Petes with six centurions hold whip hand against Joes

by Leslie FERNANDO

St. Peter’s College... Seated (from left): Mr. Kite Fernandopulle (Asst. Coach), Mr. Piyan Salgado (Asst. Coach), Andri Berenger, Rev. Fr. Shamira Nirosh Coorey (Sports Co-ordinator), Chathura Peiris (Captain), Rev. Fr. Travis Gabriel (Rector), Akshu Fernando, Angelo Emmanuel, Mr. Kirthi Gunaratne (Head Coach), Mr. Wasantha Haputhanthri (Master-in-charge), Sanath Chinthaka (Asst. Master-in-charge). Middle Row (from left): Shanendra Fernando, Janika Kanangara, Jason Buultjens, Nilochana Perera, Ranith Liyanarachchi, Aasif Mackie, Denham Perera, Sidath Jayaweera, Lahiru Jayarathna, Lahiru Milantha, Shehan Fernando. Back Row: Chamila Godallawatte, Dhushan Hemantha, Trishan Fernando, Shanaka Panditharathne, Tharindu Samaranayake, Dhanushka Kodikara, Julian de Zilva.

St. Joseph’s College: Back Row: Hemantha Jayasundera, Sadeera Samarawickrema, Supechala Jayatilleke, Vidusha Jayasinghe, Kevein Bernadus, Sachin Hewawasam. Middle Row: Roscee Thattil, Enrice Silva, Dinal Fonseka, Dmitri Cooray, Vyshal Wickremaratne, Nishitha Perera, Keshan Perera, Ravin Perumal, Angelo Rodriguesz, Rameash Vidanarachchi. Seated: Prasantha Ranaweera (Master-in-charge), Susilough de S. Wijeratne (Cricket Co-ordinator), Harsha de Silva (Head Coach), Rev. Fr. Chaminda Wanigasena (Prefect-of-Games), Dinal Dhambarage (Captain), Rev. Fr. Sylvester Ranasinghe (Rector), Chathuranga Kumara, Rev. Fr. Sudath Gunatilleke (Vice Rector), Jaan Jayasinghe, Kapila Manohara (Asst. Coach), Dilshan Fonseka (Trainer).

CRICKET: St. Peter’s College will bank on their batsmen to take them through and beat traditional rivals St. Joseph’s College in the 76th Josphian-Peterite encounter played for Rev. Fr. Murice Legoc Trophy to be played at the Sara Stadium on March 5 and 6.

In the 75 encounters that have been played so far the Josephians have won on twelve occasions and the Peterites have got only 7 wins. Joes last won in 2008 under Ruwantha Fernandopulle. The Peterites last success was in 1978 under Suraj Abeysekera.

This year’s encounter is sponsored by Ceylon Cold Stores. Rajive Benedict played for St. Joseph’s College in 1970 to 1972 and was instrumental in Joes winning the two big Matches for college in 1970 and 1972 by getting two 10-wicket hauls with his left-arm swing bowling.

St. Peter’s will be led by Chathura Peiris this year and he was entrusted with the honour of captaining the Sri Lanka under-19 team at the World Cup 2009. He missed many matches as he was on national duty. St. Peter’s played 18 matches and registered outright wins over St. Aloysius College, De Mazenod College and St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota. They lost to Dharmapala by an innings and 17 runs and the rest of the matches were drawn.

The Peterites will depend solely on their in-form batsmen six of whom scored centuries - Anjelo Emmanuel (110 against St. Aloysius College), Denham Perera (170 against St. Benedict’s), Nilochana Perera (127 against De Mazenod), Shehan Fernando (123 against Ananda), Andie Berenger (137 against S. Thomas’ College) and skipper Chathura Peiris (124 against Joseph Vaz College).

The Peterites main wicket-taking bowler has been leg-spinner Angelo Emmanuel who has captured 36 wickets. He has two five-wicket hauls to his credit. Nilochana Perera fast-medium bowler, is other bowler to watch. He has taken 32 wickets, the best figures being 8 wickets for 42 against Maris Stella College. Lahiru Jayaratne, the right-arm penetrative opening bowler, had the honour of representing at the under-19 World Cup, has taken 20 wickets, with figures being 5 for 23 against St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota.

St. Joseph’s led by Dinal Dhamarage has also had a satisfying season. They beat Isipathana Moratu Vidyalaya, President’s College, Kotte, Wesley College and Trinity College. The Joes lost to Royal College by 6 wickets.

Compared to the Peterites, St. Joseph’s College has only one centurion - Chathuranga Kumara who has scored 911 runs including 4 centuries against St. Sylvester’s College (142), 114 against St. Anthony’s College Katugastota, 102 against Moratu Vidyalaya, 110 against Kalutara Vidyalaya. The other batsmen who should help the Joes to build up their innings will be Jaan Jayasinghe (624 runs), Enrice Silva (560), Sadira Samarawickrema (482) and Supeshala Jayatilleke (343).

Skipper Dinal Dhambarage, left-arm opening bowler who has claimed 52 wickets Rosco Thattil, the right-arm spinner with 58 wickets, Chathuranga Kumara the right-arm opening bowler 57 wickets together with Supeshala Jayatilleke 39 wickets will be the Joes main bowlers who will be entrusted with the task of curtailing the strong Peterite batting line-up.

The two teams will be allowed only 60 overs in the first innings, but there will be no restriction on the number of overs in the second innings.