Watch out for Mendis and Bandara
The 54th Big Match between St. Sylvester’s and Vidyartha this Friday and Saturday at the Pallekele International Stadium could turn out to be a battle between Nimesha Mendis (the sixteen year old left arm spinner) and Ruwan Bandara (Vidyartha’s prolific opener).
Mendis has taken almost ninety wickets and has teased and tormented opposing batsmen to destruction. He picked up 14-81 in the D.S. Senanayake match and has two seven wicket innings hauls. In addition, he has a five for and many three and four wicket bags. Needless to say he is the Sylvestrian trump-card.
Bandara has been consistency personified, scoring a thousand runs, inclusive of two hundreds and nine fifties. He has repeated last year’s feat of scoring two centuries. An attacking right hander, he invariably gets the side off to a good start. He drives and pulls well.
The Sylvestians led by Ruwantha Ekanayake, an inventive striker of the ball, have done well this season, rising to the occasion when it was needed. Ekanayake has to top score of 92 among many other good scores. When in full try, he is an entertaining player to watch.
Tall, lanky Waruna Wijesinghe, an all rounder is another key player. His best with the bat was 83 (St. Sebastian’s) and, as a right-arm medium pacie, he has an innings bag of six for 24. Wijesinghe’s success is crucial to his teams performance.
Faiz Ahamed, another senior, made 92 versus Maliyadeva and provides an attacking option at the top. His off breaks have not been all that effective.
The Sylvestrians posses another left arm spinner in Sumedha Dissanaike. A consistent wicket-taker, he has bowled well in tandem with Mendis. Sumedha Dissanaike’s batting has come on in leaps and bounds, so much so that he has a century to his credit.
Second year player Dushan, Malalasena had a six wicket bag in an early game, but of late he has been unsuccessful.
Indunil Samarananda, a batsman and an off spinner, has chipped in within both bat and ball.
Hansamal Perera, of cricketing stock, opens the batting and has contributed often but in small quantities. His best is 44 and a Big Match fifty is looked toward to. His brother Manuja (only Thirteen) is also in the squad.
There are many potential WicketKeepers, but the lad on the job currently is Rajitha Piyaratne. Harsha Wedikkara adds some depth to the lower-order batting.
The Sylvestians have been unbeaten this year. They beat D.S. Senanayake and St. Mary’s Kegalle outright, while scoring first innings wins over Maliyadeva, Lumbini, St. Anthony’s, Kingswood, St. Sebastians, St. Anne’s, Richmond and Royal Panadura. Ananda and Issipathana led the Sylvestions on the first innings. The Benedictine game was a no-decision.
St. Sylvester’s, who play in the A Division, have been toughened up by playing against some of the better- known Schools. Traditionally, they loathe conceding even a first innings win to Vidyartha. At the first hint of danger, they are wont to bat and bat and bat.
In addition to Ruwan Bandara, skipper Niluksha Galapitige, Keshan Gamage and all rounder Tilina Rupasena have all scored hundreds. Galapitage, a hard-hitting left hander has led from the front. He made 105 (Kingswood) and in general has provided good starts in association with Bandara.
Keshan Gamage, a stylish player, made a superb unbeaten 126 verses the Rajans. He also entered the eighties on a couple of occasions. His right arm led spin can conjure up a few wickets.
The one genuine all rounder in the side is the vice captain Tilina Rupasena. He is closing in on eighty wickets, within a personal best of 6- 87 (Wayamba Royal). An aggressive left hander, Rupasena made an unbeaten 108 against Panadura Royal. He has represented the Central Province team.
Another Senior player Ravindu Dissanaike has made identical scores of 67 against St. Annes and Tissa MV. He is an attacking player who can unsettle the opposing bowlers. He occupies the number three spot.
Two other players – Isuru Weerasinghe and Chanaka Ratnayake – who played in last years big match at 15 years, have served the team well. Weerasinghe, a steady right arm opening bowler, has two five wicket hauls and, all told, nearly fifty wickets. He bats correctly and has a top score of 67.
Small- made left arm spinner Chanaka Ratnayake has bagged five in an innings on two occasions. Last years skipper Tharindu Ranaweera and his brother Nipuna are also in the playing eleven. Tharindu bowls useful off spin while Nipuna is a very good fielder. Vidyartha won their matches against Piliyandala Central, Wayamba Royal and St. Anne’s outright. They scored first innings wins over Kingswood, St. Thomas’ Matara, St. Thomas’ Kotte, and Dharmaraja. They suffered a morale-shattering innings defeat at the hands of Moratu Vidyalaya, while losing on first innings to Kalutara MV, Maliyadeva, St. Anthony’s, Carey, Devananda and Tissa Mv, Kalutara, two matches ended in no decisions. St. Sylvesters (from): Ruwantha Eakanayake (Capt), Waruna Wijesinghe, Faiz Ahamed, Dushan Malalasena, Sumedha Dissanaike, Indunil Samarananda, Hansamal Perera, Nimesha Mendis, Harhsa Wedikkara, Dilan Mel, Rajitha Piyaratne, Manesha Madduma Bandara, Dilip Nanayakkara, Anjula Kalhara, Chandula Bandara, Manjual Perera. Vidyartha (from): Niluksha Galapitige (Capt), Tilina Rupasena, Ruwan Bandara, Kishan Gamage, Tharindu Ranaweera, Isuru Weerasinghe, Ravindu Dissanaike, Chanaka Ranaweera, Muditha Elpitiya, Nipuna Ranaweera, Kasun Navaratne, Dasun Navaratne, Sherard Buddhika, Thisara De Silva, Upulitha Rajapakse.