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53rd annual big match:
Isipathana and Thurstan yet to break stalemate
Thurstan and Isipathana, two leading cricket playing schools in
Colombo will clash for the 53rd time at their annual cricket encounter
for the "Blackham Wijewardena Memorial Trophy" at the SSC ground on
February 26 and 27 thus heralding the big match season.
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Isipathana squad seated from left: Jayathu Nilaweera
(assistant coach), Sanjula Abeywickrame, RAA Ranasinghe
(master in charge), Pramod Madhuwantha (vice captain),
Premasiri Epa (principal), Salinda Ushan (captain), DH
Priyankara (deputy principal), Vishad Randika, Sanath
Illeperuma, Pradeep Nishantha (coach). Standing from left:
Pethum Nissanka, Madhushika Sandaruwan, Harsha Ratnayake,
Heshan Dhanushka, Neranjan Wanniarachchi, Lahiru Dilshan,
Ayana Siriwardena, Sanjula Bandara, Kaliq Amath, Kalana
Perera, Iwanka Sanjula, Dilsara Saminda (YK) |
Both teams have yet to establish a worthy record by way of wins and
of the 52 matches played, Thurstan have won five and Isipathana four
with the balance 42 matches ending in draws. In 1971 the match was not
played due to the unrest in the country. The last win in the series was
recorded by Isipathana College in 1999 under the captaincy of Thushantha
Jayawardene.
Thurstan College last won in 1992 under Mackenzie Perera.
Saman Nishantha's unbeaten 150 in 2002 for Isipathana is the highest
individual score in the series while Sri Lanka Test player Nuwan Zoysa's
10-wicket haul (5-41 and 5-51) in 1996 stands out as the best bowling
show on record.
Kamal Mahendra's 142 remains the top score while left arm medium
paceman Jayajeeva Karunaratne (7 for 28) has the best bowling analysis
in the series with Ispathana's KLS Sirisena also taking 7 for 49 in the
1967 match.
Both schools have produced a few Sri Lanka players in Amitha de
Costa, Niroshan Bandaratilleke, Hemantha Boteju from Thurstan and
Jayantha Paranathala, Suresh Perera, Nuwan Zoysa and Sri Lanka's
youngest Test cricketer Sanjeewa Weerasinghe hailed from
Isipathana.Other top cricketers produced by Thurstan was the late
Diyanesh Rajaratnam and Suhada Fernando. Thurstan College will be led by
fourth year colursman Charana Nanayakkara while Isipathana College will
be led by fifth year colursman Salinda Ushan.
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Thurstan squad seated from left: Ayesh Weeraratne, Kasun
Abeyratne, Lakshman Gunatilleke (deputy Principal), Charana
Nanayakkara (captain), EMS Ekanayake (principal), Sajith
Gunatilleke (vice captain), Lesley Harischandra (master in
charge), Suneth Gunatilleke (coach), Nipun Lakshan. Standing
from left: Salinda Samaranayake,Prageesha Mendis, Thisera
Deshan, Imesh Viranga, Yeshan Wickramarachchi, Isitha
Jayasundara, Dilan Madhusanka, Naveen Gunawardena, Navod
Samarakoon, Thusal Madhusanka, Pansilu Deshan |
Thurstan College have played 14 matches this season winning five
outright and five on first innings. Five Thurstanites, Sajith
Gunatilleke, Salinda Samaranayake, Charana Nanayakkara, Kasun Abeyratne
and Isitha Wijesundara, have scored over 300 runs this season. Charana
Nanayakkara, Nipun Lakshan and Isitha Wijesundara have a hundred under
their belts.
Two of their bowlers, Dilan Madhusanka and Naveen Gunawardena have
taken over 35 wickets. Isipathana have recorded three outright wins and
13 first innings wins this season.
They have eight batsmen, Sanjula Abeywickrema, Pramod Madhuwantha,
Ayana Siriwardena, Heshan Dhanushka, Kalana Perera, Pethum Nissanka,
Salinda Ushan and Vishard Randika, who have scored over 300 runs.
Sanjula Abeywickrema passed the 1000 runs milestone this season with a
double century and four centuries while Pramod Madhuwantha has made
three centuries and captured 65 wickets. Lahiru Dilshan took 70 wickets
while Iwanka Sanjula captured 65 wickets.
Two Isipathanians, Vishad Randika and Salinda Ushan, and one
Thurstanite Charana Nanayakkara had the honour of representing the Sri
Lanka Under-19 team at the recent ICC Youth World Cup in Bangladesh. (YK)
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