Thomians hold the key in this battle
The 112th Matara battle between St Servatius College and St Thomas’ College will take place on the 23rd 24th and 25th of March at the Uyanwatta Stadium. St Servatius College host this years 3 day encounter while St Thomas’ will host the 50 over game on the 31st.
The big match in Matara has been played since 1900 and St Thomas have won 32 encounters the last being in 2007 under the captaincy of Tharaka Dushantha while St Servatius have been deprived of a win for the past 41 years. They will be trying to break the hoodoo and add to their 27 wins the last being in 1971 under the captaincy of Nimal Munaweera.
There have been many illustrious cricketers who played for these two schools Sanath Jayasuriya now Member of Parliament for Matara is the most famous. He captained St Servatius in 1988 and is an international cricketing legend.
St Servatius play in the elite division one of the schools cricket tournament. They have not been able to impress in this year’s tournament registering first innings wins against Zahira college, Nalanda College and Sri Sumangala college Panadura. They lost first innings to Dharmaraja College Kandy and Mahinda College Galle and lost out right to Trinity College Kandy, Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda and Kalutara Vidyalaya. The friendly games against Sri Devananda Ambalangoda, Bandaranayake MV Gampaha, Revatha MV Balapitiya and Mahanama College Colombo ended in draws. They lost outright to Mari Stella College Negombo.
Fifth year coloursman wicket keeper batsman Sanidu Keshawa Ediriweera leads St Servatius to this years 112th big match with all rounder Gihan Nimsara as his deputy. Gihan a fourth year coloursman was able to play only six games this season in which he scored more than 380 runs with an unbeaten 111 against Sri Devananda Ambalangoda. Kasun Rajitha is a third year coloursman and an all rounder. Sanjika Ridma also a third year coloursman is an allround player. He is the only player to score an unbeaten century on debut in the series. He scored 100 not out in the 110th big match at the age of 15. Sanjika has 555 runs and 38 wickets to his credit this season. Third year coloursman Ruchira Jayathunga is also an all rounder called upon to open the innings with both bat and ball. Ruchira has claimed thirty wickets. Yohan Chanuka holds top spot in the St Servatius batting line up scoring 555 runs this season. He is a third year coloursman and an all rounder.
Second year coloursman Vihanga de Silva is the left hand opening batsman of the team while Vidath Dilshan is a consistent scorer and accomplished wicket keeper. Thushan Eranga, Mohamed Rajad, Sameera Gunasekera, Chanuka Dilshan, Ashen Deemantha, Sachith Lakshitha, Randika de Silva and all rounder Lochana Mohotti who was a member of the Sri Lanka under 15 team are freshers capa- ble of strengthening the final XI.
P B Buddika an explosive batsman who scored 1000 runs in the season and captained St Servatius in 1996 completes his fourth year as senior coach of the team. He has the assistance of Pradeep Nishantha, A M Priyantha and Tharindu Mannage. G H Nayananda de Silva is master in charge of the first XI at Servatius this season.
The Thomians have done well playing in division two of the schools tournament. They have out right wins against Tissa Central College Kalutara and St Anne’s Kurunegala. First innings wins were registered against Carey College Colombo, St Thomas’ college Kotte and Sri Devananda College Ambalangoda. First innings wins were conceded to Vidyartha College Kandy and Moratu Vidyalaya. In the friendly games they won out right against P de S Kularatne MV Ambalangoda, drew with St Sebastian’s Moratuwa, St Aloysius College Galle, Devapathiraja MV Rathgama and Rahula college Matara. They lost ought right to Royal College Colombo and Richmond College Galle.
Fourth year coloursman and all round player Ashan Dinura Ranasinghe leads the Thomians to this year’s big match. Ashan has the distinction of scoring 1000 runs including and claiming more than 93 wickets with his right arm off spinners this season. This left hand batsman has one century and 9 half centuries to his credit. He has nine five wicket hauls in an innings and has claimed ten wickets in a match one game.
Ashan has latched on to 08 catches and hence is an exceptional all rounder. Ishan Khanishka Abaysekera a third year coloursman is his deputy. Ishan is a right hand batsman and has scored more than 600 runs with one ton and he bowls right arm leg spinners and has claimed more than 35 wickets so far. Jayanga Nirmana de Silva is a fourth year coloursman is a good fielder in any position and a hard hitting right hand batsman. Second year coloursman Prashan Manohara bowls left arm leg spin and has claimed more than 33 wickets so far. Wicket keeper Ishan Maduranga is a second year coloursman with 12 dismissals behind the stumps. He is a left hand batsman who has scored more than 234 runs this season. Sixteen year old Lasith Lakshan is a second year coloursman with two centuries in his 500 plus runs and bowls right arm fast. The other second year coloursman of the team is opening bowler Danusha Lanka Kulasuriya. First year coloursman Hashan Vimarshana is also an all rounder who is a right hand bat and right arm fast bowler.
Rasika Damith, Vidath Jayanidu, Rusiru Akshaya, Kushan Rangana, Prince Dalugoda, Nimantha Kaweeshwara, Thalisha Dilan, S S. Dasun, Danuka Dilshan, Mohamed Nazhan, Shazni Ahamed, Randika Lakshan, Osnada Chamupathi and Dilum Krishan are the freshers who strengthen the Thomian team at this years big match.