Lumbini and Colts evenly balanced at big match

Lumbini and Colts will move out to battle in their third big match cricket encounter on March 10 and 11 at the Colts ground in Colombo followed by the one-day game on March 17 at the SSC ground.

Lumbini won last year's big match and this year have also shown some positive signs after beating Moratu MV and Anuradhapura Central outright while overcoming Richmnond, Dharmasoka, Holy Cross Kalutara, S de S Jayaisnghe, St. Anthony's Wattala and Prince of Wales on first innings.

However, Lumbini lost to Gurukula Vidyalaya and Mahnama College Colombo outright and were beaten on first innings by Isipathana and St. Servatius Matara.

Lumbini batsman Thanuka Dabare has scored over 400 runs with a century while Mohamed Akran, Ravindu Sanjewa and Janith Dias crossed the 400 mark.

Chanuka Devinda is the leading wicket taker with 48 wickets while Akram, Dabare and Vimukthi Kulatunga have taken 25 wickets each.

Bandaranayake played 13 games beating Dharmaraja, Maliyadeva and St Anthony's Wattala while losing to Trinity, Ananda and De Mazenod outright. Sisira Adhikari is Bandaranayake's leading run-maker with over 700 runs that includes a century. Dilhara Polgampola and Wageesha Wanniarachie have hit the 500-run mark while Minoy Senanayake, Vinod Madurapperuma, Madawa de Silva and Thisara Kalinga crossed the 400-run mark.

Janidu Jayawardena (40 wickets), Himath Jayaweera (33 wickets) and Hachitha Hemapriya (29 wickets) will have big roles to play if Bandaranayake is to make headway.