Thurstan look for repeat, Isipathana seek revenge
It's big match fever again as the clash between traditional rivals Thurstan College and Isipathana College will usher the 2020 version of the big match clashes with their 57th ‘Battle of the Brothers’ encounter scheduled to be played on February 28 and 29 at the SSC grounds from 9.30am each day.
However this time out the encounter is going to be an interesting tussle due to the fact that Thurstan who came out victorious last year will be looking for a repeat while Isipathana will be seeking to avenge that defeat whilst having not been able to win since 1999 under the leadership of Krishantha Jayawardena.
Looking back at the performances of the two teams this season, they have undergone fluctuating fortunes and the two sides have been unable to remain unbeaten.
Thurstan will be led by Jayavihan Mahavithana who has been the mainstay in their batting department having scored 613 runs inclusive of three half tons and a lot of responsibility lies on him to steer the side from the front.
Skipper Jayavihan has in his ranks players in the calibre of seasoned campaigner Yohan Liyanage ( 503 runs), Ranesh Silva ( 421), Avishka Kaushalya (350), B aw a n t h a Jayasinghe ( 332) and Samith Nandinu ( 245), the only centurion of the side to bolster their scoreboard.
The Thurstan bowling lies in their spinners spearheaded by left arm spinner Punthila Samanthakumara who has been their top wicket- taker with 64 scalps which includes six five-wicket hauls. To support him will be three right arm spinners in Yohan Liyanage (46), Dhananja Silva ( 20), Vihash Thiwanka ( 19) and pacies Bawantha Jayasinghe and Avishka Kaushalya.
Isipathana is led by wicket keeper of the side Leshan Amarasinghe who is one of the two batsmen to have accumulated over 700 runs inclusive of two tons and two half tons.
Leshan will be banking on Ravindu Ratnayake, the other batsman to go past the 700 runs, who has under his belt two tons and four half tons along with Thevin Dickwella ( 513) and Savindu Uthsara ( 487) to keep the scoreboard moving.
Isipathana’s bowling will revolve around four bowlers in spinners Savindu Uthsara (40) who is their top wicket-taker and Sithuka Gunawardena and pacies Yasiru Kasthuriarachchi and Dinath Dissanayake who all will have to combine effectively to curtail the Thurstan batting.