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| Sunday, 17 March 2002 |
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Close tussle expected in Sri Sumangala vs Sri Rahula Game by S. M. JIFFREY ABDEEN A close battle is expected when Sri Sumangala College, Kandy, take on Sri Rahula College, Katugastota in their 12th 'Battle of the Maroons' to be played at the Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy today and tomorrow (March 17 and 18) which ends the 'Big Matches' in the hill capital for the season. There is little to chose between the two sides as their season's records are not too impressive. Sri Rahula played five matches during the season and failed to register a single outright win but they have made amends by securing five first innings wins. But on the minus side, they have two outright defeats and two first innings defeats. Though they do not play the same opposition Sri Sumangala College have a slightly better record having played 8 matches, won two outright, the only school from the hill capital to have won two matches outright, won two matches in the first innings and the negative factor against them is two outright losses and two first innings defeats. Sri Sumangala is led by all rounder Tilina Siyambalagahakotuwa who has scored over 450 runs and captured 25 wickets with his off spinners. Vice Captain Indika Karunatillake is about the best player in the side being entrusted with the task of opening both the batting and bowling and he has acquitted both these tasks with credit. In batting he has scored over 500 runs including two centuries and has captured 35 wickets. He is best remembered for his fighting century in the last year's Big Match which evened up the battle. Thus this year too Indika Karunatillake could be a headache to the opponents. Fielding a comparatively young side, the other batsmen of note are Roshan Jayawardena, Charaka Wijeratne, Waruna Wijeratne, Sanath Jayasinghe, K. B. Dassanayake, D. N. Gannile, Dhanushka Mitipolarachchi. The pace bowling will be in the hands of Sanath Jayasinghe who captured a match of 12 for 142 against Wariyapola Sri Sumangala and Indika Karunatillake. Helping the duo with the quick stuff will be Roshan Jayawardena, Sameera Priyadharshana. Tilina Siyambalagahakotuwa will lead the spinners and he will rely on Charaka Wijeratne (off spin), Waruna Wijeratne (leg spin), K. B. Dassanayake (off spin), Dhanushka Mitipolarachchi (off spin), and Roshan Sanjaya (off spin) to put the breaks on the Rahula batsmen. D. N. Gannile will keep wickets. Sri Rahula will be led by left arm spinner and punishing bat Nuwan Peiris who has had a successful season scoring 420 runs and also capturing 45 wickets. Nimantha Priyadharshana who is the stumper of the side is the vice captain. He has scored over 500 runs and has 25 victims behind the stumps. Samitha Fernando has been the most successful batsman during the season with over 600 runs inclusive of a century. Others who have excelled with the bat during the current season are Vindika Prassanna (300 runs), Amal Gunawardena (300 runs), Sajeewa Silva (200 runs), Yasintha Wanigasekera, Rangana Silva, Rishi Vedage and Asanka Kariyawasam. Ajith Udayakumara is expected to spearhead the attack with Vindika Prassanna but both do not appear to have delivered the goods. For extra pace there will be Yasintha Wanigasekera, Amal Gunawardena and Sumudu Jayaweera. But the brunt of the bowling will have to be borne by skipper Nuwan Peiris whose left arm spinners have reaped a harvest of 45 wickets, and keeping company will be Samitha Fernando (off spin), Rangana Silva (off spin), Sajeewa Silva (off spin), Nalin Samaratunga (off spin), which means that the leg spin department is decrepit. Of the 11 battles which had been fought out, Sri Sumangalians are ahead with two wins and they have to-date not tasted defeat in this encounter. Sri Rahula have still to record to maiden win which as it appears may have to look some other day in the future. Nine matches have ended in draws. |
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