57th 'Battle of the Babes' on March 13 and 14 :

St.Sylvester's have the edge over Vidyartha

S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy Sports Cor.

St.Sylvesters College should have the edge when they take on Vidyartha College in their 57th 'Battle of the Babes' which will be played next Friday and Saturday at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Play will start at 9.30 am on both days.

This series started in 1955 when the Sylvestrian were led by Tony Direckesz and Vidyartha by Gamini Digawa.

The Sylvestrians are in the lead with 14 wins and their last win came in 2009 under Chanaka Colombage when they won through a default after their opponents refused to take the field.

The last Vidyartha win came way back in 1967 under R.M. Lafir who later rose up to the ranks of Deputy Inspector General of Police. The Vidyarthian have just 3 wins against their name. The highest individual score in the series is by Thushara Kodikara of Vidyartha College who slammed 217 not out in 1982.

The best bowling was by fast bowler late Sarath Basnayake of St.Sylvesters College who took 9 for 17 in 1961 to bowl his side to an innings win.

St.Sylvesters College will be led by fifth year coloursman H. Perera who has scored 600 runs this season.

Left-arm spinner Nimesha Mendis is the deputy skipper of the side who is one of the key bowlers.

He has captured 55 wickets this season.

The Sylvestrians have played 15 matches won 4 and lost 2. their wins this season are against St.Sebastian's College at Moratuwa stands out as their best performance.

Another player to watch is leg-spinner Sivakumar Tyronne, who in a late flourish, has captured 65 wickets with 8 for 32 as his best.

Vidyartha College will be led by fifth-year player and left-arm spinner Chanaka Ratnayake who has captured 60 wickets and scored 460 runs this season.

Isuru Weerasinghe is the vice-captains of the side. He has scored 450 runs but has not been successful while bowling. He has taken only 21 wickets with his medium pace bowling.

Kishan Jayasuriya is the most successful batsman. Scoring 650 runs during the season.

Vidyartha College have registered just one win this season while losing 3.

Teams

St.Sylvesters College: Hansamal Perera (Captain) Nimesha Mendis (Vice-captain), Indunil Samarananda, Harsha Madhushan, Malith Prematilleke, Sivakumar Tyronne, Parakrama Tennakoon, Pabasara Perera, Manuja Perera, Devinda Perera, Lashan Buwaneka, Tharuka Liyanage, Shashika Viraj, Thusitha Zoysa, Saminda Munaweera, Arvinda Herath. (Consultant Coach) Roland Perera, Assistant Coach, Jaliya Weerasinghe. Master -in-Charge Palinda de Silva.

Vidyartha College: Chanaka Ratnayake (Captain) Isuru Weerasinghe (Vice-Captain), Krishan Jayasuriya, Namal Perera, Lahiru Jayasuriya, Bawantha Bandara, Tharindu Dissanayake, Ravishka Upananda, Nimesh Senanayake, Dushan Jayatilleke, Bimsara Samaratunga, Chathuranga Ratnayake, Amila Withanage, Dulanga Nanayakkara, (Coach Sankalpa Gunasekera, Master-in-Charge: Jayantha Kumara).