Inter-monsoon rain may spoil Matara’s big match which starts today

Friday, 21 March 2014 03:11 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Text and Pix by P.D. De Silva The much looked forward to inter-monsoon rains which have started may disrupt play in the three day big match between St. Servatius College and St. Thomas’ college which is to commence at the Uyanwatte stadium today (21). A most unsporting attempt to damage the wicket which was being prepared for the match by sprinkling Muriate of Potash (MOP) on it was made a few days ago and on a request made by the host’s, Sri Lanka Cricket’s curator D.A.J. Sampath was sent to Matara to inspect the damage and prepare a wicket for the game.

The big match in Matara is the third oldest in the island and is said to have been played continuously since 1900. St. Thomas’ lead the series with 32 wins with Tharaka Dushantha leading the Thomians to victory in 2007. St. Servatius have won 27 games and it was Nimal Munaweera that led the Servatians to their last win in 1971. Chairman of SLC’s Selection Committee Deputy Minister Sanath Jayasuriya is the most illustrious cricketer to have played in the series. He led the St Servatius team in 1988. The unbeaten 207 by Servatian Gracien Liyanage in the 82nd encounter (1982) still stands as the highest individual score in the series and the ground record as well. The Servatians St. Servatius College play in the elite division one of the all-island schools cricket tournament. Of the sixteen matches played in the tournament they registered outright wins against Maristella and S. de S. Jayasinghe College. Seven first innings wins were registered against Mahanama, Thurstan, Bandaranayke (Gampaha), Dharmasoka, Shri Devananda, St. Aloysius and Rahula College Matara. First innings losses were conceded to Isipathana, St. Benedicts, Zahira, St. Sylvesters and Mahinda College and outright losses conceded to Lumbini and division one champs Richmond College.

S. Thomas' College Matara first XI 2104, Front row from left: Dumindu Hewapathirana (Assistant Coach), Charith Palliyage (Coach), Janath Mathangadeera (POG), Hashan Vimarshana (Captain), W.B. Piyathissa (Principal), Nevindu Udesh (Vice Captain), Shanthini Suraweera (Deputy Principal), K.H.D. Pradeep (MIC) and Lasith Lakshan Middle row from left: Mohamed Sasni, Hasitha Suneth, Rusiru Akshaya, Sanuth Pramuditha, Hasheen Dilmal, Dilum Krishan, Kavindu Gimhana, Vidath Jayanidu, Nimantha Kawishwara, Prince Dalugoda and Dilip Tharaka Back row from left: Tharusha Kavinda, Nipun Achalanka, Akila Thiwanka, Sasindu Nishanka, Osanda Chanupathi, Heshan Hasanka and Ishan Jayawardena The Servatian’s rank 18th in the division one points table with 185.48 points. Fifth year coloursman Sanjika Ridma leads the St. Servatius team to the 114th encounter. He was a member of the Sri Lanka under-19 team which toured Bangladesh and played the touring Indian under-19 team in Sri Lanka. Being a member of the Sri Lanka under-19 team prevented Sanjika from representing his college in most of the school fixtures. An all-round player Sanjika who scored a century on debut is a left hand batsman and has scored 696 runs which includes tons against Maristella and Thurstan. He has also captured 52 wickets with his left arm leg spin. Fifth year coloursman Ruchira Jayathunge is the vice captain of the team. Ruchira is a hard hitting left hand batsman and bowls left arm fast. He opens the bowling and has captured twenty wickets this season and has scored more than 300 runs. Dilshan Madusanka keeps wickets for the team. He is a third year coloursman and a right hand batsman. All round players Lochana Mohotti, Ashen Deemantha, Ramesh Nimantha, Mayantha Abeydeera, Thushan Eranga, Randika de Silva, Kavindu Umesh, Chanuka Dilshan are third year coloursmen while Rajantha Chandula is a second year coloursman. Thilan Prashan Kumara is a first year coloursman. Lasith Saluka Suwandarathne who captained the St. Servatius College first XI at the centenary encounter has taken on the duties of head coach from Pradeep Nishantha who groomed the team last season. He has the able assistance of Chanaka Komasaru who led the Thomian first XI in 2003. Nayananda de Silva continues as the master in charge of the Servatian first XI for the third consecutive year.

St. Servatius College Matara first XI 2104, Front row from left: L.H. Thushan Eranga, Lasith Shaluka Suwanderathne (coach), Nayananada de Silva (MIC), Ruchira Jayathunge, K. Ranasinghe (Principal), Sanjika Ridma (Captain), H.G.H.N. Amarathunge (Deputy Principal and POG), Lochana Mohotti, Chanaka Komasaru (Assistant Coach) and Dilshan Madusanka, Back row from left: H.R. Chanuka Dilshan, K.P.D.P. Nimantha, Saviru Dhananjaya, Ramesh Nimantha, Kavindu Umesh, Ramish Madushan, Mayantha Abeydeera, Randika de Silva, Rajantha Chandula, Nimesh Maduranga, Sandaru Nethmina, Thilan Prasanna Kumara, Ashen Deemantha, Chamil Dhananjaya and Danushka Prabath Priyadarshana The Thomians St. Thomas’ College play in division two of the schools cricket tournament and were placed fourteenth with 200.88 points. Of the sixteen encounters they registered outright wins against Taxila, St. Xaviers, St. John’s Panadura, Shri Devananda and Asoka College Colombo. They registered two first innings wins and conceded five first innings losses. No decision was reached in two games while they conceded outright losses to Vidyartha and division one champs Richmond College. All round player Hashan Vimarshana who was member of the Sri Lanka team for the recently concluded under-19 world cup leads the Thomian eleven to this year’s encounter. He was only able to lead his team in five of the sixteen encounters this season. Hashan bowls right arm fast and has captured 23 wickets with three five wicket hauls. A right hand batsman he has scored 201 runs. Hashan is a third year coloursman. Nevindu Udesh led the Thomian team in eleven inter school games and is the vice captain of the side for the 114th big match. He is a right hand batsman and bowls right arm leg spin. Fourth year coloursman Laith Lakshan is the most senior player in the team. A hard hitting right hand batsman - Lasith has scored more than 1,000 runs this season, which includes four centuries and six fifties. Lasith has also captured more than fifty wickets and has captured five wickets in an innings on four occasions. Lasith was a member of the Sri Lanka under-17 team which toured England. All rounder Vidath Jayanidu is a third year coloursman, Rusiru Akshaya keeps wickets and is a second year coloursman. Osanda Chanupathi, Mohomed Sasni, Prince Dalugoda, Nimantha Kavishwara, Dilum Krishan, Dilip Tharaka, Heshan Hasanka, Sasindu Nishanka, Tharusha Kavinda, Akila thiwanka, Nipun Akalanka are first year coloursmen. Sanun Pramuditha, Ishan Jayawardena, Hasitha Suneth, Hasheen Dilmal and Kavindu Gimhana are freshers. Charith Sanjeewa Palliyage is head coach of the St. Thomas’ College team and has Dumindu Hewapathirana as his deputy. K.H.C. Pradeep is the master in charge of the team.