Moratu Vidyalaya and Sri Sumangala clash for 70th time

The 70 th Annual Battle of the Golds between two prestigious Buddhist Educational Institutions of the Island Moratu Vidyalaya and Sri Sumangala College Panadura will be worked off at De Soysa Stadium Moratuwa on July 29 and 30, 2022. The One Dayer will be played at the same venue on July 31.

Sri Sumangala College was founded in 1909 at Rankoth Viharaya Panadura in memory of Venerable Weligama Sri Sumangala Thero and Vidyalaya was founded on January 19, 1934 and the foundation stone was laid in June 1929 by the then Governor of Ceylon Sir Herbert J.Stanley.

The first encounter of this series was played way back in 1934. Out of the Big Matches played so far Vidyalians have won seven and Sumangalians eight and the rest ended in tame draws. Vidyalians first victory was recorded in 1956 under Tudor Hapugoda and Sumangalians in 1962 and the One Dayers commenced in 1993 and Sumangalians are leading with fourteen and Vidyalians eleven.

This year Vidyalians is Captained by Madura Fernando while his opposite number is Prabash Jayasekera and the Coaches are Chandana Mahesh and Kelum Femando Vidyalians and Sumangalians respectively.

So far this season Moratuwa lads has played six matches and won four and one drawn while Sumangalians have won six and lost one. The highest score of 153 runs in the series was recorded by Roshan Wimalasena of Sri Sumangala in 1996 and Ranjith Femando made 129 runs in 1976 for Vidyalians.

Both schools have produced cricketers of fame who have represented the Country, Club Level, Government and Defense Services, Sara Trophy and in other major tournaments of the country. Due to Coronavirus not only these two schools the standard of cricket in Sri Lanka schools had a setback but according to the performances of either schools this season Sumangalians have the edge over their arch rivals but none can predict the outcome until the last ball is bowled.

The most important thing is to maintain discipline in all three days especially in the one dayer whatever the result may be.