St. Servatius has edge over St. Thomas' in Ruhuna 'Battle of the Blues'

by Priyan DE SILVA - Matara Sports Corr.

St. Servatius College - Standing (from left): Anjana de Silva, Vibaga Madushan, Yohan Chanuka, Sanjika Ridma, Nimanda Madusanka, Kasun Rajitha, Sameera Dharshana, Himasha Gunawardena, Gihan Nimsara, Pium Kaushan, Inzam Mohamed, Lasitha Udyakumara. Seated (from left): Sanidu Ediriweera, Kasun Madhusanka (Vice Captain), Tharindu Manage (Assistant Coach), Manjula Priyantha (Master-in-Charge), Nimalsiri Wanigabaduge (Principal), A.M. Priyantha (Assistant Coach), G.H. Oshan Kalhara (Captain), Lahiru Kokila. Absent: P.B. Buddhika (Coach). - Pictures by Priyan de Silva - Matara Sports Corr.

St. Thomas’ College - standing (from left): Ajitha Dilhara, Lahiru Dantanarayana, Dumindu Chamod, Ashan Lakintha, Ravindu Damsara, Thilina Mahesh, Ishan Maduranga, Rajinda Punchihewa, Jayanga Nirmana, Suresh Kumar, Rasika Damith, Ishan khanishka, Nayana Roy, Thusitha Dushan, Norman Ratnayake, Mohamed Ismath. Seated (from left): Janutha Ranasingha, Nipun Ranaweera, Kasun Attanayake (Captain), Charith Palliyage (Coach), J. Mathangadeera (Prefect of Games), S. Suraweera (Principal), Sisira Weerasinghe (Master-in-Charge), Dinusha Jayasanka (Vice-Captain), Nisal Nadeepa, Ashan Dinura.

CRICKET: The Ruhunu Battle of the Blues between St. Servatius College, Matara and St. Thomas' College, Matara - the 110th encounter will be a three-day encounter between these two century-old colleges on March 19, 20 and 21 at the Uyanwatta Stadium, Matara.

The three-day match will have St. Servatius as hosts while the 50-over encounter will be hosted by St. Thomas' College.

This match, first played in 1900 has been played continuously for the past eleven decades. St. Thomas' have won 32 encounters, the last occasion of them winning was in 2007 under the captaincy of Tharaka Dushantha.

St. Servatius is somewhat behind with 27 victories, the last win being in 1971 under the captaincy of Nimal Munaweera. There has been 50 games that have ended in draws.

Though St. Servatius are somewhat behind in the chase for victories, they had in their ranks some outstanding crickets in their 123-year-old history. The most illustrious cricketer of all has been the "Matara mauler' or the Master-Blaster Sanath Jayasuriya and he captained the St. Servatius team in 1988.

Two other players of repute who have played for St. Servatius have been Ruchira Palliayaguru and Tharanga Lakshitha. Oshan Kalhara captains St. Servatius College this year and the Vice Captain Kasun Madhusanka - the Vice Captain is in fine fettle, having represented Sri Lanka in the Under-19 Youth World Cup team in New Zealand this year.

St. Servatius is coached by P.B. Buddhika since 2008. He captained St. Servatius College in 1996 and scored over 1,000 runs that season.

St. Thomas' is coached by Charith Palliyage since 2008. He played for St. Thomas' from 1997 to 1999.

In the season's matches, St. Servatius has performed will this season and are heading the under-19 division two Group 'D' in the Munchee Youth Under-19 Tournament with four outright wins - against Ibbagamwua Central, St. Xavier's College, Chialw, St. Patrick's, Jaffna and Bandaranayake Vidyalaya, Gampaha. They got first innings wins against Carey College, Colombo, Dharmaloka Vidyalaya, Kelaniya and lost to St. Thomas' College, Matale. So, St. Servatius seems to have a slight edge over rivals St. thomas' in the all important three-day game. In the six friendly matches, St. Servatius did not fare well. They got first innings wins against Sri Devananda and lost outright against Maris Stella, Negombo, Isipatana MV, Rahula College, Matara, Mahinda College, Galle. They also lost in the first innings to Mahanama College.

St. Thomas' fared equally well in Group 'C' of the Munchee Youth Under-19 tournament and in Division II of the tourney, they got outright wins against Sri Devananda College, and Kegalu Vidyalaya. won on first innings against Gurukula MMV and Sri Rahula College, Katugastota, drew with Vidyartha and Rahula College, Matara and lost outright to Piliyandala Central College.

In friendly matches, they recorded first innings wins against S. Thomas', Mount Lavinia 'A', Asoka Vidyalaya, Karandeniya Central and St. Aloysius' College, Galle. St. Thomas' lost on the first innings against St. Sebastian's, Moratuwa, Royal College, Colombo and drew with St. Sylvester's College, Kandy.