St. Sylvester's determined to chalk up victory over Vidyartha

by S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy Sports Corr

CRICKET: St. Sylvester's College, Kandy, will go out favourites when they take on Vidyartha College, Kandy, in their 49th 'Battle of the Babes' encounter which is scheduled to be played at the Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy Friday and Saturday - March 16th and 17th. This match will be played for Rev. Fr. Don George Memorial trophy.

Of the 48 encounters that have been played the Sylvestrians have won 14 while Vidyartha College has won only 3. The last Sylvestrian victory came in 1998 under Hemantha Wimalawickrama. But Vidyartha College has a 38-year-old jinx to overcome as their last victory came in 1969 under R.M. Lafir - the present SSP Colombo Traffic who went to represent the country at rugby.

St. Sylvester's will be led by wicketkeeper opening bat Rajitha Wickremarachchi who is the leading scorer in the side getting 782 runs including three centuries against Maris Stella College, Kingswood College and Ananda Satralaya. He has 30 victims behind the stumps.

The deputy skipper of the side is allrounder Chanaka Silva.

The Sylvestrians have played 14 matches, winning 4, losing 1 and drawing the rest. They have beaten St. Thomas', Matale, Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte, Sri Sumangala, Kandy and Zahira College, Colombo. The only loss has been to St. Sebastian's College.

Vidyartha College which is fielding an inexperienced side with only four left from last year's side, will be led by fourth-year coloursman Madhuka Weerasekera with over 300 runs to his credit, with a highest score of 127 against Mahanama College.

Fourth year colourman Nandun Basnayake who could lay the claim as the best allrounder in the side is the vice captain. Vidyartha College have played 12 matches, winning none, losing two (Kalutara Vidyalaya and St. Anne's College) and drawing 10 games.

St. Sylvester's College: Rajitha Wickremarachchi (Captain), Chanuka Silva (Vice Captain), Ravi Karunaratne, Mohammed Feshal, Roshan Jayatissa, Chanaka Ranaweera, Nuski Mohammed, Yasiru Chanaka, Kasun Alwis, Chanaka Colombage, Saman Embilimegama, Dhanushka Silva, Nuwan Nilantha, Dananjaya Athauda, Aruna Sampath, Shakeer Mafaz, Preshan Thivatha (Coach Tudor Gunaratne. MIC C.J. Kalugampitiya, POG: A.K.B. Dodanwela).

Vidyartha College: Madhuka Weerasekera (captain), Nandun Basnayake (vice captain), Dilan Senanayake, Udara Wijeratne, Dilina Kaushalya, Theekshana Wedagedera, Madusanka Wijekoon, Sameera Abeyratne, Ravindra Weerakoon, Thirantha Dissanayake, K. Lahiru Herath, Thilina Wijekoon, Yasantha Dassanayake, Ushan Wickremasinghe, Aravinda de Silva, Gayan Gunatilleke (Coach: Priyantha Weragoda, MIC Ananda Upatissa, POG W.D.O. Wijewansa).