Gurukula and Sri Dharmaloka longing for a win

Edward Weerasinghe - Kelaniya Group Corr.

CRICKET: Oh for a win! The two captains - Rashmika Perera of Sri Dharmaloka and G. Salitha of Gurukula College will be longing for a definite result to their 21st annual `Big Match' that will be played at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium on March 25 and 26. The one-day encounter will be played on April 5 at the same venue.

Though both sets of cricketers from Sri Dharmaloka and Gurukula are keen on the game, however, they have not been able to keep the supporters of the two schools by playing positive cricket all these years in order to effect a result. All 20 matches played in the series have ended in draws.

So, the supporters of the two schools will hope at least this year some positive methods will be adopted by the cricketers of the two schools in order to make the cricket on the two days interesting in order to bring about a result.

Fifth year colourman Rasmika Perera who leads Sri Dharmaloka will again hope, is a versatile left-arm spinner and will hope that he would be able to command the respect of the Gurukula batsmen this year as well.

Last year the had a rich haul of wickets - 8 for 25 which was somewhat of a record for he Premadasa Stadium.

This season, he has so far captured 73 wickets in 10 matches played this season and his best effort this season has been 9 for 21 against St. Thomas' College, Bandarawela.

He is also a capable left-hand batsman and has scored a century and two half-centuries. He has a total of 551 runs this season.

Iranga Krishan is the Vice Captain of the side and he is the wicket-keeper of the side and has been an attacking batsman with a tally of 852 runs which includes a best score of 135 against Nalanda `A' team from Colombo two other centuries and seven half-centuries.

Dharmaloka has won two matches this season - beating Nalanda Colombo Second Eleven by an innings and 55 runs and they also beat St. Thomas' College, Bandarawela by an innings and 158 runs.

They had the better of the exchanges in the first innings of their games against Taxila, Horana, Sri Devananda, Ambalangoda and St. Thomas', Matale.

Gurukula will be led by fifth year coloursman G. Salitha - a fine all rounder and the fact that he had played for the team for five years speaks volumes of the experience that he has gained.

He has scored over 300 runs and captured 20 wickets.

The Vice Captain of the team is T. Dilan - also a fifth year coloursman and with his skipper G. Salitha carries all the hopes for the Gurukula team in this year's encounter.

He has a total of 350 runs which included two half-centuries.

Gurukula played seven matches this season and won two matches beat Asoka Vidyalaya by five wickets and beat Karandeniya Central by 43 runs.

They drew their matches against St. Thomas', Matale, Sri Rahula, Katugastota, Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte, Tissa MMV, Kalutara. They lost to Rahula College, Matara.

GURUKULA COLLEGE (Standing from left): N. Prabath, K. Sasitha, G. Buddhika, D. Sampath, T. Lakshitha, U. Niroshan, R. Anuruddha, S. Jayasekera, M. Chathuranga, K. Udara, R. Koththagoda, G. Sankalpa. (Seated from left): Lal Senarathna (Coach), G. Salitha (Captain), K.L.S. Gunawardana (Deputy Principal), Anil Geethaal Abeygunawardana (Principal), K.A.D.B.C. Udeshika (Deputy Principal), T. Dilan (Vice Captain), Rasitha Dinesh (Assistant Coach). - Pic: by Edward Weerasinghe - Kelaniya Group Corr.

SRI DHARMALOKA (Standing from left): Thilina Puspitha, Yasas Arunodha, Manuka Salinga, Suminda Roshan, Prabuddha Harshith, Pradeep Sampath, Lahiru Buddhika, Pasindu Samaraweera, Chathura Lakmina, Gayantha Anjana, Sameera Madhusanka, Dumina Kulathunga, Gayana Geethanjana. (Seated from left): E.D.A.K. Wickremasinghe (Master-in-Charge), Udaya Perera (Coach), Madhusahana, Ven. Napagoda Sumanatissa Thera (Vice Principal), Iranga Krishnan (Vice Captain), A.S. Namil Jayaweera (Principal), Rashmika Madhuranga Perera (Captain), S.W.B. Bulathsinhala (Vice Principal), Nilanka Subodha, Miss Sumudu Weerasinghe (Vice Principal). - Pic: Edward Weerasinghe - Kelaniya Group Corr.