Sports
Opportunity for new hero in battle of survival
145th Battle of the Blues
by Reemus Fernando
Batsmen will be under presure when arch rivals Royal and S. Thomas’ meet in the 145th Battle of the Blues commencing at the SSC today.
After having struggled to survive on more than one occasion during this season batting lineups of both Royal and S. Thomas’ will be waiting for new heroes to emerge to meet the demands of the three-day Big Match.
Royal skippered by Sri Lanka Under 19 captain Sineth Jayawardane will be out to retain the D.S. Senanayake Memorial Shield with a line up which twice crumbled under pressure this season.
They have bounced back after the defeats at the hands of Maris Stella and Prince of Wales to avoid further trouble but they need something special from their batsmen if they are to last the full distance of the three-day match.
Royal found batting solace coming from Yasindu Dissanayake and Isula Geeganage late in the season to record a remarkable victory (after 38 years) over St. Peter’s. The duo are forming the backbone of Royal batting with Jayawardane, Ramiru Perera and Rehan Peiris who have all scored centuries this season.
The Thomians are relying heavily on their skipper Mahith Perera, Thisen Eheliyagoda and Dineth Goonawardene in the batting department. They are the only batsmen to have shown consistency, while Nathan Caldera and Akash Fernando have provided additional support. Like their opponents, Thomians too need a new hero in the batting department if the match is to last its full distance.
Bowling is Thomians forte with left-armer Abeeth Paranawidana leading with a season tally of over 60 wickets. Speedsters Nathan Caldera, Kavindu Dias and Akash Fernando have jointly accounted for over 90 wickets. The contributions made by these four bowlers were vital for Thomians’ four outright victories recorded this season. But none of these victories have come in the tournament proper. Their only defeat at the hands of St. Sebastian’s was recorded in a tournament match and that has hampered their chances of gaining a higher position in the points table of the tournament.
For Royal, spinner Ramiru is the leading wicket taker. He is joined by Jayawardane, Yenula Bandara and Nethwin Dharmarathne and speedsters Ranuka Malawiarachchi, Dinura Senarathne and Bulan Weerathunga to make a formidable attack.
With the historic Battle of the Blues given pride of place both Royal and S. Thomas’ hardly worry about their position in the schools cricket tournaments. When the arch rivals battle both teams have unfinished duties in the country’s premier schools tournament.
Both Royal and S. Thomas’ are among the lowest placed teams in the Division I Tier ‘A’ tournament and their future in the top Tier could be decided in relegation matches as both teams are among the last four teams in their respective groups. While the Thomians are almost certain to play relegation matches, Royal have to do something special in their last tournament match or rely on favourable results in other group matches if they are to avoid relegation scares.
Royal Team
Sineth Jayawardane (Captain), Ramiru Perera, Bulan Weerathunga, Rehan Peiris, Nethwin Dharmarathne, Ranuka Malawiarachchi, Dinura Senarathne, Ovina Ambanpola, Yasindu Dissanayake , Isula Geeganage, Yenula Bandara
S. Thomas’ Team
Mahith Perera (Captain), Nathan Caldera, Dineth Goonawardene, Senadhi Bulankulame, Kavindu Dias, Thisen Eheliyagoda, Akash Fernando, Darien Diego, Sadev Soysa, Abeeth Paranawidana, Ashen Perera
91st Battle of the Saints
St. Joseph’s hold the edge when they meet arch rivals St. Peter’s in the 91st Battle of the Saints’ big match starting today. After having beaten Petes by nine wickets in the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ quarter-final at Polonnaruwa the Joes arive at the SSC ground to prove that the victory registered two months ago was not a fluke.
St. Joseph’s captained by wicketkeeper batsman Kenath Liyanage are concluding a successful season after having remained unbeaten until they were eliminated in the semi-final by St. Sebastian’s .
A strong batting lineup and a dynamic spin department are making them a formidable outfit.
Experienced campaigner Yenula Dewthusa and Demion de Silva with their left-arm spin and Aveesha Samash and Nushan Perera with off spin provide the Joes variety in the spin department. Dewthusa, Demion de Silva and Nushan Perera are their leading wicket takers. Spinners doing well at schools matches have not been effective at the SSC during the last few big matches. It will be interesting to watch as to how the spinners in these two teams would fare during the three days.
For pace the Joes will look to Maanasa Madubashana and Dunick Perera who are expected to share the new ball.
Abishek Jayaweera and Aveesha Samash will open batting, while Senuja Wakunugoda, skipper Liyanage, Dewthusa and Rishma Amarasinghe form the rest of the top order batting lineup.
St. Joseph’s registered three outright victories this season (beat St. Servatius’, St. Benedict’s and St. Peter’s) and remained unbeaten.
St. Peter’s under Oween Salgado’s captaincy did well to reach the business end of the Tier ‘A’ tournament. But the Petes were uncertain of Salgado’s participation in the big match as they were yet to assess his fitness yesterday morning. He was wounded during a match and the stitched wound had not fully healed according to team sources.
Petes beat Gurukula, St. Aloysius’ and Holy Cross this season. Their only defeat was at the hands of their arch rivals. They will look forward to avenge the defeat at the big match.
The Petes will rely on the likes of Dilana Damsara, Thareen Sanketh, Nathan David and Jason Fernando to take a greater share of batting responsibilities. The middle order batsman Sanketh is their leading batsman and has maintained an average of over 50 runs.
Speedsters Ethan Ransilige and Joshua Sebastian will share new ball duties for the Petes.
Lashmika Perera and Sanketh will share most of the slow ball duties.
