|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 6 March 2005 |
 |
|
 |
Sports |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Joes fancied to win 71st battle against Peterites by Ranjan Anandappa The high-riding Josephians, who are enjoying one of their best school cricket seasons this year, will confront their traditional rivals St. Peter's in their 71st 'Big Match' on March 11 and 12 at the P. Sara Stadium. The Joes have been the pick of the schools this year and are hoping to continue in the same vein that could end their barren run for over three decades. They last won in 1972 in their 38th encounter under Rohan Fernando, and the Peterite captain was former Sri Lankan Test star stylish batsman Roy Dias. The Peterites won in 1978 in the 44th encounter under off-spinner Suraj Abeysekera. The Josephian captain on that occasion was Shamilal de S. Wijeratne. The rest of the matches have ended in inevitable draws. The tally of wins are SJC 11 to SPC 7. In their 14 outings this season, the Joes have nine outright wins with an unbeaten record. They beat D. S. Senanayake by 6 wickets, Maris Stella, De Mazenod, St.Benedict's, Harischandra, Taxila Horana by an innings and defeated Royal by 14 runs, Trinity by 9 wickets and St. Sebastian's by 7 wickets. Their well-knit combination has all the fine ingredients of a strong outfit. The team is led by fourth-year coloursman and wicketkeeper Hashan Goonetileka who has led from the front, scoring over 750 runs with five half centuries and an agressive 150 against Wesley. They have the right combination of fastmen Angelo Mathew fast medium and Christopher Flemming left-arm fast medium togehter with spinners Ranesh Perera (right-arm leg-spin) Rajeeva Weerasinghe (off-spin) and Anton de Livera the third seamer and a hard hitting batsman in the side. Ranesh Perera, last year's captain in his fifth year with 59 wickets, Angelo Mathew 49 wickets and Rajeeva Weerasihge 40 wickets are members of the Under 19 squad for the Youth World Cup 2006. Christopher Fleming in his second year, is a left-armer who could swing the ball both ways and a useful lower-order batsman. Mathew, a genuine allrounder and Fleming have taken over 80 wickets between them and the two spinners Ranesh Perera and Rajeeva Weerasinghe have shared over 100 wickets among them. Basically, the Joes have a fine set of allrounders with Angelo Mathew and Ranesh Perera outstanding. The most outstanding player in the under 16 tournament Ruwantha Fernandopulle and Dimuth Karunaratne will open batting for the Joes with Dhanuka Hettiarachchi and Roshane de Silva strengthening the top order. Both batsmen have a couple of half-centuries and Karunaratne struck a fine century in their last outing against St. Anthony's Katugasthota. The Peterites, on the other hand, have played 14 matches with two good wins against S.Thomas' and De Mazenod College Kandana, but lost to Isipathana. The Peterites are a team without big names but the players have stuck to their job admirably. Prajive Jansz in his 5th year will lead the side. Jansz, Delan Uduganasuriya, allrounder Shanaka Wickremasekera and Hans Fernando have been among the runs. The Petes' problem has been their middle-order comprising vice-captain Dasun Randika, Lahiru Peiris and Krishal Magage not coming upto expectations. They lack depth in their middle and lower-middle order batting to post big scores. They hope that it will come right when the need arises. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
