75th encounter at P. Sara Stadium:

St.Peter’s determined to avenge last year’s defeat to St. Joseph’s

By Ranjan ANANDAPPA

CRICKET: St. Peter’s will go all out to avenge last year’s defeat when they meet their traditional rivals St. Joseph’s for the 75th occasion in their annual `Big Match’ to be played at the P. Sara Stadium on March 6 and 7.

The match will be played for the Rev. Fr. Maurice Legoc Trophy.

The Peterite coach Ranmore Martinesz who captained the Bambalapitiya school in 1986, made his intentions clear that a positive approach to the game in the highest degree will be maintained at all times for them to make their `Diamond’ Jubilee ceremony a memorable one. The Joes won last year under the leadership of Ruwantha Fernandopulle. Anuk Silva was the Peterite skipper on that occasion.

The Peterites have five batsmen who have scored over 700 runs, theby faring prominently, namely skipper Angelo Perera, Vinod Perera, Chatura Pieris, Andri Berenger and Shivanga Ranasuriya. Isuru Pieris and Denham Perera too, have made useful contributions. The sides are led by two of the most promising all-rounders in school cricket today - Angelo Perera (St. Peter’s) and Shameera Weerasinghe (St. Joseph’s), and both represented the country at under 19 level.

Out of the 74 encounters played so far, the Joes have won 12 to the Peterites’ 7, with 55 matches drawn. Former Peterite and Leicestershire cricketer Clive Inman’s 204 n.o in 1954 is the highest individual score while Josephian Shenal Warnakula’s 9 for 41 in 1997 is the best bowling effort. Peterite Dion Walles took 9 for 53 in 1947 . Josephian skipper Shameera Weerasinghe too, has a remarkable record as an all-rounder. He has 880 runs which includes four centuries and three 50s and has taken over 92 wickets with his right-arm leg-spin. He has obtained match bags of 10 wickets on four occasions and has taken five wickets in an innings nine times.

ST.PETER’S COLLEGE: (Seated from left): Kitto Fernandopulle (2nd XI coach), Mr. Shanaka Fernando (Assistant coach), Rev. Fr. Shamira Cooray (Sports Co-ordinator), Angelo Perera (Captain), Rev. Fr. Travis Gabriel (Rector), Chatura Pieris (V.Captain), Mr. Ranmore Martinesz (Head Coach), Sanath Chinthaka (Asst. MIC), Mr. Wasantha Haputhanthri (Master-In-Charge). Standing 1st row: (from left;) Hashan Wickremasooriya, Nilochana Perera, Andri Berenger, Vinodh Perera, Shivanga Ranasuriya, Isuru Pieris, Akshu Fernando, Angelo Emmanuel, Denham Perera, Kaushal Rodrigo. 2nd row standing from left; Shanendra Fernando, Sidath Jayaweera, Aasif Mackie, Ranitha Liyanarachchi , Sampath Kumara, Damien Nadian.

ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE. Seated (from left); Mr. Prashantha Ranaweera (Master-In-Charge), M.R. Kapila Manohara (2nd XI coach), Nishika de Silva, Rev. Fr. Chaminda Wanigasena (Prefect-of-Games), Shameera Weerasinghe (Captain) Rev. Fr. Sylvester Ranasinghe (Rector), Hareen de Silva (V.Captain), Rev. Fr. Sudath Gunatileka (Vice Rector), Treshan Rajasooriya, Harsha de Silva (Coach), Mr. Samith Danushka (Junior Coach). First row: standing from left: Vidusha Jayasinghe, Anushka Shakthi, Jaan Jayasinghe, Dinal Dhambarage, Shalindra Perera, Rosco Thattil, Chaturanga Kumara, Ashan Vithanage, Shyan Seneviratne. Second row (from left) Nicole Liyanage, Dinal Fonseka, Enrico Silva, Gian Dalpadadu, Thilina Sathurukulasinghe, Ramesh Vithanarachchi.