S. THOMAS’, ST SEBASTIAN’S IN FINAL SHOWDOWN
The curtains of the Under 17 Division One cricket tournament will come down today with the final clash between S. Thomas’ Mount Lavinia and St Sebastian’s to be played at the P. Sara Stadium.
The match was scheduled to be played on September 19 but the organisers were forced to postpone it due to the bad weather. S. Thomas’ will be led by Ravindu Tilekeratne with St Sebastian’s being led by Visal Senanayake.
On paper the two teams look evenly balanced even though the Thomians underwent two defeats in the first round matches while St Sebastian’s lost one match in the first round.
In the run up to the final S. Thomas’ played six matches winning four against Piliyandala Central, Dharmapala Pannipitiya, Lumbini MV and Carey while losing to Mahanama Colombo and DS Senanayake and qualified to the second round securing the third spot in their group.
In the next round of matches the Thomians defeated last year’s champions Royal Panadura, Thurstan and Joseph Vaz Wennappuwa to earn a berth to the pre-quarter finals.
In the pre-quarter final they overcame St Peter’s and then went on to record wins over St Joseph’s and Lumbini MV in the quarter and semi final encounters.
St Sebastian’s on the other hand won five of their six first round matches that they played against traditional rivals Prince of Wales, Isipathana College, Veluwana MV, Thurstan and President’s College Rajagiriya and losing one to Wesley to finish on top in their group.
They won all their matches in the second round and qualified for the prequarter finals as champions. In the pre-quarter the Sebs got the better of home town rivals Moratu MV and then
However the Thomians will be looking forward to make this a memorable game as they have qualified for the final of this tournament after a lapse of 14 years with the last being in 1999
followed it up with wins over Thurstan and St Anthony’s Katugastota in the quarter and semi final encounters.
However the Thomians will be looking forward to make this a memorable game as they have qualified for the final of this tournament after a lapse of 14 years with the last being in 1999 when the side was led by Meshad Peiris where they beat Ananda to clinch the title.