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St. Servatius hope for change of fortune in 105th clash against St. Thomas'

by Mahil Liyanage - Matara District Sport Corr.

Cricket crazy Matara will not take things lying down. The town was devastated by the tsunami floods of December last year, but the two foremost schools in the district - St. Thomas' and Sri Rahula do not want to dampen the spirits of the up-and-coming schoolboy cricketers of the two schools and the authorities have decided that they will play the 105th 'Battle of Ruhuna' between S. Thomas' and St. Servatius' on April 1, 2 and 3 at the Uyanwatte Stadium.

This is the second oldest inter-school 'Big Match' in the island, second only to the Royal-Thomian.

The match this year will however be without much fun and frolic in keeping with the austere times after the December disaster.

When going back to the past history, Matara Thominas are very much in front. They won this annual event in the year 2002 where as the opponents - St. Servatius have won only in 1971 - 34 years ago. Both schools have produced Test 'caps' in the national side, Sanath Jayasuriya and Taranga, Lakshita from Servatius and Indika de Saram and Prabath Nissanka from St. Thomas'.

The highest individual score of the series - 207 not out scored by Servatian Gratian Liyanage in 1982 - a premier and international, 1-day cricket umpire, still remains as the 'big match' record and Uyanwatta stadium record.

St. Thomas' College has played only 5 matches this season and 4 matches were drawn while one match was lost outright after taking 1st innings lead in the match against home-town rivals - Rahula College.

The Thomians took 1st innings honours against Nalanda College, Colombo and conceded 1st innings victories to St. Aloysius Galle and Vidyartha - Kandy while the match against Mahinda Galle ended without the completion of any innings.

The Thomians played four one-day limited over games in the Leomanade Cup tournament and have won 3 against Aluthgama, Karandeniya and Ratgama Devapathiraja and lost to Rahula - Matara in a nail-biting finish, by 5 runs. S. Thomas' are playing in the 2nd round knock-out tournament in the Leomonade Cup.

St. Servatius has played only four matches and all were drawn. They took 1st innings honours against St. Peter's Colombo, conceded 1st innings victories to St. Anthony's - Katugasthota and Kalutara Tissa College and against, Galle St. Aloysius, in a high-scoring draw.

In the All-Island 1-day tournament, St. Servatius has lost to Ambalangoda Devananda and won against Siddartha - Balapitiya and Meepawala Amarasuriya and the match against Richmond was washed out. Servatians are also playing in the limited-over All-Island tournament and won their 2nd round match beating Kotte St. Thomas College by 45 runs.

As both teams are equally balanced, the likely result expected is a draw. This encounter is being played as a three-day game since the year 2000 - the Centenary year.

Dry weather is prevailing in the Matara District these days and full three days of cricket can be expected in this encounter.

St. Thomas'

The Thomians are captained by 4th year coloursman Mathila Duminduhewa who represents Matara S.C. in Sara Trophy cricket. He is an all-rounder, stylish right hand bat and right-arm leg spinner but has yet to show his true potential capabilities.

His deputy - Amila Eranga Vitarana is a 3rd year coloursman has scored 3 half centuries this season and is an allrounder who bowls, right-arm leg-spin and represents Old Servatians in div II tournament. Kasun Chaminda represents Matara S.C. in div. II and a very useful right-hand batsman, Chamika Warnasuriya is the opening right-hand medium-pacer who opens the bowling for Thomians is a very heavily built, useful allrounder of the side. Asela Tilakawardana is the other opening partner in bowling who is a right-arm medium-pacer and a reliable middle order batsman.

M.P. Taraka Dushanatha is a fresher and the 'stumper' of the side. He opens batting and has scored 2 half centuries this season. Tarindu Munasingha is a left-hander who opens the batting with Taraka and right-arm medium pacer, Sudesh Shirantha is a fresher and a right-hand allrounder Gayan is a left-hander and a leg-spinner, Ravin Dineshka is a fresher and bouls right arm leg spin.

Sanuja Kumarasingha is a right-arm allrounder and bowls off-spin and has captured most wickets for the side. Dashun Tushara, Dinusha Jayasingha, T.P. Kulatunga, R. Manamperi and S. Matagadeera are the reserves of the side.

St. Servatius

Servatians are led by 4th year coloursman left-hand opener of the side, Dilanka Sanjeer. He is a dashing stroke player and bowls occasional right-arm leg-spinners and a fine fielder. Eranda Harshaka is his deputy. He is a good right-hand dependable batsman and the wicket-keep of the side and is a 4th year coloursman. Hansa Kasundhika is a 2nd year player and opens the batting.

Supun Jayasuriya is the best all rounder of the side. This 3rd year colursman bats left-hand and bowls right-arm medium-pacers and a good slip fielder. Krishanka Rangana is a 3rd year coloursman and a useful left hand batsman.

Tasitha Chamara is a 3rd year coloursman and a very good left-hand batsman and bowls right-arm leg spin. Chamil Kumara opens the attack and a useful allrounder and is a 3rd year coloursman, G.P. Jayasuriya is a fresher and shares the new-ball with left-arm swing bowling and a dependable batsman, Ishan Kottege is a good left-arm medium-pacer and bowls right-arm.

Prasad Fernando is a 2nd year player who bowls right-arm leg-spin and a left-hand, middle-order batsman and a good allrounder. Pubudu Priyankara is a 2nd year player and a useful leg-spinner, S.A. Hewawasam, N.S. Siriwardana, K.P. Amith de Silva, L.L. Dilan Akalanka, P.M.W.T.I. Dilanka, Supun Sandaruwan, Nadun Madushanka are the reserves of the side.

St. Servatius are coached by a past cricket captain of the school Imal Liyanage and Saman Kumara is the master-in-charge. Thomians are coached by D.P.M.C. Waidyaratna - a past captain of Matara S.C. and Sisira Weerasingha is master-in-charge.

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