St Peter’s are in the possession of the coveted Rev. Fr. Maurice J. Le Goc Trophy having last won the big match under the captaincy of Vinu Mohotty in 2016.
St. Joseph’s lead the series tally 12-10. They last won under Ruwantha Fernandopulle’s captaincy in 2008.
St. Peter’s College Team
(Seated from left) Harsha Prabath Perera (Asst. Physio/Trainer & Massuer), Thushara Maduhanka (1st XI Asst. Coach),
Nalin Wijesinghe (Head Coach), Priyadarshana Cooray (MIC – Senior & Junior), Oween Salgado (Captain), Rev. Fr.
Rohitha Rodrigo (Rector), Rev. Fr. Praveen Wijesekara (Priest in Charge – Cricket), Lashmika Perera
(Vice Captain), Dilana Damsara, Rohan Fernando (MIC – 2nd XI), Dinuka D. Godakanda (2nd XI Coach).
(Standing 1st row from left) Dinsara Rathnaweera, Dineth de Silva, Tharin Senvidu, Nathan David, Hiruka Silva, Thareen
Sanketh, Virul Amarapala, Yatheendra Jayaweera, Salith Gallage, Raphael Hettige. (Standing 2nd row from left) Jason Fernando,
Joshua Sebastian, Savi Fernnado, Ethan Ransilige, Asadisa De Silva, Sadeesha Kariyawasam, Enosh Peterson
by Reemus Fernando
120th Lovers’ Quarrel
The stakeholders of the Lovers’ Quarrel Big Match were still pursuing to make the historic 120th edition a reality on the eve of the match after Richmond authorities threatened to pull out citing that Mahinda had violated an accepted norm by included a newly recruited player in the big match team.
The historic edition was scheduled to commence as a three day encounter at the Galle International Stadium today. But the match remained doubtful at the time this edition went to press. The officials of both teams were unavailable for comments on the eve of the match. According to sources close to the two teams the joint big match committee was scheduled to meet in the evening yesterday to take a final decision regarding the match.
Richmond threatened to pull out after Mahinda included Charya Paranavithana in their big match team. Paranavithana captained St. Aloysius’ this season. He is not eligible to play matches that come under the purview of Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association as he is yet to be registered as a Mahinda player. Big Matches are not played according to SLSCA rules but Richmond authorities had raised concerns over the player registration citing that the two schools had honoured the norm even at the big match.
According to sources Richmond were threatening to pull out if Paranavithana’s name was included in the playing XI on the match day morning.
Mahinda concluded a highly successful season as the team captained by Kaveen Rukshan earned the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ promotion this year. They were also the joint champions of the Tier ‘B’ tournament with Thurstan. In contrast former Division I champions Richmond had to fight relegation scares. The team captained by Thamindu Pradeeptha later successfully retained their Tier A position by recording an outright victory.
Mahinda College Team
Seated left to right: T.D. Ajantha Kumara (Head Coach), Y. Nishantha Kumara (Master in Charge – Senior), L. P. Weeraman (Deputy Principal –
Sports), Kaveen Rukshan (Captain), Mr. Janaka Peduruheva (Principal), Arosha Udayanga (Vice Captain), Mr. M.W. Ajith (Prefect of Games), Mr.
Jagath Samarakoon (Master in charge – Junior), Mr. Sachith Lakmal (Asst. Coach)
Standing (Middle row) – left to right – Dineth Pahasara, Thiyon Helika, Vinupa Nethmira, Sahanjith Irugalbandara, Dulisth Darshana, Senuka
Dangamuwa, Sadew Nethmina, Manitha Rajapaksha, Vishmitha Sathsara, Charya Paranavithana, Randula Mabarana
Standing (Back row) – left to right – Sajeew Punsara, Sehas Ashinsa, Kaveesha Githmal, Thevindu Rashmika
by Reemus Fernando
CR & FC huffed and puffed before beating Havelocks Sports Club 25-24 in a keenly contested Clifford Cup semi final game worked off in Colombo yesterday before booking their berth in Sunday’s rugby final, scheduled to take place in Kandy.
In Sunday’s final, CR will meet Kandy SC, the winner of the first semi final.
CR dominated the first half, but Havies came from behind in the second half to be in contention of pulling the game off till the last minute. Havelocks’ chances were boosted with two powerful tries coming from Chathura Dilshan late in the second half. But unpardonable mistakes by the men in the pink and chocolate jerseys helped CR to slip away with the game. Havelocks gave away two yellow cards during extra time in the second half.
The winners collected their points through three tries, two conversions and two penalties while Havelocks responded with three converted tries and a penalty. The winners led 15-10 at half time. Referee Raveen Alexander controlled the game.
By A Special Sports Correspondent
Israel’s Netanyahu heads to Hungary in defiance of ICC arrest warrant
Myanmar military announces temporary truce as quake death toll passes 3,000
Fairly heavy rainfall of above 75 mm are likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Central, North-western Uva and North-central provinces
-
Sports4 days agoSri Lanka’s eternal search for the elusive all-rounder
-
News3 days agoBid to include genocide allegation against Sri Lanka in Canada’s school curriculum thwarted
-
News5 days agoGnanasara Thera urged to reveal masterminds behind Easter Sunday terror attacks
-
Business6 days agoAIA Higher Education Scholarships Programme celebrating 30-year journey
-
News4 days agoComBank crowned Global Finance Best SME Bank in Sri Lanka for 3rd successive year
-
Features4 days agoSanctions by The Unpunished
-
Sports11 hours agoTo play or not to play is Richmond’s decision
-
Features4 days agoMore parliamentary giants I was privileged to know