President's College - Peterites clash in Under 15 Division one final

Chris Dhambarage

President's College will confront St. Peter's College in the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association organised Astra Cup under 15 division one cricket tournament final at St. Benedict's College grounds in Kotahena today and tomorrow.

President's College in fact will be creating history as they have entered a division one tournament final for the first time. They will be going into the final with a great amount of confidence having trounced the more fancied D. S. Senanayake College outfit by an innings and 64 runs in the semifinals.

Earlier President's College had the better of Dharmapala MV by one wicket in the quarterfinals. St. Peter's College reached the final by defeating Thurstan College in the semifinals.

The Peterites had the better of Wesley College in the quarterfinals. In the first round they beat Prince of Wales College Moratuwa, Maris Stella College Negombo, Piliyandala Central and in the second round they beat Vidyartha College Kandy.

The President's College team is a more experienced side with most of their players having represented Nomads Sports Club in the SLC division two, three and under 23 inter club cricket tournaments. Their captain Praboda Arthavidu is a top all rounder having scored over 500 runs and captured over 35 wickets this season.

The right hander hit a top score of 101 against Joseph Vaz College Wennappuwa and scored three half centuries against Royal College (74), Lumbini MV (65) and Dharmapala MV (51). In addition he had a matchbag of nine wickets in the match against Zahira College.

Supun Navaratne is another good batsman in the President's College team having compiled over 400 runs with a top score of 111 against Zahira College. Leg spinner Sachitha Perera has claimed over 35 wickets with best figures of 5 for 14 against St. Thomas Matara and 5 for 20 against D. S. Senanayake College.

Maduka Liyanapathirana has also scored over 350 runs in this tournament and has captured 25 wickets. He hit a top score of 144 against Zahira College and took five wickets against Joseph Vaz College Wennappuwa.

Wicket keeper batsman Dirk Muller is the highest run getter for St. Peter's College with a total of 407 runs. In addition left hander Kaushal Rodrigo has collected 348 runs, vice captain Nilochana Perera (342 runs), Dhanushka Kodikara (310 runs) and skipper Denham Perera (248 runs).

Aasif Mackie is the highest wicket taker for the Peterites with a tally of 27 scalps. In addition Nilochana Perera has picked up 24 wickets and Ryan Wijesuriya has captured 16 wickets.