VIDYARTHA HOLD EDGE OVER ST. SYLVESTER’S
60th Annual Big Match
Vidyartha College will have a slight edge when they take on their traditional rivals St. Sylvester’s College in their 60th annual Inter-school Big Match which will take place on March 20 and 21 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
This encounter which was inaugurated in 1955 is played for the Dom George Memorial Trophy.
The Sylvestrians are leading the tally with 14 wins against Vidyartha’s three wins. The rest of the matches have ended in no decisions.
The previous win for St. Sylvester’s was recorded in 2009 under Chanaka Colombage while Vidyartha’s previous win was registered 50 years ago in 1967 under R. M. Lafir.
Vidyartha led by Pulina Gunatilleka are unbeaten this season and have recorded outright wins over Revata MMV, Taxila MMV Horana and Sri Jayewardenepura MV. Pulina scored a century against S. De S. Jayasinghe MMV Dehiwala and a fifty against Devananda MMV Amabalangoda.
Vidyartha are fortunate to have their last year Skipper, Ravindika Upananda who has scored unbeaten centuries against Sri Jayewardenepura MV and Taxila MMV.
In addition, he scored two half centuries against Royal Panadura. He also has the added responsibility of sharing the new ball.
Isuru Prabodha has scored over 600 runs with four half centuries. In the bowling department Vidyartha has two top spinners in their ranks namely off-spinner, Kasun Karunatilleka and Madunaka Wijetilake and both have claimed over 40 wickets this season. Vidyartha are coached by former Antonian cricketer Champika Siriwardena.
In contrast, the Sylvestrians led by Avindu Herath have completed a poor season where they managed to register only a solitary victory.
They lost to Lumbini MV, Mahinda College and Dharmaraja College. Skipper Herath has scored over 400 runs this season.
Nimsara Attanagalle, Nirmalan Pavitharan and Pasan Hettiarachchi are the fast bowlers in the team. St. Sylvester’s are coached by Jaliya Weerasinghe.