107th Battle of the Blues from March 23 to 25 at Matara

A. W. Gunawardhana Matara Central Correspondent

CRICKET: The 107th Battle of the Blues between St. Thomas' Matara and St. Servatius, Matara will be played for three days from March 23 to 25, 2007 at the Uyanwatte Stadium, Matara.

Cricket fans are impatiently awaiting this annual match at Matara.

This festival as described by the town-folk is the 2nd biggest annual event in the annuals of the two towns of Matara and Devinuwara - fist being the Esala Festival at Ruhunu Maha Devalaya at Devinuwara.

Of this encounter many are drawn games. In the years 1994 and 2002, St. Thomas' triumphed at the 106th encounter Sanjaya Kumarasingha of St. Thomas' College created history for his school when he took three wickets for the first time in the history of this 100 year old encounter.

St. Thomas' Indika de Saram and Prabath Nissanka had the honour of playing for the Sri Lanka National team. Both schools have produced great cricketers of international level. Of them Sanath Jayasuriya of St. Servatius is the greatest.

Last victory recorded by St. Servatius was in the year 1971. In 1982 Gratien Liyanage of St. Servatius was able to create a ground record by scoring 207 runs for his school. It is still a record.

In the year 1988 Sanath Jayasuriya led the St. Servatius team. To date he is a member of the national team. He is the most popular cricketer even at international level. He is a source of inspiration to both his school and his country. Ruchira Palliyaguru of this same school had the opportunity of representing the national team. Tharanga Lakshitha is the latest of St. Servatius to play for the national team.

Nishantha Chanaka Coomasaru, Rasika Priyadharshana and Nalin Guruge of St. Thomas' represented the under 19 national team.

Performance for the year 2007 St. Servatius played 11 inter-collegiate matches. Nine were drawn - two games were lost.

This year St. Thomas' have played 15 matches - one victory, two games were lost. Others were drawn. Skills displayed by both teams during the year are equal.

This year St. Thomas' is being led by a fourth year coloursman in M. G. Tharaka Dussantha. He is keeping wickets as well.

He is responsible for 52 catches behind the wickets this season. He has made two half centuries too. He represents Matara SC at crickets.

P. M. Sudeshiratne is his deputy. Performing as an opening bowler. He has collected 30 wickets during the season, and on two occasions he has collected five wickets apiece in each innings.

St. Servatius is being led by sixth year coloursman K. D. Eranda Harshaka. He is a frontline batsman like his counterpart, he too is keeping wickets for his team. Supun Madumal Jayasuriya is the vice captain. He is a fifth year left handed batsman. He is one of the seamers in the side; and an all rounder.

Teams of both schools are consisting of skilful and experienced players. Therefore a keen contest is expected at this year's encounter. Cricket fans are impatiently awaiting the occasion.'