Seniors to play a dominant role for Petes

Chris Dhambarage

CRICKET: St. Peter’s College with five good victories to their credit are brimming with confidence when they take on their traditional rivals St. Joseph’s College in the 73rd annual inter school Big Match for the Rev Fr. Maurice Legoc Trophy on Friday and Saturday at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium.

The Peterite team is studded with a number of senior players and they will be carrying a great amount of experience which will be a vital factor in an important match of this nature. Even then St. Peter’s College will certainly miss the services of one of their most promising players Shiwanga Ranasuriya due to an injury.

The Sri Lanka under 19 player was injured when the heavy roller went over his leg accidentally during practices. The incident occurred at his school grounds in Bambalapitiya just half an hour before the commencement of their inter-school cricket clash against Thurstan College.

Shiwanga was set to make his first appearance in a Big Match having toured Malaysia twice, once with the under 14 Sri Lanka Schools team and again with the Sri Lanka under 17 team. He was also named as a stand bye for the Sri Lanka under 19 team’s recent tour of Malaysia.

Shiwanga also had a great amount of experience behind him having captained the St. Peter’s College under 14 and under 15 teams. In addition he was in tremendous form from the start of the season scoring four half centuries with a top score of 80. Apart from his batting skills he was a useful bowler capable of making vital breakthrough and had a best effort of four wickets for two runs.

The Peterites will have a strong batting line up spearheaded by the dynamic Krishal Magage who has emerged as their leading run getter in the current inter school cricket season.

He has accumulated a total of 701 runs at an average of just under 40 with four half centuries. Magage is yet to make a century in the current season but has been quite consistent scoring runs in every outing.

Stylish opening batsman Srimantha Wijerathne has also crossed the five hundred run mark this season and has turned out to be one of their key players in the side. He has a tally of 525 runs and is the only centurion in the team having hit an unbeaten 105 in addition to his three half centuries.

The Peterite middle order look quite solid with skipper Lahiru Peiris, Angelo Perera, Anuk Silva and Andry Berenger all capable of making a big scores. Lahiru Peiris has amassed a total of 364 runs at an average of 33 with three half centuries. He has a top score of 82 not out and will be determined to conclude the season with a century.

Angelo Perera too has improved tremendously during the season and is certain to make a big impact in the Big Match. His tally of just under three hundred runs from eight innings however does not give a clear indication of his talent and potential. His best effort was an unbeaten 83 and has maintained a superb average of 37.

Newcomer Andry Berenger has also forced himself into recognition with some useful contributions with the bat. He came into the limelight by smashing a superb 94 against Ananda and ended up with a tally of 282 runs from just eight matches.

The Peterites recorded a historic maiden victory over Ananda College in addition they defeating St. Benedict’s College, Maris Stella College, Negombo, Sri Rahula College, Matara and Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala.

The pick of the Peterite bowlers are right arm leg spinner Lakshan Rodrigo who has a rich haul of over 90 wickets and medium pacemen Umhar Samsudeen with over 40 wickets and Vinod Perera with over 35 scalps this season.

Rodrigo is undoubtedly their main strike bowler having captured five wickets or more on seven occasions and picked up a matchbag of ten wickets on two occasions.

St. Peter’s College team: Lahiru Pieris (captain), Krishal Magage, Srimantha Wijeratne, Anuka Silva, Shivanga Ranasuriya, Angelo Perera, Ruwan Wickremanayake, Lakshan Rodrigo, Umhar Samsudeen, Vinod Perera, Chanaka Fernando, Akshu Fernando, Chatura Peiris, Thivanka Silva.