The 55th “Battle of Brothers” cricket encounter between Isipathana College and Thurstan College is scheduled to be played on February 23 and 24 at the Sinhalese Sports Club grounds.
This was revealed to the media during a press briefing held at the Burgher Recreation Club (BRC) recently. The annual Thurstan-Isipathana Big Match is a much looked forward to event in the schools’ sports calendar. This is a special occasion for past students of both schools to reunite, for some of them perhaps since leaving school.
The hosts of the match have decided to bring in a 60-over rule as the first innings will be restricted for both teams and the second essay will be conducted as normal conditions in this year’s encounter.
Thurstan College will be led by Nipun Lakshan who has scored 349 runs with a century in school’s matches while Pathana team will be captained by Ayana Siriwardana who has scored over 500 runs. Thurstan College recorded three outright and six first innings wins having played 13 school’s matches in the season. The Pathanians have played 11 matches registering six first innings wins and an outright win.
Both teams have yet to establish a worthy record of wins and of the 54 matches played, Thurstan have won five and Isipathana 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.
The Mini Big Match will be held at Thurstan Grounds on February 16 and 17 while the joint cycle parade between two brother schools will start from Isipathana College and proceed towards Thurstan College on February 22 at 8.30 am. The 38th Limited Over match will be played at P. Sara (Oval) Stadium on March 4 and T20 encounter will be worked off on March 11 at Thurstan Grounds.
Both schools have produced a few Sri Lanka players in Amitha de Costa, Niroshan Bandaratilleke, Hemantha Boteju and Lahiru Kumara all from Thurstan and Jayantha Paranathala, Asoka de Silva, Asantha de Mel, Uvais Karnain, Suresh Perera, Nuwan Zoysa and Sri Lanka's youngest Test cricketer Sanjeewa Weerasinghe from Isipathana.
Nestle Lanka will be the official food partner of the encounter.
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