Star studded Joes go out with confidence

Chris Dhambarage

CRICKET: The presence of five Sri Lanka Youth players in their ranks will be the biggest advantage for St. Joseph's College when they take on their traditional rivals St. Peter's College in the 73rd annual inter school Battle of the Saints Big Match for the Rev. Fr. Maurice Legoc Trophy on March 2 and 3 at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium.

These players have done most of the hard work during the current inter school cricket season during which time they have recorded a total of six outright victories.

The Josephians made a great start to the season as they defeated Isipatana College, De Mazenod College Kandana, D. S. Senanayake College and Maris Stella College Negombo in successive outings and also triumphed over Trinity College Kandy and Meepawela Amarasooriya MMV.

The Josephians will be captained this year by fifth year coloursman Rajeeva Weerasinghe. The right arm off spinner who was a member of last years Sri Lanka Youth World Cup team has led from the front while capturing over 45 wickets this season.

Weerasinghe has a best effort of five wickets for 18 runs against Maris Stella College Negombo. In addition he has also scored over three hundred runs including two half centuries.

Fourth year player and right hand opening batsman Ruwantha Fernandupulle will be the vice captain of the side. He has scored over four hundred runs this year with two half centuries with a best effort of 76 runs against St. Sebastian's College Moratuwa.

Fernandopulle had earlier successfully captained the champion St. Joseph's under 16 side in 2004 and has the ability to occupy the wicket and play a long innings.

Former under 19 World Cup captain and fifth year coloursman Angelo Mathew who has been in and out of the side due to injuries heads the batting and bowling averages. Mathew who captained the Sri Lanka under 19 team at last years Youth World Cup has an aggregate of over 450 runs scored in seven matches with a fantastic average of 87.40 with four unbeaten innings and an unbeaten knock of 121.

He will be hoping for another good performance having scored a brilliant century in the 2005 Big match. Mathew has also captured over 25 wickets this season with a best performance of five wickets for 25 runs against D. S. Senanayake College.

Fifth year player Dimuth Karunaratne is another experienced player having represented the Sri Lanka Youth World Cup team last year and also toured Malaysia with the Sri Lanka under 19 team earlier this year.

The stylish left hand opening batsman has scored over 700 runs at an average of 58.58 in nine matches this season including two superb centuries. In fact Karunaratne has three scores of over 90's in his four half centuries including a 99 not out. In addition he won the best batsman award in last year's Big Match for his 71 not out.

Fourth year player Roshane Silva is another senior member of the side having represented the Sri Lanka under 19 team in last years Youth World Cup tournament. He had a successful tour of Malaysia with the Sri Lanka under 19 team earlier this year. The right hand middle order batsman scored two half centuries and was adjudged man of the match for his efforts in the 2005 Big match.

Fourth year player Anton De Livera a right hand hard hitting batsman and right arm medium fast bowler has being quite consistent this season having scored over 500 runs at an average of nearly 40 with one century and two half centuries this season.

Second year player Thisara Perera is another member of last years Sri Lanka Youth World Cup team. He was adjudged man of the final in the recently concluded Tri-Series in Malaysia.

The right arm opening bowler and hard hitting middle order batsman won the man of the match, best bowler and best all rounders awards in last year's Big match.

In addition he has captured over 35 wickets with his figures of seven wickets for 22 runs against Isipatana College as his best.

Third year player and right arm leg spinner Shameera Weerasinghe is the leading wicket taker in the side with a total of 55 wickets. He has picked up five or wickets or more in an inning in five occasions with six wickets for 35 runs against S. Thomas's College Mount Lavinia as his best.

The St. Joseph's team: Rajeeva Weerasinghe (captain), Dimuth Karunaratne, Ruwantha Fernandopulle, Angelo Mathew, Roshane Silva, Anton de Livera, Prabuddha Sankalpa, Thisara Perera, Shameera Weerasinghe, Sahan Wijesiri, Treshan Rajasuriya, Nirmal Rajapakse, Haren Silva, Hashan Perera, Dinal Dhambarage, Nishika de Silva.