Thurstan out to end barren run and chalk up win
By Ranjan Anandappa
CRICKET - The 44th annual cricket encounter between Isipathana and
Thurstan for the Blackham Wijewardena Trophy will be played on February
23 and 24 at the SSC ground. The Wijewardena Trophy has been presented
for this match since 1968. Since the trophy has been presented
Isipathana has won on 4 occasions while Thurstan has won thrice.
The big match series between the two schools began in 1964 at the
Municipal grounds matting wicket, and has so far produced 5 wins for
Thurstan and 4 for Isipathana and the rest have ended in draws, with a
match not been played in 1971 due to the insurgency.
Thurstan after a hat-trick of wins in 1990, 91' and 92' have not won
after that. Isipathana however beat Thurstan on in 1999.
This season, both Isipathana and Thurstan will rely on their batting
strengths for any favourable outcome of the match admitted Budhika
Samarawickerma (Thurstan) and Visuddhi Kaluwitharana (Isipathana) who
will lead the respective schools at this 44th encounter.
Thurstan's batting looks more formidable with the depth in their
lower order. The only two coloursmen in the team wicketkeeper opening
batsmen Hasitha Perera and Umesh Karunaratne have been the key
performers. Perera has over 700 runs and 40 'victims' against his name
and Umesh Karunaratne who was in and out of the side, being an under 19
poolist has 500 runs in eight matches and 60 wickets under his belt.
Karunaratne is blossoming out to be a top all-rounder. His highest score
is 102 against Sri Sumangala and the best bowling effort is 6 for 40
against Kingswood. Skipper Samarawickrema too has contributed well with
the bat scoring 600 runs with four half centuries. Isipathana's bowling
is spearheaded by medium pacer Shalaka Rangajeeva and of the others,
there is spinner Umesh Karunaratne.
Thurstan will have the service of last years' skipper Charith
Wickremaratne who has been among the runs this year with an aggregate of
600 with a century.
Thurstan has played 15 matches and won against Maliyadeva,
St.Benedict's, Sri Sumangala and Revatha MV.
For Isipathana opener Chirantha de Silva with 431 runs with the
inclusion of two 50s against St. Joseph's and and Nalanda and middle
order batsman Gamindu Kanishka 490 runs and 24 wickets have been the
chief performers for their school. Skipper Visuddhi Kauwitharana who
struck an unbeaten 102 in the 2005 'big match' has not been among the
runs this season, and Isipathana will hope that Kaluwitharana will come
back in to form and be among the runs. Isipathana's performance this
season has not been so impressive. Out of the 12 matches played so far,
they defeated Zahira and lost to St. Sebastian's.
The highest individual score in the series was recorded by
Isipathana's Saman Nishantha (150 n.o) in 2002, when he surpassed
Thurstan's Kamal Mahendra's (146n.o) in 1990.
Thurstan's left arm medium pacer Jayajeeva Karunaratne holds the
record for the best bowling figures (7 for 28) in 1992 while
Isipathana's K. L. S. K. Sirisena in 1967 had also taken 7 for 79.
Teams
Isipathana (from) Visuddhi Kaluwitharana (captain), Chirantha de
Silva, Maneesha Ayomal, Amira Rabel, Gamindu Kanishka, Nalaka Eranda,
Sachit Jayasinghe, Sameera Ratnayake, Lilan Fernando, Vimukthi
Deshapriya, Wadiba Perera, Danuka Fernando, Manindra Dharmadasa.
Thurstan (from) Buddhika Samarawickrema (captain), Hasitha Perera,
Charith Wickremaratne, Geeth Kumara, Umesh Karunaratne, Achala
Ramanayake, Charith Gayan, Ravindu Wijeratne, Shalaka Rangajeeva, Rishi
Ukwatte, Ishan Perera, Tyrel Jeramiah, Shehan Kamaileen, Chirath Madhawa.
|
