Sunday, 10 March 2013

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<%on error resume next%> St. John's vs Royal Panadura clash will be interesting
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St. John's vs Royal Panadura clash will be interesting

The 21st annual 'Big Match' between St. John's College, Panadura and Royal College, Panadura for the 'Battle of Greens' Trophy will be played on Friday and Saturday March 15 and 16 at Panadura Esplanade.


Royal College, Panadura: Seated (Left to right) – H.A. Sumith Prasanna (Coach and MIC), Yasith Chamod, Damindu Ashan, Madava Nimesh, Thenuka Dananjaya (Captain), H. Sarathchandra Silva (Principal), Dulith Gayan (Vice Captain), Ashan Padmakumara, Akila Lakshan, Asitha Fernando, T.W. Mahindarathne (Prefect of Games). Standing (Left to right) - Ravin Lakshan, Pavan Edirisinghe, Deshan Sandeepa, Rusiru Ravishanka, Himesha Ranganath, Vimukthi Madushan, Hasitha Dananjaya, Pathum Nirma), Hashan Vimukthi, Bashitha Lakshan, Gihan Sudarshana.


St. John’s College, Panadura Seated (Left to right) – Ushan Gunarathne (Senior Coach), Tarindu Rusith, Chamila Janaka, Lahiru Sanjaya (Captain), Sanath Pemsiri (MIC), M.N.H.T.P. De Silva (Principal), K. Siripala (MIC), Pramoda Madushanka (Vice Captain), Akila Shayaminda, Vidura Sapumal, Eranga Gunarathne (Junior Coach). Standing (Left to right) – Sanju Maheesha, Nadun Dharshana, Harsha Chandrashan, Sithum Pramodha, Yasiru Navodh, Kavindu Hashan, Nuwan Lakshan, Sandika Dilruksha, Thanuja Akalanka, Rusiru Sanjaya, Malith Madushanka, Thamira Sudeepa, Gihan Anuruddha, Danusha Deshan Picture by Dilwin Mendis, Moratuwa Sports Corr.

The Limited-over encounter between the two schools will be played on March 17 at the same venue. Having started cricket in the good old days - 1898, St. John's Panadura has a proud record both in academic studies and cricket. In the early days St. John's Panadura played against Prince of Wales in 1898 and St. John's has won.

When the Cambrians stopped their Big Match against St. Sebastian's, the 'Big Match' then was the Cambrian Johnian encounter between 1938 to 1953 and it was only in 1964 that the Cambrians re-started their clashes against St. Sebastian's.St. John's had a proud record in cricket, but later on they had their ups and down and in 1992 the then MP for the area Mervyn J. Cooray started the Johnian-Cambrian match.

The two schools have produced Test and ODI cricketers - Ravindra Pushpakumara and Charitha Buddhika from St. John's and Chamara Silva from Royal Panadura.

There have been 20 encounters played between Royal Panadura and St. John's and Royal Panadura have won on four occasions while St. John's has won once and the rest of the games have ended in draw encounters.

This year, Royal Panadura is captained by fifth year coloursman and left-arm leg-spinner and right-hand batsman Thenuka Dananjaya and the vice-captain will be Dulith Gayan who bats right-handed and comes in at number three slot. Dulith has so far passed the 500 runs in school cricket.

Among the other batsmen are Damindu Hashan who has been among the runs, collecting 602 runs. A third-year coloursman Madava Nimesh opens batting with Damindu and he too has passed 700 runs this season.

Then there is also Akila Lakshan - middle-order batsman. A second year coloursman Ashan Padmakumara is a seasoned all rounder.

Royal College, Panadura have been unbeaten so far this season and out of the ten matches that they have played, they have recorded four wins and beaten formidable sides like Ananda, St. Benedict's and Dharmaraja.

St. John's have played 12 matches and won eight and lost four.

The team is captained by Lahiru Sanjaya - a coloursman and has scored 605 runs and with the ball, he has taken 74 wickets with his leg-spinners. Another bowler who has been quite successful is left=-arm leg-spinner Harsha Salgado who has taken 24 wickets and scored 420 runs.


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