Isipathana and Thurstan meet in contest of 'Brotherhood' on Feb 27 and 28

By Ranjan Anandappa

Yet another traditional 'Big Match' series will be heralded with the 52nd encounter between Isipathana and Thurstan on February 27 and 28th at the Sinhalese Sports Club Grounds. The principals of the two schools A.C.Perera (Isipathana) and Daya Bandara (Thurstan) presiding at a press briefing at the BRC pavilion, preferred the match to be named as the contest of Brotherhood rather than calling it a battle between schoolboy cricketers."

In the past there have been several unsavoury incidents during and after the big match. We have taken precautions to prevent such ugly incidents that will be a nuisance to the general public. Having boys of both schools under one roof instead of segregating them will no doubt create a peaceful atmosphere," said the two principals.

Hassan Sinhawansa, the Senior Vice-President of the Isipathana OBU said that Isipathana has been surrounded by several play grounds in the vicinity but it is sad that they are unable to own a play ground of their own. The school is taking part in 22 sports activities in the curriculum and has produced innumerable amounts of rugby players who have gone to represent the country and many

Test cricketers and a number of hockey players who have gone to represent the country.

Both teams on even keel Both, Isipathana and Thurstan seem to be on even keel, winning four and five matches respectively and being unbeaten during the season. The captains of both sides _ Chameera Dissanayake (Isipathana) and Thimira Jayasinghe (Thurstan) have proven their allround capabilities by scoring runs and taking wickets.

Dissanayake, a fourth year coloursman, has scored over 450 runs and taken 65 wickets with his left-arm orthodox spin while Jayasinghe has topped the 600 run-mark with two hundreds against Maliyadeva and Prince of Wales and has taken over 32 wickets with his right arm leg spin. With both teams looking well balanced, a positive approach with timely declarations could be the key for a favourable result.

During the 51-year-old series, Isiapathana has won only on four occasions to Thurstan's five with the rest of the matches ending in no decisions. Isipathana last won in 1999 while Thurstan tasted victory in 1992.

Isipathana will heavily rely on their three coloursmen to provide the sound platform to put them ahead. Chameera Dissanayake the captain playing in his fourth year, Pramod Maduwantha a second year players have impressed as all rounders while another fourth year player Shalinda Ushan Sri Lanka school representative has opened the innings with a tally of over 500 runs. Isipathana with a set of good medium pacers namely Shenal Deelaka and Shehan Sandaruwan with another front line spinner Sanjula Bandara look capable to run through the Thurstan batting. The presence of another schools representative Visath Randika should boost Isipathana.

Thurstan will take the field with nine colourmen in their ranks. Thurstan's top batting order has seasoned players and have been among the runs this season. To begin with, openers Kasun Abeyratne and Isuru Udara have topped the 400 and 500 run mark respectively. Skipper Thimira Jayasinghe (600 runs with two centuries) and Charana Nanayakkara (400 runs and who opens the bowling) are the players Isipathana have to watch.

Thurstan too, has two good spin bowlers Ayesh Weeraratne (Off-spin 31 wickets) and Naveen Gunawardena, a front line left-arm spinner with 51 wickets against his name.

Sirisena of Isipathana and Thurstan's Jayajeewa top bowlers

Two bowlers have have produced two startling bowling displays in the series. K.L.S.K. Sirisena (Isipathana) had the figures of 7 for 79 in the 1967 big encounter. This feat was surpassed after 25 years in 1992 when Thurstan,'s left-arm paceman Jayajeeva Karunaratne also captured 7 for 28 which stands as the best bowling analysis due to the fewer number of runs conceded than Sirisena's 7 for 79).

Isipathana's Saman Nishantha (150 N.O.) is the highest individual sooner.

Isipathana College (from): Shalinda Ushan, Davis Imesha, Sanjula Abeywickrema, Visath Randika, Pramod Maduwantha, Ayana Siriwardene, Chameera Dissanayake (Captain), Shenal Deelaka, Shehan Sandaruwan, Sanjula Bandara, Yomesh Ranasinghe, Praneeth Dias, Venushka Chamal, Tharindu Boteju.

Thurstan College (From): Kasun Abeyratne, Isuru Udara, Imesh Viranga, Thimira Jayasinghe (Captain), Charana Nanayakkara, Nipun Lakshan, Rusiru Munasisnghe, Ayesh Weeraratne, Sulochana Silva, Naveen Gunawardene, Dilan Madushanka, Thilan Gunaratne, Shenal Wijesinghe, Shalintha Samaranayake, Navod Samarakoon.