by Dinesh Weerawansa
Upeka Fernando, the in-form Thomian skipper, is out to give another treat to the spectators with the bat at the annual Mustangs Trophy limited over cricket encounter against traditional rivals Royal to be played at the SSC grounds, Maitland Place on Saturday.
Both teams look even on paper with depth in batting and a limited bowling attack. But Fernando could well be the match winner for S.Thomas.
Getting Fernando early will be the top priority for Royal skipper Shanaka Perera. Upeka Fernando scored twin half centuries against Royal at last weekend's 'big match' and followed it with another 60 runs in Thursday's Coca-Cola Cup match in Mt.Lavinia. If he continues that, it will be an uphill task for Royal bowlers.
The Reid Avenue boys too can expect some fire works from all-rounder Jehan Mubarak. They too have a strong batting line-up and the Thomian bowlers will not have things easy, unless they get Mubarak, Thushan Amarasuriya, Ravi Peiris and skipper Shanaka early.
The match will be telecast 'live' on national television 'Rupavahini', apart from the ball-by-ball radio coverage on SLBC - sponsored by Singer Sri Lanka, Commercial Bank and Lanka Bell.
The highest individual scorer in the series is Royalist Yasas Dharmaratne who scored 97 in 1996 while the best bowling performance is by Thomin Kapila Wijegunawardena who captured 6 for 21 in 1982.
The teams:
ROYAL: (from): Ravi Peiris, R.Jayasuriya, Thushan Amarasuriya, Jehan Mubarak, Shanaka Perera (captain), Umesh Gunawardena, Lasantha Liyanage, Angelo Perera, Danushka Perera, Harith Rajakaruna, Sanjeeva Udumalagala, Harshan Rajakaruna, Andrew Perera.
S.THOMAS: (from): Upeka Fernando (captain), Naren Ratwatte, Suranga Peiris, Nilanka Peiris, Janaka Siriwardena, Sidath Madonza, Gihan Fernando, Buddhika Athukorala, Rukshan Mendis, Shanaka Caldera, Dilshan Gunawardena, Mishad Peiris, Zakir Kanake, Sumudu Perera, Eshan Mendis, Imran Hameed, Lakmal Fernando, Asela Paranavidana, Eranda Jayasinghe, Harshana Jayawardena, Lalindra Fernando.
The series tally stands at 12 wins to Royal and 10 to S. Thomas' with the match not being played in 1984. The Thomians won by 10 runs last year while Royal last won in 1996 by two wickets.
Second oldest big match
Exciting draw on the cards
The second oldest big match in Sri Lanka next to the Royal-Thomian, the 98th encounter between St. Servatius and St. Thomas', Matara will be played today and tomorrow, March 28 and 29 at Uyanwatte Esplanade starting at 9.45 a.m. each day.
Both teams are packed with some good all-rounders and a high scoring, exciting draw is expected. Both teams are heavily dependant on their captain and vice-captain for a result. On performance, St. Servatius are ahead of their traditional rivals as they have won 2 matches outright, against Rahula Matara and Gampaha Bandaranayaka MMV but have lost to Galle's Mahinda by an innings. Servatius have played only 8 matches this season which is well below the minimum number of matches required by the school cricket association. They have drawn the rest of the 5 matches but have won on 1st innings against all of them - Holy Cross Kalutara, Devananda Ambalangoda, Ananda Sastralaya Kotte, Revata Balapitiya and Debarawewa NS at Tissamaharama.
Servatius are led by 5th year coloursman S. A. Wasantha who has scored over 600 runs including a century and 3 half centuries and with his right-arm leg-spinners, has captured 40 wickets so far this seasons. His deputy Y. Suminda Sampath also has scored over 600 runs this season with a century and 3 half centuries and has associated with 25 dismissals behind the wicket as the stumper of the side. These two cricketers are representing the Matara Segment 'A' team and if they do their duty properly, Servatius can certainly taste victory which they did in 1971. R. Jothimuni, N. S. Samarajeewa, Anushka Ramanayaka, K. A. Asela and M. Subodana are the other players who can help to achieve victory.
The unbeaten Matara Thomians have played 11 matches this season without a single outright victory for them. They have obtained 1st innings honours in 6 matches - against Dharmasoka Ambalangoda, Ananda 'A' Colombo, Ananda Sastralaya Kotte, Devananda Ambalangoda, Revata Balapitiya and Rahula College Matara while conceding 1st innings victories to Richmond Galle, Mahinda Galle, S. Thomas' Mount Lavinia, St. Sebastian's Moratuwa and President's College Maharagama.
