Close tussle expected in 'Battle of the Babes'

by S. M. Jiffrey ABDEEN - Kandy Sports Corr.

ST. SYLVESTERS COLLEGE: Seated from left: Palinda Mahesh de Silva (MIC), Thiwanka Gunaratne, Nuwan Nilantha (captain), Ranil Meetiyagoda (captain), Dananjaya Athauda (vice captain), Menuka Nanayakkara, Tudor Gunaratne (coach). Standing: Chamila Perera, Kanushka Herath, Anuradha Eriyagama, Diliepa Gayashan, Janith Herath, Waruna Wijesinghe, Suraj Yatigammana, Niluka Kandaderage, Kasun Wickremawardena, Faiz Ahamed, Dushan Malalasena, Ruwantha Ekanayake, Sumedha Dissanayake.

VIDYARTHA COLLEGE: Seated from left: Dinusha Gunatillake, Jayantha Kumara (MIC), Thirantha Dissanayake (captain), H.J. Ananda Upatissa (POG), Kasun Wijekoon (vice captain), B.P.K. Ranasinghe (coach). Sameera Abeyratne. Standing: Indika Ranaweera, Kanushka Senaviratne, Dulaj Perera, Chinthaka Deshapriya, Samitha Attanayake, Kasun Chathuranga, Niluksha Galapitage, Ruwan Sanjeewa, Basuru Senadeera, Chamil Chandrasiri, Keshan Gamage, Tilina Rupasena, Tharindu Ranaweera, Devaka Abeywardena, Ruwan Kumara. Pictures by S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Correspondent

CRICKET: A close tussle is expected when St. Sylvester's College, Kandy, takes on Vidyartha College in the 52nd "Battle of the Babes" which will be played at the Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy, on March 19 and 20. Play commences at 9.45 a.m. on the first day and at 9.30 a.m. on the following day.

This battle came to be known as the "Battle of the Babes" as both schools were comparatively new to the schools cricket scene at that time and the big match took root in the mid fifties. But can you any longer call them babes as they are now 52 years old?

Of the 51 battles which had been fought out, the Sylvestians are in the lead with 13 wins against 3 by Vidyartha College. Last year, the Sylvestrians under Chanaka Colombage won through a default and the Match Referee awarded the match to the Sylvestrians.

The Sylvestrians needed 10 runs to win with 8 wickets in hand and with plenty of overs remaining. The two umpires stopped play around 5.10 p.m. due to bad light.

But twenty minutes later, when the light had further deteriorated came to the middle and wanted play to be resumed. But, Vidyartha College team did not come out, stating that it was unsafe to continue play.

Thus history was created when a big match was awarded first time to one of the teams. In any event there was no question about a Sylvestrian victory, as they were very close it.

The last win for Vidyartha College came in 1967 under the captaincy of R. M. Lafir. Lafir retired as DIG two years ago. Thus Vidyartha College have a 42-year-old 'jinx' to break.

Kodikara 218 notout

The highest individual score in the series stands to Thushara Kodikara of Vidyartha College who slammed 218 not out in 1984 which is also the only double century on record in the series. Medium-pacer late Sarath Basnayake of St. Sylvester's College has the best bowling analysis in the series when he had a match-bag of 14 for 48 in 1962 and this match was won by the Sylvestrians by an innings and 13 runs.

Vidyartha made 45 and 98 in this match against a small total of 156 by their opponents.

Sarath Basnayake bowled with such hostility that he captured 9 for 14 in the first innings and 5 for 34 in the second.

Then in 1967 late Hiran Rajakaruna did better and had a hat-trick by capturing 4 wickets in 4 balls for the sylvestrians.

In 1974, left arm spinner from St. Sylvester's Rodney David, in a deadly spell, captured 6 for 3 runs, bundling out Vidyartha for 32 runs. In second innings, he took 4 for 26 to return the match figures of 10 for 29. Vidyartha were shot out for 100 and the Sylvestrians won by an innings 78 runs.

This year St. Sylvester's College will be led by fourth-year player and allrounder Nuwan Nilantha who has scored 510 runs this season and also captured 30 wickets with his off spinners.

Third year player Dananjaya Athauda is the vice-captain of the side. He has scored 350 runs and captured 46 wickets with his medium pacers.

The Sylvestrians have played 14 matches, won 1 (President's College, Kotte), and lost 4 games (D. S. Senanayake College, St. Sebastian's College, Moratu Vidyalaya and Maliyadewa College). The rest of the matches have been drawn. They also travelled to Jaffna last week and beat St. John's College by six wickets and participated in a twenty-20 cricket tournament held in Jaffna.

Gayashan - leading scorer

Dilepa Gayashan is their leading run getter scoring with 570 runs with a top score of 146 vs St. Aloysius. Others who should swell the total are Nuwan Nilantha (510 runs), Dananjaya Athauda (311 runs), Menuka Nanayakkara (467 runs), Ruwantha Ekanayake (400 runs), Warun Wijesinghe (313 runs), Kanishka Herath (355 runs) and Niluka Kanderage (150 runs).

Dananjaya Athauda (46 wkts) will open the attack with Waruna Wijesinghe (19 wkts) with Janith Herath for extra pace. Leg-spinner Dushan Malalasena has been the most successful spinner taking 32 wickets. The other spinners in the side are: off-spinner Nuwan Nilantha (27 wkts), off-spinner Dilepa Gayashan (25 wkts). They will be supported by leg-spinner Kanishka Herath. Leg-spinner Ruwantha Ekanayaka, off-spinner Paiz Ahamed. Menuka Nanayakkara is the 'stumper' of the side and has 50 victims to his credit.

Vidyartha College will be led by fourth-year player Thirantha Dissanayake who has scored over 600 runs with 4 half centuries. Perhaps his best performance was in last year when he scored 112 against Trinity College at Asgiriya. He also bowl off-spinners. Kasun Wijekoon a third year player, is the vice-captain of the side. A good right hand bat who has scored 650 runs including a top score of 142 against Trinity College. Vidyartha College have played 10 matches won 1 (Piliyandala Central) lost two (St. Anthony's College and Gurukula Vidyalaya) and drawn seven games. The capable batsmen in the side are last year's skipper Sameera Abeyratne (450 runs), Dinusha Gunatillake (530 runs), Ruwan Bandara (550 runs). Chamil Chandrasiri (350 runs). Nilaksha Galapitige (250 runs) and Keshan Gamage (150 runs). Kasun Wijekoon with 35 wickets will open the attack with Sameera Abeyratne (30 wkts). Their main spinner will be off-spinner Tilina Rupasena (45 wkts) supported leg-spinner Samitha Attanayake (40 wkts).

This duo will have to bear the brunt of the slow bowling. The other spinners in the side are off-spinner Thirantha Dissanayake (20wkts), leg-spinner Keshan Gamage (20wkts), off-spinner Tharindu Ranaweera (25wkts). Ruwan Bandara has 40 victims behind the 'stumps'.