S. Thomas’ College First Eleven Cricket Team. Seated (from left): Yasiru Rodrigo, Shalin de Mel (Captain), Ryan Fernando (Vice-Captain) and Caniston Gunaratnam. Standing, first row (from left): Senadhi Bulankulame, Athif Siddihique, Romesh Mendis, Thenuka Liyanage, Mahith Perera, Aneesh Kamalchandra, E. Devachandra, Janindu Abeygunawardene, T. Dilmith and M. Perera. Standing, back row (from left): K. Dayaratne, S. Hettiarachchi, I. Kandegedera, A. Thrikumar, A. Perera, N. Caldera, A. Palihawadana and D. de Silva. Absent: R. Tiillakaratne, K. Dias, T. Eheliyagoda, S. Vimukthi, A. Fernando, M. Naushan and Y. Thirimanne. Pic by Herbert Perera
S. Thomas’ College with a strong batting line-up will be keen to make their presence felt when they take on traditional rivals Royal College in the 142nd Battle of the Blues Inter-School Big Match, which begins at the SSC Grounds in Maitland Place on Thursday.
The team from Mount Lavinia is studded with a number of good stroke-makers and will look to make merry at the batting friendly SSC track, with the game to be played closed doors on all three days.
The Thomians, of course, will rely on their two centurions – Ryan Fernando and Yasiru Rodrigo, who have produced the bulk of the runs for the side from the few matches, which were played last year.
In fact, top order batter Fernando has two solid hundreds under his belt and will be the key player for S. Thomas’ where their batting is concerned.
Anuk Palihawadena and Skipper Shalin de Mel are the other two top batters in the side with Caniston Gunaratnam, Thenuka Liyanage, Vinuja Wijebandara and Senesh Hettiarachchi also vying for a place in the line-up. However, the bowling has been a concern for the Thomians throughout the season and they have tried out several new players with limited success.
Even then, left-arm spinner Manith Perera has impressed as their main strike bowler with left-arm seamer Rodrigo and off-spinner Palihawadena providing the support.