Matara Thomians are led by 5th year coloursman H. K. Pulasti Rangana who has scored over 550 runs this season with 5 half centuries and has captured 35 wickets with right-arm medium pacers. This fine all-rounder who is playing for Matara Sports Club senior team can single-handedly turn the table the Thomian way with his deadly, unreadable slow yorkers if properly used. All-rounder R. B. Weerappuli is his deputy and has scored over 350 runs and 20 wickets with his spin bowling. S. W. Sameera, A. Farhad Farook, a dashing middle-order bat and useful medium pacer, K. Rohana, C. Palliyage, H. S. Jayawardana, Visura Chintaka and P. Lankatilaka who opens the bowling attack are the other players who could help their skipper achieve the victory which was tasted in 1996 when umpires awarded the match to them on default.
This year, Servatius is coached by Matara SC player T. D. Munasingha while his teammate Jagath Nanda Kumara is coach of the Thomians. P. Indrasiri and Sisira Weerasinghe are the two masters-in-charge respectively.
The Matara turf wicket is internationally famous as a batsman's paradise. With the prevailing drought, a high-scoring draw is on the cards in this year's Ruhuna Battle.
St. Servatius (from): S. A. Wasantha (capt), Y. Saminda Sampath (vice-capt), R. Jothimuni, N. S. Samarajeewa, Anushka Ramanayake, K. A. Asela, M. Subodana, Binara Yohan, Chamith Taranga, Atula Sedara, Chadimal Gunaratna, Nadun Srimal, Niroshan Duminda, R. Jinan, A. M. Priyantha, L. B. Awintha, Amik Nuwan.
St. Thomas' Matara (from): H. K. Pulasti Rangana (capt), R. B. Weerappuli (vice-capt), S. W. Sameera, A. Parhad Farook, K. Rohana, C. Palliyage, H. S. Jayawardana, Visura Chintaka, P. Lankatilaka, D. Dahanayake, D. Deshan. I. Lokuge, P. W. Ranasingha, K. H. Chaminda, S. Sanjeewa, R. Moulana.
Kegalu favourites, but Marians can upset
by. S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy south group correspondent
Curtains on school cricket in the bustling town of Kegalle will come down when the favourites Kegalu Vidyalaya take on St. Mary's College in their 8th limited over clash for the Seylan Trophy to be played at the Public grounds, Kegalle, this Sunday (March 29) at 9.45 a.m.
Though Kegalu vidyalaya possess a stronger side with a better record during the season but the Marians who went as underdogs did well to share the honours in the Big Match which ended in a draw earlier this month. Therefore a Marian victory cannot be ruled out altogether.
Of the seven matches played todate, Kegalu Vidyalaya are in the lead with 4 wins and the Marians are not behind with 3 wins. Marioans are also the custodians of the Seylan trophy having won last year's battle quite convincingly.
At this year's Big Match St. Mary's skipper Subhashitha Ekanayake kept the opponents by scoring 95 and 54 and also captured four of the seven opponents wickets which fell. Thus the Marians will look to him for another repeat performance.
For Kegalu Vidyalaya skipper Priyadharshanna Pathmaperuma who scored a blistering 66 along with Anuradha Ranaweera who scored 86 in the big match should do well.
Kegalu Vidyalaya (from) Priyadharshana Pathmaperuma (Captain), Geethika Perera (Vice Captain), Tilan Indika, Nalin Senaratne, Akila Jayaratne, Anuradha Ranaweera, J.P.K. Nandasena, Janitha Gunasekera, D. Ranasinghe, Subodha Karunaratne, A.S.P. Tillakaratne, K.R.P. Dharmasena, Chandika Pihilawatte, W.C. Pushpakumara, Sameera Premaratne. (Coach cum MIC: C.N.W.Jayawardena).
St. Mary's College (from) Subhashita Ekanayake (Captain), Piyananda Ariyadasa, (Vice Captain), Gayan Samaraweera, Tharanga Paranavitharane, Niroshan Samaratunga, Prabath Liyanagunawardena, Pradeep Liyanage, Janaka Senanayake, Asanga Prematillake, Chandra Prematillake, Meduka Karunasena, (Coach Pubudu Keppetiyawa. MIC Udayakumara Swarnatillake).