Tough assignment for Isipathana to level series against Thurstan

by Leslie Fernando

Thurstan College (Standing from left): Haritha Dias, Luvina Lochana, Sajeewa Salgado, Ranga Wijewickrema, Sacintha Wijesinghe, Kaveen Tharindu, Lilan Fernando, Supun Nawarathna, Prabath Wijesinghe, Minhaj Jalil, Sachith Dias. (Seated from left): Prabodha Arthavidu, Udara Munasinghe, Daminda Wickremahewa, Shihan Kamileen, Vimal Gunarathne, (Principal), Thisure Madurapperuma, D. N. Gurudeniya (MIC Sports), Javad Siyambalapitiya, Aravinda Amarasekera (Coach)

Isipathana College (Standing from left): Dinusha Fernando, Harith Wanigaarachchi, Samitha Sulochana, Vikum de Costa, Harshaka Cooray, Irfan Rahim, Dhanushka Sandaruwan, Vidarshana Shenuka, Sidath Vimukthi, Bushan Nibanda, Sasanka Nilusha, Chanaka Jayanetty, Dimitri Perera. Seated from left): Suranga Wijenayake (coach), Anushka Samaratunga, Dimuth Warapitiya, K.A.D. Punnyadasa (Principal), Thiwanka Ranasinghe, L. L. Sisira Kumara (Master incharge cricket). Chamara Waduge.

CRICKET: Isipathana has a tough assignment to level the winning record of Thurstan in the series when the two teams clash in their 47th big cricket encounter for the Blackhem Wijewardena Trophy to be played on February 26 and 27 at the SSC grounds.

Of the 46 encounters played so far in the series, Thurstan has won five matches end Isipathana four and 37 encounters have been drawn. Thurstan College last won the Big Match in 1992 under Mackenzie Perera. Isipathana’s last win was in 1999 under Krishantha Jayawardana.

Thurstan with five top coloursmen and a number of promising allrounders in their ranks will be targeting the traditional Big Match. Meanwhile Isipathana who are faced with many difficulties and even without a playground of their own, are yet determined to make their presence felt in the Big encounter.

This year Thurstan College team is captained by fourth year coloursman Shihan Kamileen who has scored over 1,000 runs with three centuries. He has honour of being the first schoolboy cricketer to reach 1000 runs this season. Third year player Thiwanka Ranasinghe is leading Isipathana College team.

He is an aggressive right-hand batsman and is a right-arm-off-spinner. Thurstan skipper Shihan Kamaleen is a capable batsman having scored many runs including a ton score of 120 against Lumbini MV as a right-arm-spinner, he has captured 46 wickets this season.

Udara Munasinghe is another batsman who has reached the 1000 runs this season. He hit a fine 123 runs against S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia. Harith Dias has captured 46 wickets best being 8 for 68 runs.

On the Isipathana side, there is Supun Nawaratne - the ‘keeper’ who performed well taking. 28 catches and 4 stumpings this season. Sasanka Nilusha (485 runs), Dimitri Perera (538 runs) and Vidarshana Shenuka (326 runs) are the top order batsmen in the Isipathana side.

On the bowling front Anushka Samaratunga is one of the best bowlers in the schools. Left-arm-spinner Anushka has taken 121 wickets. He claimed 9 for 22 against Mahanama College, 8 for 39 against the Thomians and 6 for 17 against Lumbini College. Right-arm-off-spinner Sumitha Sulochana has taken 70 wickets this season.

Thurstan-Isipathana 30th limited over encounter will be played on March 7 at P. Sara Stadium for the W. A. de Silva Memorial Trophy. The third Twenty20 match will be played on March 14 at Thurstan College grounds.