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| Sunday, 24 February 2002 |
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Resurgent Royal to match Thomian might? by Pelham Juriansz Come the month of March and the "Big match blues" hits Sri Lankan cricket lovers. S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia go out favourites to win the 123rd "Battle of the Blues" against Royal at the SSC grounds on March 7, Thursday, Friday 8 and Saturday 9. This traditional game, which has gone on for 122 unbroken years, has produced some of the best cricket and talent in the country. One of the laments of Royalists and Thomians is that since Ranjan Madugalle last donned the Sri Lankan cap in 1988, no player from either school has made it to the Test team. On the fringes of it are players like Upekha Fernando of S. Thomas' and Anuskha Polonowita and Jehan Mubarak of Royal. Some of the players from both schools who I remember as a schoolboy who excelled at this "Big Match" holding key positions in cricket administration today are Anura Tennekoon, Vijay Malalasekera, Jayantha Kudahetty, Jerome Jayaratne, Ajith Jayasekera, Duleep Mendis, Michael Tissera and Ranjan Madugalle to name a few. What of this year's teams? The Royalists must be breathing a sigh of relief that their batting came good in the first innings knocks against Wesley and Richmond, but then both sides are no great shakes in the present school line up. With two more games to go against Prince of Wales at Reid Avenue and up in Kandy against Trinity, the Royalists and especially their new youthful coach former test cricketer Roger Wijesuriya must be hoping for a renaissance in their cricket. The Thomians are by far the more superior side with their outstanding allrounder Jeewan Mendis having recently arrived from the Under-19-World Cup in New Zealand, after having completed a good performance, more with the bat than with the ball. The Thomians have a dashing opening batsman in Arjuna Rajawasam, a second year coloursman. A cause for concern is the form of fourth year coloursman and Rajawasam's opening partner, Heshan Peiris who is not having the best of seasons. Denham Williams, the one drop batsman came good against St. Joseph's and ran out of partners in compiling an undefeated 98. Jeewan Mendis, the number 4, is as good as they get, followed by skipper Dilshan Gunawardene, who has performed in fits and starts. The lower order has come good at crucial times and Tharindu Fernando, Praveen Peiris and the more recognised bowlers have helped St. Thomas' compile good first innings scores. The bowling is in the capable hands of Tharindu Fernando and Praveen Peiris with back up support from young Videsh Balasubramanium and skipper Gunawardene and leg spinner Jeewan Mendis. What is good about the Thomian outfit is that they havn't depended too much on Jeewan Mendis, like the Royalists have on their skipper Ganganath Ratnayake who can make the difference as one of the consistent players among the schools this season. The Royalists seem to be clicking at the right time and their opening combination of Suren Mendis and 'keeper Arulprakash backed up by number 3 Chamikara and young 15 year old Navin Dias at number 4 seem adequate if not compact. Ganganath Ratnayake at number 5 has been the mainstay followed by Meenika Keenawinna and D.Abeygunawardene at number 6. Vice captain Chaminda Vidapathirane has contributed his mite lower down the order. He has also provided the early breakthroughs only to be followed by skipper Ganganath Ratnayake's tantalising off spin which has resulted in collecting over 50 wickets this season. It may be unfair to say that Royal are a 'one man team', but to all intents and purposes it would seem so. Will the "blue, black and blue" fly high at the SSC or will the Royal grit and determination prevent a Thomian win. The series tally according to the Royalists is 32 each. But according to the Thomians 33 wins is in their favour to 32 by the Royalists with the Thomians claiming victory in the famous 9-run match in 1885 which the Thomians calim as a win while the Royalists maintain that it was a draw. The battle continues to this day. Disce aut Discede and Esto Perpetua. |
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