Moratu MV, Sri Sumangala in close battle

The 61st annual cricket encounter between Moratu Vidyalaya and Sri Sumangala College, Panadura will be played on March 22 and 23 at the Tyronne Fernando Stadium. The Limited-Over match between the two schools will be on March 24 at the same venue.

Moratu Vidyalaya ...Seated L/R: Prasanna Dissanayake (Coach), Ishan Peiris (Capt), Niel Udaya Geeganage (MIC), Jayalath Menike (Principal), Ruchini Tharanga (PTI), Harsha Devinda (V.Capt.), Thilan Kavishka. Squatting L/R: Shanaka Roshan, Sachin Umayanga. Standing L/R: Dushan Sulakshana, Nipun Randika, Lahiru Chamara, Ushen Tharuka, Pathum Madura, Ujitha Harshana, Harshika Navodha, Sanesh Champaka, Saminda Maduranga, Nipun Vishvantha, Hasitha Chaturanga, Ashan Sheranga, Rasindu Kalpana. Absent: Shanaka Madushanka. Pic: Dilwin Mendis Moratuwa Sports Corr.

Sri Sumangala Vidyalaya, Panadura ....Seated L/R: Tharuka Nadeeshan (Capt) Mahesh Perera (Asst. MIC), Sumith Chandrasiri (MIC), L.W. Somathilleke (Principal), Ranjith Illeperuma (Deputy Princiapl POG), Jayathu Nilaweera (Senior Coach), Duminda Lakmal (Asst. Coach), Geeth Sanjaya (Vice Captain). Standing L/R: Mahesh Nandika, Savindu Devinda, Samith Yasantha, Chamika Amarasekera, Sandun Dinesh, Malinga Lakshan, Nadeera Rukshan, Charitha Prabath, Lahiru Vimukthi, Isuru Malintha, Sudesh Sandamal, Kaveen Navodya, Vishad Randika, Malith Upamal, Tarindu Ariyarathne, Lakshan Chanaka, Sandun Sathsara, Sevinda Sulakshana, Kushan Akalanka, Kasun Lakshan. Pic: Dilwin Mendis, Moratuwa Sports Corr.

The two schools have had a lean period this cricket season. Moratu Vidyalaya has played 16 matches and they have only one outright win and five first innings wins and lost six matches outright and lost four on first innings. There is however some consoling moments for them as they beat the formidable St. Anthony’s Kandy on first innings. Sri Sumangala, too had somewhat off season. They played 16 matches and won only two games against Sri Jayawardenapura MV and Revatha and won on first innings one match, lost outright seven games and lost five games and drew one game.

Moratu Vidyalaya will be captained by Ishan Peiris – the wicket-keeper and left-hand batsman – a fifth year coloursman and playing in his fifth ‘Big Match’. Occasionally Peiris bowls off-spin and when that happens, Saminda Maduranga who opens batting, is the reserve wicket-keeper. There are six players who have played in the ‘Big Match’ against Sri Sumangala last year and Ishan Peiris – the captain will pin his hopes on Dushan Sulakshana, Harsha Devinda and Pathun Madura – the all rounders to deliver the goods.

Moratu Vidyalaya’s captain Ishan Peiris has been their leading scorer collecting 640 runs with a highest score of 88 against Thurstan and has notched up four fifties and he has been very active behind the stumps collecting 38 victims. The vice-captain of the team is Harsha Devinda Fernando who is an all-rounder and has so far collected 367 runs and taken 74 wickets playing in his third year and in the second ‘Big Match’. Another dependable batsman is Thilan Kavushal who bats right-handed and he has collected 580 runs and he opens the batting with Samindu Maduranga.

In the department of bowling, Sri Sumangala will have Pathum Madura and Dushan Sulakshana to open the attack, while for variety, there will be Shanaka Roshan to bowl left-arm leg-spin and he has been quite successful getting 41 wickets this season. There is also Rasidu Kalpana – a right-arm leg-spinner. While they have a choise of three off-spinners – Shanaka Maduhsanka and Ushan Tharaka and Nipun Randika to choose their off-spinners.

Sri Sumangala will be led by Tharaka Madushan Premachandra who is a fifth year coloursman. The vice-captain will be Geeth Sanjaya.

Tharuka Premachandra has scored over 600 runs this season while his right-arm pace bowling has fetched him 40 wickets. His best in batting has been 95 against Revatha. In bowling, his best has been 6 for 53 against Gurukula and his opening partner will be Sudesh Sandamal.

Geeth Sanjaya – the vice-captain has scored 350 runs and this is his second ‘Big Match’.

Sri Sumangala have only four players who have played in the ‘Big Match’ of last year and skipper Tharuka Nadeeshan will have to pin a lot of faith on the freshers.