Joes favoured over title holders at 51st Saints L/O battle
The Saints, having concluded their three-day big match, will now come into the field to battle it out for the limited over title, played for the Rev. Fr. Peter A. Pillai Memorial Shield on April 26 at the SSC ground.
This is the 51st in the series which began in the year 1975 with the Peterites led by Bernard Wijetunge coming out victorious. Since then the Josephians have chalked up the most number of wins of 25 with the Peterites’ 22, while one match ended in a tie and no decision and a game not played due to the Covid pandemic.
St. Joseph’s College - (Seated from left): Lahiru Perera (Asst. Coach), Lakmal de Silva (Head Coach), Asiri Caldera (MIC), Kenath Liyanage (Captain), Rev. Fr. Priyan Tissera (Vice Rector), Rev. Fr. Ranjith Andradi (Rector), Rev. Fr. Samesh Anthony (Prefect of Games), Abhishek Jayaweera, Yenula Dewthusa, Sanjeewa Fernando (2nd XI MIC), Miranga Wickramage (Asst. Coach), Pradeep Munasinghe (2nd XI Asst. Coach) (Standing from left): Lesitha Wijethunga, Dihen de Silva, Nimthaka Goonewardena, Senuja Wakunagoda, Yenula Danthanarayana, Ameesha Guruge, Manasa Madubashana, Dunik Perera, Nushan Perera, Mario Suraweera, Kavith Fernando, Demion de Silva, Rishma Amarasinghe, Aveesha Samash
St. Peter’s are the title holders, having won the match under Vishen Helambage last year and the Josephians’ last win came in 2023 when the side was led by Sadeesh Jayawardena. This time the Josephians, led by Kenath Liyanage, has the edge and are favoured to regain the title while the Peterites, led by Oween Salgado, will need to give off their best if they want to retain the shield for another year.
The Josephians will be coming into the game with confidence due to the fact that they are the reigning schools limited over champions, having defeated Trinity College in the final played recently at Surrey Village in Maggona.
The Josephians possess a strong batting lineup and will depend on skipper Liyanage, Abishek Jayaweera, Nimthaka Gunawardena, Senuja Wakunugoda, Yenula Dewthusa and Aveesha Samash. Their bowling will revolve around the two bowlers Yenula Dewthusa and Maanasa Madubashana, who were instrumental in the side’s recent title victory.
St. Peter’s College - (Seated from left): Harsha Perera (Asst. Physio/Trainer and Massuer), Thushara Madusanka (Asst. Coach), Nalin Wijesinghe (Head Coach), Priyadharhana Cooray (MIC), Oween Salgado (Captain), Rev. Fr. Rohitha Rodrigo (Rector), Rev. Fr. Praveen Wijesekera (Priest in-Charge), Lashmika Perera, Dilana Damsara, Rohan Fernando (MIC 2nd XI), Dinuka Godakanda (2nd XI Caoch) (Standing first row): Dinsara Ratnaweera, Dineth de Silva, Tharin Senvidu, Nathan David, Hiruka Silva, Thareen Sanketh, Virul Amarapala, Yatheendra Jayaweera, Salith Gallage, Raphael Hettige (Standing second row): Jason Fernando, Joshua Sebastian, Savi Fernando, Ethan Ransilige, Asadisa de Silva, Sadeesha Kariyawasam, Enosh Peterson
The Peterites, on the other hand, have in their rank players in the calibre of Joshua Sebastian. Dilana Damsara, Nathan David, Jason Fernando, Enosh Peterson, Thareen Sanketh and skipper Salgado, who all will need to put in special effort. Their bowling will be in the hands of Lashmika Perera, Dilana Damsara, Joshua Sebastian and Tharin Senvidu. The scale may be in favour of the Josephians, but they cannot afford to take things lightly as the Peterites will also leave no stone unturned as they are on the mission of retaining the shield.