash, Dinoshan, Abilakshan and Shanthakumar Shanushan is going to be crucial to curtail the Centralite batting.
Jaffna Central will also be led by fourth year coloursman Sivalingam Thasopan is coming into the encounter with an unbeaten record having played ten matches and securing four outright wins against Sri Sumangala Kandy, Azar College Matale, Nuwavala MMV and Mahajana Thellipalai
St. John's College Jaffna
Skipper Thasopan has been their top batsman this season having scored two centuries will look for the support in the batting from experience players in Sriskantharajah Kowthaman, Selvarasa Mathushan and Anatnydas Jeyatharsan the other centurion of the side
Their bowling will be spearheaded by right arm spinner Sutharshan Thusanthan who is their top wicket taker this season, opening bowlers Mathushan and Sooriyakumar Sujan, skipper Thasopan and Kamalarasa Lyalarasan who all will have to combine to restrict the Johnian batting.
The Centralite batsmen will have to do something extra-ordinary in both the batting and bowling department if they are hoping to give their opponents some challenge.
However looking back at the performances of the two teams this season it points out to a keenly contested game with the Johnians having the edge.
The limited over match is scheduled to be played on March 17 at St John’s ground. This will be the 16th in the series with the Johnians leading having won eight and Centralites seven and one abandoned.