A result on the cards when St Servatius host St. Thomas’ at Uyanwatta
St Thomas College team: Front row (from left) – Senura Perera, Sanjaya Maduranga, Sachira Rashmika, Sineth Sithara Dissanayake (Captain), Ruwani Rubasinghe (POG), T L Dayashantha (Principal), Asanga de Silva (MIC), P I W Jayasekera (Coach), Nipun Samarasinghe (Vice Captain), Harindu Jayasekara, Nenuka de Seram. Middle row (from left)- Thathsara Dewmith, Jimuth Dhanika Dissanayaka, Pesandu Sanjan Jayarathne, Sanju Dulshan, Loshitha Diksith, Sandaru Thilinaka, Sashindu Jayasekera, Diluka Sandakelum, Pramudith Rashmika, Dinath Sanchith, Chavindu Rashmika, Dumindu Sakshara Edirisinghe, Sanju Dilshan, Netmina Indusara Jayathunga, Abdul Majid. Back row (from left) – Ochintha Chamika, Kancilu Gimhana, S M K Kithmina, K S S de Silva, Sashintha Bashitha, Manuga Yonal
St Servatius College team: Front row (from left) – A M Pryantha (Junior coach), T D Munasinghe (Head Coach), Hasitha Amarasinghe (Captain), Amila Nianthi (Deputy Principal), H K L B Virajith (Principal), Rev Viraj Fonseka (MIC), Chiran Neththaru (Vice Captain), Nayanananda de Silva (POG), Damith Chamara Kumara (Assistant Coach). Middle row (from left) – Mithila Minsara, Nehara Tharun, Abises Sulakshana, Chamarindu Nethsara, Bhathiya de Silva, Chathum Kulasekera, Chamith Manage, Diniru Abeywickremasinghe, Tharush Damindu, Kushan Wijerama, Tharun Devinda, Thisan Dewmith. Back row (from left) – Praneeth Mihiranga, Tharuka Punsith, Viran Chamuditha, Deneth Kawya, Imal Sandeepa, Tharuka Imadith, Damiru Senitha, Denuwan Pramod, Kaveesha Randula, Vishwa Supun
A result is on the cards when St Servatius College host St Thomas’ College Matara for the 122nd edition of Ruhuna’s Battle of the Blues from March 25 to 27 at the Uyanwatta Stadium.
A result is predicted as the ongoing school cricket tournament is being played in the limited over format and both teams have had little exposure to the longer format of the game. It is left to be seen if they have the endurance to bat the full nine sessions of this three day encounter if not a result is on the cards if the weather gods do not intervene.
If the Servatians emerge victors it will be after 51 years as it was in 1971 that Nimal Munaweera led them to their last victory. The Thomians last won in 2007 under the captaincy of Tharaka Dushmanth and lead the series 32 games to 27 with 61 matches been drawn. The 120th encounter was not played due to the Covid19 pandemic. The 121st encounter played at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium at Sooriyawewa behind closed doors is the only game in the series that was not played in Matara.
In the past five decades the Thomians are known to have put up some gritty performances to deprive strong Servatian outfit of certain victory. In the 114th encounter played in 2014 the Thomians were shot out for a paltry 81 in their first innings but in their second essay did not allow the strong Servatian bowling attack to get through their guard for almost five sessions to cover up a 188 run deficit and declare on 322/8 with a lead of 134 runs which was an impossible target for the Servatians to achieve in the last six overs of the match.
Matara’s big match is also known as the Battle of Ruhuna or Battle of Nilwala or Battle of the Blues and in terms of the year it began it is the third oldest big match being played in Sri Lanka. The most illustrious cricketers who have played in the series are Sanath Jayasuriya, Ruchira Palliyaguru and Kasun Rajitha for St Servatius and Indika de Seram and Prabath Nissanka for St Thomas’ Both teams play in the elite division one of the schools cricket tournament St Thomas play in group X of tier A while the St Servatians play in group Y of tier B. The Thomians failed to win any of the five games they played while the Servaians have won one of the five games they played. Nevertheless the Thomians have a slight advantage as they have a few more experienced campaigners than their rivals.
Led by Sineth Sithara Dissanayake the Thomian squad is made up with Nipun Samarasinghe, Sachira Rashmika, Harindu Jayasekara, Sanjaya Maduranga, Senura Perera, Nenuka de Seram, Dumindu Sakshara, Chavindu Rashmika, Pramudith Rashmika, Sasindu Jayasekera, Jimuth Dhanika, Dineth Sanchith, Loshita Diksith, Pesandu Sanjan, Abdul Majeed, Sanju Dulshan, Sahan Kanchana, Sandaru Thilanka, Diluka Sandakelum, Manuga Yonal, Nethmina Indusara, Thathsara Dewmith, Ochintha Chamika and Sachintha Bashitha. The Thomians are coached by Indika Jayasekera and Asanga de Silva is the Master in Charge.
St Servatius College is led by Hasitha Amarasinghe and the squad comprise of Chiran Neththaru, Mithila Minsara, Nehara Tharun, Abises Sulakshana, Chamarindu Nethsara, Bhathiya de Silva, Chathum Kulasekera, Chamith Manage, Diniru Abeywickremasinghe, Tharush Damindu, Kushan Wijerama, Tharun Devinda, Thisan Dewmith, Praneeth Mihiranga, Tharuka Punsith, Viran Chamuditha, Deneth Kawya, Imal Sandeepa, Tharuka Imadith, Damiru Senitha, Denuwan Pramod, Kaveesha Randula and Vishwa Supun. The Servatians are coached by T D Munasinghe and Rev Viraj Fonseka is the Master in Charge.
The one day encounter is being hosted by St Thomas at the same venue on 2nd April.