CIS meet Wycherley on March 24
Colombo International School (CIS) meet Wycherley International School in their 23rd annual cricket encounter for the Lalith Athulathmudali Memorial Trophy at the Mercantile Cricket Association Grounds next Saturday (March 24).
Wycherley International team Top row left to right: Hashir, Raashid Razick, Shennon Ruhunhewa, Umar Salam, Breford Fernando, Niroshan Siva, Aaron Fernando, Abdullah Faiz, Iesa Wazeer, Nusrif Mushthaq, Mmadhupuruthvi Poowendran, Moin Ismail, Melush Dharmasena. Bottom row left to right: Arslan Majeed, Ramesh Weerakoon (Head Coach), Hiruna Wickramasinghe (Captain), Mr Kingsley Jayasinghe (Principal), Dulhara Wijesinghe (Vice Captain), Mr Ranga Weerasinghe (Assistant Coach), Rashaad Rushdi, Ramesh Fernando (Head of Sports),
Wycherley International leads the tally of victories with 11 wins while Colombo International School has achieved 11 wins with one match drawn.
Last year’s winner CIS are sure to make their victory margin with one more win. CIS takes the field under the leadership of Nathan Nimalasiri who is an elegant left handed batsman with a highest score of 67. Nimalasiri is the most senior member of the side with four big matches behind him. He is also a useful bowler with best figures of 5 for 30.
With nine half centurions in the side in Akmal Hassan, Andrei De Soyza, Ashen Gonagala, Ahmed Haniff, Manthika Ratnayake, Gaveen Amunugama, Akeel Hyder and Ammar Siddiqui CIS batting line looks pretty strong. In the bowling department with seven medium fast bowlers with Nathan Nicholas, a left arm seamer, Mahesh Randima, Thahir Ismail, Afradh Rasheed, Ashen Gonagala, Nabeel Hameed, Akeel Hyder having the support from the spinners including off spinners Akmal Hassan, Andrei De Soyza, Ahamed Hanniff and Ammar Siddiqui and right arm leg spinners Aryaman Agarwal, Gaveen Amunugama and Manthika Ratnayake Wycherley International batsmen will have to have a close look when facing them.
Wycherley International will be led by Hiruna Wickremasinghe, a useful right handed bat and a right arm fast medium bowler. Wickremasinghe will make his 8th big match appearance. Five experienced cricketers in Dulhara Wijesinghe, Arslan Majeed, Raashaad Rushdi, Umar Salam and Niorshan Silva will be a strength to the skipper as he is at the helm in a well balanced allround side. Nasrif Nasthar, the only centurian in the side (139) and along with Shennon Ruhunuhewa, Umar Salam and Rashaad Rushdi Wycherley will be capable of posting a match winning total.
A good fast bowling attack including Hiruna Wickremasinghe, Breford Fernando, Lesa Wazeer, Umar Salam and Moin Ismail is capable of destroying the front batting line and the mopping up operation will be in the hands of off spinners Dulhara Wijesinghe, Melush Dharmasena, Raashid Razik, Nushrif Nisthar, Rashaad Rushdi and Abdullah Faiz. The spin attack will be further strengthen with three right arm leg spinners – Shanon Ruhunuhewa, Arslan Majeed and Aaron Fernando.
With two evenly balanced trams in action at this 23rd encounter spectators are sure to witness an absorbing day’s cricket.
– Lakshman Ranasinghe
Colombo International School team Top row left to right: Mahesh Randima, Akeel Hyder, Andrei De Soyza, Thahir Ismail, Shanon Sahabandu, Ahamed Haniff. Middle row left to right: Afradh Rasheed, Gaveen Amunugama, Ammar Siddiqui, Nathan Nicholas, Manthika Ratnayake, Nabeel Hameed, Akmal Hassan, Aryaman Agarwal. Bottom row left to right: Mr Geeth Silva (Coach), Nathan Nimalasiri (Captain), Mr Gerald Bennett (Teacher in Charge), Mr D.C. Sanders (Principal), Mr Andrew Kirk (Sports Coordinator), Ashen Gonagala (Vice Captain), Mr D.L. Migara (Coach).