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| Sunday, 23 February 2003 |
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St. Thomas' aim for repeat performance of last year against St. Servatius by A. C. DE SILVA It's big-match time deep down in Matara and the 103rd 'Battle of the Blues' between St. Thomas', Matara and St. Servatius a three-day game at that will be on at the Uyanwatte Stadium on February 28, March 1 and 2 with play scheduled to start at 10 a.m. each day and a minimum of 90 overs to be bowled each day. St. Thomas' colours are brown and blue, while St. Servatius' colour in green and white. Then how is it that the match is called 'Battle of the Blues?' The match is titled that way, as the two schools are located on either side of the 'Nilwala Ganga.' So, this river which is most important for irrigation in the district and the lifeline of the farmers has been given its due recognition in cricket and this match has come to stay as the 'Battle of the Blues.' This game became a three-day affair from the centenary year in 2000 but unfortunately the records in this annual encounter has somewhat been lost during the period of the insurrection. However, according to available data, St. Thomas' is in the lead with 14 wins to St. Servatius' 12, with the rest of the matches ending in draws. Last year, St. Thomas' recorded an innings win, while the last St. Servatius' victory came far back as 1971. The Matara Thomians aim for a repeat performance of last year in this year's match. In last year's encounter, St. Thomas' scored 304 with Chanaka Chathuranga making a majestic knock of 146, while St. Servatius were shot out for 66 in the first innings and 180 in their follow-on. For the Matara Thomians, N. P. Wickremasinghe had a record haul of 8 for 16. St. Thomas' Matara are brimming with confidence for this year's game as well, having played eight matches and winning seven of them outright, while one match ended in a draw. The St. Thomas' wins came against C. W. W. Kannangara MV, Matugama, Bulathsinhala MMV, Gankanda MMV Pelmadulla, Susayamawadena MV, Borella, Bentota Gamini MV, Devapathiraja MMV, Rathgama, Mahabodhi MV, Colombo. The one match that they drew was against Nalanda 'A'. The Thomian team is strong in batting and they have in Ranjan Kaushan a batsman who has scored three centuries this season - against Devapathiraja College, Ratgama, Bulathsinhala MMV and C. W. W. Kannangara MV, Matugama. Kaushan has totalled 480 runs in five matches. The Thomian captain Chanaka Komasaru - the Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in the Outstation category is a spin bowler with much promise for the future. He has captured 38 wickets from five matches. The vice-captain of the team is R. Jayasuriya. St. Servatius are somewhat keen to reverse last year's result and be on the winning side this year, but they have a stiff task ahead of them as the Matara Thomians are an experienced outfit. St. Servatius' also take pride in the fact that the present Sri Lanka skipper Sanath Jayasuriya who is doing well with the bat for Sri Lanka at the World Cup cricket tournament in South Africa is an old boy of the school and captained the team in 1988. St. Servatius played three matches this season and they beat Hikkaduwa Sri Sumangala by an innings, while the others have ended in draws. In skipper Danesh Lorensuhewa and Kasun hit centuries against Hikkaduwa Sri Sumangala, while Kasun came up with a match-winning bowling performance, taking eight wickets in the match. |
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