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Confident Thurstanites out to break 15-year hoodoo

CRICKET: Thurstan College with a superior all round side will start as the favourites to win the 44th Big Match when they take on their traditional rivals Isipatana College in their annual inter school cricket encounter at the Sinhalese Sports Club grounds in Maitland Place today.

The Thurstanites also have maintained a better track record this season and are out to bring an end to a fifteen year long wait having notched up their previous victory in the series in 1992.

Thurstan College have looked the better side and their four victories against Maliyadeva College Kurunegala, St.Benedict's College, Sri Sumangala MV and Revatha MMV Balapitiya is a clear indication of their capabilities. In contrast Isipatana have really struggled throughout the season and their solitary win against Zahira College is the only bright spot for a them.

Even then where the overall series tally is concerned there is little difference between the two schools with Thurstan College ahead by five victories against their opponents four victories.

But on paper Thurstan certainly looks the better side with some talented players in their ranks.

The biggest advantage for them is of course having the services of last years captain Charith Wickremaratne who is one of their top run getters this season. The stylish opening batsman has a tally of more than six hundred runs with a best effort of 102 against Sri Sumangala MV.

In addition Buddhi Samarawickrema and Hasitha Perera have also completed five hundred runs for the current season and will be hoping to maintain their same form.

In fact the strong batting line up has been the key to Thurstan's success and all of them are capable of making a significant contribution.

Isipatana of course are banking on a couple of individuals with the odds heavily against them.

Opener Chirantha de Silva with 431 runs which includes two half centuries against St. Joseph's and Nalanda College and middle order batsman Gamindu Kanishka with 490 runs and 24 wickets have been the chief performers for their school.

Skipper Visuddhi Kauwitharana in fact struck an unbeaten 102 in the 2005 'Big Match' and Isipatana will be hoping that he will return to form and be among the runs in this important encounter.

The highest individual score in the series was recorded by Isipatana's Saman Nishantha (150 n.o) in 2002, when he surpassed Thurstan's Kamal Mahendra's (146 n.o) in 1990.

In addition Thurstan's left arm medium pacer Jayajeeva Karunaratne holds the record for the best bowling figures (7 for 28) in 1992 while Isipatana's K. L. S. K. Sirisena in 1967 had also taken 7 for 79.

The teams:

Thurstan College (from): Buddhika Samarawickrema (captain), Hasitha Perera, Charith Wickremaratne, Geeth Kumara, Umesh Karunaratne, Achala Ramanayake, Charith Gayan, Ravindu Wijeratne, Shalaka Rangajeeva, Rishi Ukwatte, Ishan Perera, Tyrel Jeramiah, Shehan Kamaileen, Chirath Madhawa.

Isipatana College (from): Visuddhi Kaluwitharana (captain), Chirantha de Silva, Maneesha Ayomal, Amira Rabel, Gamindu Kanishka, Nalaka Eranda, Sachit Jayasinghe, Sameera Ratnayake, Lilan Fernando, Vimukthi Deshapriya, Wadiba Perera, Danuka Fernando, Manindra Dharmadasa.

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