111th St. Servatius vs St. Thomas' Matara encounter on March 18, 19 and 20

by Priyan DE SILVA - Matara Sports Corr.

Matara Big Match: The 111th Matara's 'Big Match' as they call it between St. Servatius and St. Thomas' College, Matara will be played for three days - March 18, 19 and 20 at the Uyanwatte Stadium in Matara.

St. Thomas' College lead in the series with 32 wins to St. Servatius 27 wins and 51 encounters have been drawn. It was in 2007 that St. Thomas' last won this encounter under the captaincy of Tharaka Dushantha.

This encounter has had some outstanding cricketers in action and the most notable has been Sanath Jayasuriya - the Sri Lankan star who captained St. Servatius in 1988. St. Thomas' is led by fourth year coloursman Nipun Rangana Ranaweera -an allrounder who has scored over 450 runs this season with a top score of 119 against St. John's Nugegoda. He has also taken 45 wickets. The vice-captain of the team is wicket-keeper Ravindu Damsara. The Thomians have a strong batting line-up and their batting has improved of late and one of their leading batsman has been Ashan Denura Ranasingha who has a unbeaten double century to his credit and in bowling he has captured 45 wickets. Then there is also Jayanga Nirmana de Silva who has scored over 500 runs inclusive of two centuries. There is another centurial in the side - Ishan Abeysekera who scored 181 against Sri Piyaratna Maha Vidyalaya and he too is near the 500-run mark.

St.Thomas' satisfying season

St. Thomas' has fared well this season in their under 19 tournament matches conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association. They scored outright wins against Sri Devananda, Ambalangoda, Siri Piyarathna Padukka and, St. Thomas' College, Kotte. They registered first innings wins against P. de. S. Kularathna College, Ambalangoda, President's College, Kotte, Karandeniya Central and St. John's College, Nugegoda.

St. Thomas' did well to have the record score of 600 runs against Siri Piyarathna College, Padukka. St. Thomas', in their non-tournament matches, won against Revtha College, Balapitiya and Devapathiraja College, Kandy and drew with Rahula College, Matara and Royal College, Colombo and lost in the first innings to St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa.

St. Servatius - not being successful

St. Servatius College were promoted to division one of the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association tournament by virtue of being a finalist in last year's tournament. St. Servatius College' however, did not have the anticipated success in their matches, but won match outright against Lumbini M.V. Colombo and also had the better of exchanges in their game against Nalanda with a first innings lead. They lost of Maris Stella College, Negombo and Trinity College, Kandy and lost in the first innings to Richmond College, Galle Mahanama College, Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda and Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa.

St. Servatius won their friendly encounter against Revatha and registered first innings wins against Devapathiraja College, Rathgama and Bandaranayake College, Gampaha.

St. Servatius College, however, has strong outfit with ten coloursmen in their side with K. H. Lahiru Kokila - a fourth year coloursman as captain. He is a right-arm off-spinner and has captured over 40 wickets. The vice-captain is right-hand opening batsman Nimanda Subasinghe.

Speaking of St. Servatius, it will be remembered that Sangika Ridma who came into the side last year, scored a century on debut.

Teams

St. Thomas' College;Nipun Rangana Ranaweera (Capt.) Ravindu Dhamsara (V. Cap.) Jayanga Nirmana de Silva, Ashan Denura Ranasinghe, Rajinda Punchihewa, Prashan Monohara, Dilum Weerathna, Mohamed Mishdak, Lasith Lakshan, Ayesh Madhusanka, Ishan Maduranga, Asanka Srimal, Danusha Lanka, Rasika Damith, Ishan Abeysekera, Vidath Jayanidu, Thusith Dushan, Dumidu Chamod, Mohamed Ismath.

St. Servatius College; Lahiru Kokila (Cap.) Nimanda Subasinghe, (V. Cap.), Gihan Nimsara, Sanidu Edriweera, Imzan Mohamed, Janitha Ranasingha, Anjana de Silva, Thushan Eranga, Thanula Sasmith, Yohan Chanuka, Ruchira Jayatunga, Kasun Rajitha, Sanjika Ridma, Mayantha Abeydeera, Dilshan Madhusanka, Kasun Thilina, Vidath Dilshan.