Thurstan College will have the edge over Isipathana College when they clash in the 55thBattle of the Brothers which begins at the SSC grounds, Maitland Place today.
Thurstan led by fifth year coloursman Nipun Lakshan have played thirteen matches and have won three outrights against Bandaranayake MV, Gampaha, St. Thomas College, Matale and Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala. They have six first innings wins over Trinity, Sebs, DS Senanayake, Moratu Vidyalaya, Mahanama and Dharmashoka. Their solitary defeat was at the hands of St. Benedict’s. The games against Richmond, Prince of Wales and Nalanda were drawn.
Fourth year coloursman Ayana Siriwardana leads the Isipathana team that has played eleven matches this season with a solitary outright win against President’s College, Kotte and have recorded six first innings wins while losing several matches.
Thurstan will rely on key players Savan Prabash who has scored 616 runs inclusive of seven half centuries and other top order batsman Yeshan Wickramarachchi who has made 478 runs. Skipper Nipun Lakshan has done well to be among the runs inclusive of an unbeaten 107 not out against Maliyadeva, Kurunegala and has a total of 349 runs under his belt. Others who will be relied upon for useful contributions are Pansilu Deshan (368), Nimesh Perera (369), Imesh Viranga (195).
Isipathana will depend heavily on Sri Lanka youth player and skipper Ayana Siriwardana who has made 393 runs with a top score of 101 against DS Senanayake. The other key player in the batting line-up is last year’s skipper Sanjula Abeywickrama who has made 288 runs with a top score of 150 not out against St. Peter’s College, Colombo. The others who are capable of making big scores are Leshan Amarasinghe (339), Sanjula Ilangathilaka (350), Ashen Gunawardana (254) and Shamilka Wickramathilaka (255).
Thurstan’s attack will be spearheaded by left-arm leg-spinner Sandaru Dias who has captured 43 wickets and has been ably supported by skipper Nipun Lakshan right-arm paceman who has taken 36 wickets and Ayesh Harshana left-arm leg-spinner who has claimed 35 wickets. The other bowlers who has made an impression is right-arm off-spinner Janushka Fernando (23).
The key bowler for Isipathana is Madushka Sandaruwan who has taken 44 wickets with best figures of 5 for 20 against DS Senanayake. He has received valuable support from Sanjula Ilangathilaka with 29 wickets and skipper Ayana Siriwardana and Lahiru Weeraratne who have claimed 22 wickets each.
Both teams have yet to establish a worthy record of wins and of the 54 matches played, Thurstan have won five and Isipathana has bagged the trophy four times with the rest ending in draws. The last win in the series was recorded by Isipathana College in 1999 under the captaincy of Krishantha Jayawardene. Thurstan College last won in 1992 under Mackenzie Perera.
Both schools have produced a few Sri Lanka players in Amitha de Costa, Niroshan Bandaratilleke, Hemantha Boteju all from Thurstan and Jayantha Paranathala, Suresh Perera, Nuwan Zoysa and Sri Lanka's youngest Test cricketer Sanjeewa Weerasinghe from Isipathana.
“We have a well experienced team and we are coming to win it and nothing less and we wish our opponents all the best,” said Thurstan College skipper Nipun Lakshan.
Isipathana captain Ayana Siriwardena stating his intentions said, “First of all I like to take this opportunity to wish our arch rivals as we meet yet again. We know our capabilities and we will play to our strengths and not settle for anything less than a win.”
TEAMS:
Isipathana from Ayana Siriwardene (Captain), Sanjula BandaraIllangantilleke (Vice Captain), Sanjula AbeyAbeywickrama, Leshan Amarasinghe, Ashan Gunewardene, K. A. Madushika Sandaruwan, Thevinda Dickwella, AnupamaHerath, Dinath Dissanayake, Menura Perera, Khaliq Amath, Eshan Fernando,Sudeepa Angulugaha, Shamika Wickramaarachchi, Ishan Wickramanayake, W.A.Savinda, Ushara Uthsara.
Thurstan from Pansilu Deshan, Nipun Lakshan (Captain), ImeshPerera (Vice Captain), Yeshan Wickramaarachchi, Nimesh Perera, BinaraRanatunga, Sandaru Dias, Rashmika Hiripitiya, Avishka Kaushalya, Savan Prabash,Yeshan Liyanage, Nimesh Lakshan, Ayesh Harshana, Janishka Shalaka Bandara, JayavihanMahavithana.
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