Sri Sumangala has edge over rivals Moratu MV
The cricket crazy Moratuwa town will come alive again as three days of entertainment is on store for two neighbouring schools in the area, Moratu Maha Vidyalaya and Sri Sumangala College, Panadura as they clash each in their annual big match scheduled to be played on March 29 and 30 at De Zoysa Stadium in Moratuwa.
The two day big match, which is the 72nd in the series, sees Sri Sumangala in the lead with eight wins to the seven by Moratu MV with the rest ending in draws. The last win in the series was recorded in the year 2010 by Moratu MV when the side was led by Anuruddhika Kalhara while the Sumangalians’ last win was achieved 17 years ago in 2007 under the leadership of Iresh Pushpakumara.
The two schools have produced players who have gone on to represent the national side in the likes of Don Anurasiri, Dilruwan Perera for Sri Sumangala and ace spinner Ajantha Menids and Nishan Madushaka from Moratu MV to name a few.
The two day encounter will be followed by the 31st limited over match scheduled to be played at the same venue on March 31 and in this version too the Sumangalians are ahead with 15 wins under their belt to the 12 wins achieved by Moratu MV, who won it last year.
Sri Sumangala led by Vidusha Peiris have remained unbeaten in the inter-school tournament while Moratu MV, led by Mahitha Appuhamy, have undergone an outright defeat. But the Sumangalians, as mentioned, possess a well-balanced side and the scale is in favour of them.
The Sumangalians have six centurions in the side which shows their batting potential with Duranka Silva having scored over 500 runs and Sri Lanka youth player Vishwas Lahiru, who made over 400 runs with two centuries each. The other centurions are Krishan Eranga, Rusith Jayawardena, who both have made over 400 runs and Kavindu Gayathra, while the bowling will revolve around Vishwa Lahiru and Mevindu Kumarasiri, who have taken 100 wickets between them.
On the other hand Moratu MV will depend on their top scorer Isuru Nidarshana, who have scored more than 600 runs along with Deneth Sithumina (500), Kanchana Nimshan (400) and skipper Mahith Appuhamy (300) in the batting department. Isuru Nidarshana and Nishitha Fernando together have shared 80 wickets between them and are the pick of the bowlers.
The two top records in the batting and bowling departments have been achieved by two Sumanglians with the best knock being 153 by Roshan Wimalasena achieved in the year 1986 and Iresh Pushpakumara’s eightwickets haul being the best in the bowling which was achieved in 2007.
However the Sumangalians are having the edge and they cannot take the Moraliyans lightly as the two teams will be coming into the field to break the hoodoo of achieving a series win after 14 and 17 years respectively.
This year’s Battle of the Golds is sponsored by Anunine Holdings, Naturub, Dialog, Super Fashion, Shopimo and Singer Sri Lanka with their unprecedented support. Both the big match and one day encounter will be telecast live on Dialog TV -- ThePapare TV channel number 127, as well as a live stream on ThePapare.com and the Dialog ViU App.