St.Peter's - a strong outfit and Joes will find it tough to contain them

St Peter’s College: Seated (from left): Kitto Fernandopulle (Assistant coach), Shanaka Fernando (Assistant coach), Sanath Chinthaka (Senior Master-in-Charge), Troy Bartler (Sports Secretary), Chandula Jayamanne (captain), Rev Fr Trevor Martin (Rector), Rev Fr Sharm Dassanayake (Sports Co-ordinator), Dineth Thimodya (vice captain), Kirthi Gunaratne (Head Coach), Wasantha Haputhanthri (Junior Master-in-Charge), Mahesh de Silva (Manager).Standing from left - 1st row: Didulana Mendis, Oshan Karunaratne, Thaneesha Weerakoon, Hashan Wanasekara, Lakshina Rodrigo, Manelka de Silva, Vinu Mohotty, Sachin Dalpathado, Savin Gunasekara, Sanjula Madushan. Standing from left - 2nd row: Randel Seneviratne, Dinal Jayakody, Ashanth Malka, Reshan Goonawardena, Ravindu Silva.

St Joseph’s College: Seated from left to right: Aravinda Akurugoda, Prasantha Ranaweera (Master-in-Charge), Asela Pathirana (Coach), Rev Fr Milan Bernard (Prefect of the Game), Pethum Madushanka (captain), Rev Fr Travis Gabriel (Rector), Michael Adams (Assistant Coach), Priyantha Cooray (Master-in-Charge - 2nd XI), Anura Tennekoon (Director Cricket), Hashindra Perera (vice captain).Standing (Middle row): From left to right – 1st row: Shevon Fonseka, Kevin Corteling, Brian Jayamanna, Nipun Sumanasinghe, Neran Gunatilleke, Suren de Silva, Sandaruwan Rodrigo, Thashan Perera, Charuka Ulludupitiya, Revan Kelly, Menik Gunawardene.Standing back row from left to right - 2nd row: Thilina Jayaweera (Assistant Physical Trainer), Dilruk Nilantha (Physical Trainer), Harin Cooray, Malshan Rodrigo, Vimukthi Peiris, Ruchira Ekanayake, Jehan Daniel, Darantha Menerigama (Fielding coach).

The 81st annual Big Match between St Joseph's College and St Peter's College, the 'Battle of Saints' will be held on March 6 and 7 at the P. Sara Oval.

The Big Match will commence with the participation of chief guest former Ceylon player fast bowler Tony Opatha, who captained the St Peter's College in the 1967 encounter.

In this year's clash, St Peter's College is captained by Chandula Jayamannne while Pethum Madushanka skippers the Darley Road, St.Joseph's School which has won 12 matches so far in their 80-year-old Big Match series.

The Peterites have won nine encounters, having won the two-day match last under the captaincy of Shehan Fernando in 2012. The Josephians' last victory came under Ruwantha Fernandopulle in 2008.

St Peter's College have won seven matches with nine games drawn out of the 16 matches this season. They recorded outright wins against Nalanda College Colombo, Maris Stella College Negombo, Wesley College, Royal College Colombo, Trinity College Kandy, Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda and St Anthony's College Katugastota.

St.Peter's strong outfit

The Peterites comprise strong outfit with their top order batsmen scoring heavily while their bowlers also performing well during the season, which has resulted seven outright wins.

Dineth Thimodya (767), Lakshina Rodrigo (704), Didulana Medis (655), Hashan Wanigasekera (564) and Sachin Dalpattado (505), have been in extraordinary form this season for the Bambalapitiya school.

Thaneesha Weerakoon (65 wickets), Vinu Mohotti (57 wickets), Ashanth Malka (51 wickets) have been combining well to prop the Peterites bowling.

On the other hand, the Josephians will have a difficult task in containing the powerful Peterite batting. Their star spinner Aravinda Akurugoda has taken 52 wickets and Harindra Perera who has taken 31 wickets are the two bowlers Joes will have to depend on to collect the Peterite wickets. Besides these two bowlers, Jehan Daniel (25 wickets), Harin Cooray (26 wickets) will have to assist Akurugoda and Perera.

The Joes batting will revolve around their skipper Pethum Madushanka who has scored 754 runs with a highest score of 152 and Sandaruwan Rodrigo (434), Aravinda Akurugoda (332) with a top score of 106. He has proved himself as an up and coming all-rounder and the Joes will heavily bank on these players.

On paper, unbeaten Peterites look a stronger side having gained seven outright wins in the season. To the Joes three outright wins and losing to Trinity College Kandy during the season.

Teams

St Peter's College: Chandula Jayamanne (captain), Dineth Thimodya (vice captain), Didulana Mendis, Oshan Karunaratne, Thaneesha Weerakoon, Hashan Wanasekara, Lakshina Rodrigo, Manelka de Silva, Vinu Mohotty, Sachin Dalpathado, Savin Gunasekara, Sanjula Madushan, Randel Seneviratne, Dinal Jayakody, Ashanth Malka, Reshan Goonawardene, Ravindu Silva. (Coach Keerthi Gunaratne).

St Joseph's College: Pethum Madushanka (captain), Hashindra Perera (vice captain), Aravinda Akurugoda, Sehvon Fonseka, Kevin Corteling, Brian Jayamanna, Nipun Sumanasinghe, Neran Gunatilleke, Suren de Silva, Sandaruwan Rodrigo, Thashan Perera, Charuka ulludupitiya, Revan Kelly, Menik Gunawardene, Harin Cooray, Malshan Rodrigo, Vimukthi Peiris, Ruchira Ekanayake, Jehan Daniel. (Coach Asela Pathirana).