Sports
St. Servatius’ meet formidable St. Thomas’
Battle of the Blues- Ruhuna
St. Servatius’ will have a daunting task striving for the elusive victory at the annual Battle of the Blues of Ruhuna as their arch rivals St. Thomas’ enter the 2025 edition of the Big Match as one of the top teams in the schools cricket arena.
History is against St. Servatius’. They have not tasted a victory in the annual big match for more than five decades. Nimal Munaweera led outfit won their last big match way back in 1971. St. Servatius’ could not enjoy much success this season. Vishwa Supun led outfit will have to punch above their weight if they to be on par with St. Thomas’.
Thomians under the captaincy of Pesandu Sanjan enjoyed one of their best seasons where they came almost close to earning the Tier ‘A’ promotion. Pesandu Sanjan will look forward to continue the good work to conclude the season on a positive note. His team registered three outright victories (in the tournament matches) including a crushing five wickets victory over Ananda with skipper Sanjan and Manuga Guruge running riot in the second innings (Ananda 47 all out).
ST THOMAS’ COLLEGE TEAM Front row from left: G G Pesandu Sanjan [Captain], M G Yasith Deshvan [Assistant Coach], Dinusha Jayasanka [Head Coach], J Jayawardhana [Deputy Principal – Sports], G P N Perera [Principal], H K Delip Kumara [Prefect of Games], Asanga Welhengoda [Master in Charge], S Y T Lakruwan [Master in Charge], I G Praveen Madushan [Junior Coach], V H Lakshitha Induwara Diksith [Vice Captain] Middle row from left: W Yomiru Saswin, D Dinara Iddamalgoda, M W Punal Pamuditha, W A Kumesh Nawanjana, M A Senura Gihan Abeysekara, P G Ochintha Chamika, K G Manuga Yonal, A Abdul Maajid, K G Thathsara Dewmith, B Vihanga Sankalana, S S Sashindu Methpahan, E A Dinura Pavinji Jayanatha Back row from left: N G A Senith Sulakshana, Abdul Rasheed, O W Sethuja Mandinu, R R Paranavithana, H S Thathsara Vimukthi, W Vindila Chanuth Minsitha
St. Thomas’ will expect Sanjan to play a lead role in the batting line up. He has scored over 1000 runs this season and was the leading batsman of the tournament at one stage.
Ochintha Chamika and Punal Pamuditha open batting for St. Thomas’, while Senura Gihan, Thathsara Dewmith, Abdul Maajid, Kumesh Nawanjana and Sanjan form the top order batting lineup.
Their pace attack include Loshitha Diksith, Ochintha Chamika and left armer Shashindu Methpahan. With spinners dominating at Uyanwatta, the spotlight is expected to fall on left-arm spinner Manuga Guruge who has taken over 50 wickets this season.
For St. Servatius’ skipper Vishwa Supun is the most reliable batsman. He has scored close to 600 runs. Viran Chamuditha (close to 500 runs), Chamarindu Nethsara and Sanju Dilshan are the others to have contributed with the bat.
Spinner Praveen Madusanka is their leading wicket taker, while Samiru Gimhan, Raveen Kavintha and Chamuditha provide additional support. Sanju Dilshan and Risinu Kithmuka will share the new ball.
St. Thomas’ lead the victory tally of the series 32-27. Thomians are the last winners of the big match having won under the captaincy of Tharaka Dushyantha in 2007.
by Reemus Fernando
(Cricbuzz)
The remainder of the tenth edition of the PSL has been moved to the UAE amid escalating border tensions between Pakistan and India. The PCB has said that the dates and venues of the remaining eight games in the PSL 2025 season would be officially confirmed in due course.
On Thursday, Karachi Kings and Peshawar Zalmi were due to play a game at the Rawalpindi Stadium, which was rescheduled following an emergency meeting. At the meeting, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi met with overseas players in the league, who overwhelmingly expressed a desire to relocate the league to the UAE.
ESPNcricinfo understands that foreign players are already on their way out of Pakistan to the UAE, where the rest of the league will be played. It is likely to be several days before the next game is played as the PCB works out which venues to play the games at.
The original schedule would have seen four of the remaining games in Rawalpindi, one in Multan, and the final three in Lahore. An earlier update from the PCB had said the league would be rescheduled, but did not confirm at the time it would be taken out of Pakistan, with Karachi considered a likely option.
The PSL, now in its tenth season, is familiar with the UAE, having started there back in 2016. It was played there in full – barring the PSL 2017 final – for the first two seasons. Part of season six, in 2021, also had to be played in the UAE because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Any delays to the PSL are likely to impact Pakistan’s international calendar, too. Bangladesh are due to arrive in Pakistan three days after the PSL final, originally slated for May 18, with the first of five T20Is to begin on May 25 in Faisalabad. The PCB told ESPNcricinfo that no decision had yet been taken on the fate of that series.
(Cricinfo)
Bangladesh Under 19s won the six-match Youth ODI series 3-2 after the final Youth ODI against Sri Lanka Under 19s ended without a result due to rain at the Colts ground on Thursday.
Sri Lanka came to the final match with the hope of leveling the series but rain prevented a full match.
Deciding to bat first, the visitors were 188 for three wickets in the 40th over when rain prevented further play.
Skipper Azizul Hakim led Bangladesh with 94 runs inclusive of seven fours and two sixes. For the hosts, Tharusha Navodya, Kugathas Mathulan and Himal Ravihansa took a wicket each.
Sri Lanka Under 19s won the opening encounter by a big margin but three consecutive defeats thereafter saw the visitors take command. Sri Lanka Under 19s bounced back in the penultimate match to keep alive the series but rain spoilt their plans in the final encounter.
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