Close tussle expected in Battle of the Golds

Dilwin Mendis, Moratuwa Sports Corr.

The 58th Battle of the Golds between Prince of Wales' College and St. Sebastians' College will be worked off on 25th and 26th April 2008 at Tyronne Fernando Stadium - De Soysa Park, Moratuwa and the 23rd Limited Overs match will be played at the same venue on 27th April, 2008.

Usually this encounter will take place on the second week of March and this year it has to be postponed. Owing to the circular issued by the Ministry of Education to postpone all sports activities of the schools and for the development work of the venue.

This Big Match Series commenced in 1933 and there were two stoppages from 1938 to 1953 and in 1969 and 1970. If not these two schools are meeting for the 76th year.

Out of the 57 matches so far played Cambrians have registered six wins while Sebs have won two. The honour of leading the first match goes to Duncan Fernando of Prince of Wales' and Eugene de Silva of St. Sebastians'. The first victory for Cambrians recorded in 1935 under Ernest F de Mel and in 1962 under Priyantha Fernando for Sebs.

The last victory of Cambrians were in 1977 under Pemlal Fernando while Sarath Perera led the Sebs in 1966.

The highest score of 415 for 9 for Cambrians record in 1958 and Sebs recorded their highest score of 365 for 7 in 1954. The lowest total for Cambrians is 67 runs in 1984 and for Sebs is 36 in 1937. The highest individual score by a Cambrian is an unbeaten 179 by Nilantha Bopage in 1991 and 148 runs by Gerald Mendis for Sebs in 1966.

In the current season Cambrians have played sixteen matches and won six and lost to Thurstan. The six wins is a record for Cambrian cricket. Sebastians have played 14 matches and won four and the rest were drawn. They beat more fancied Royal and St. Thomas.

A decision was recorded for the last instance was in 1977 and if this encounter too ended in a draw it will be a half century which will be a Big Match record in the island's Big Match history.

This year Cambrians will be led by fourth year Coloursman Shashan Silva. He led the Cambrian victorious under 17 division one cricket team for the All Island Trophy in 2005 and also he was the Man of the Match in the last years Lemonade Trophy Limited Overs Tournament.

He is the first Cambrian Captain to lead a team on an overseas tour for the 132 year Cambrian Cricket when they toured Austria on an invitation of Concordia Cricket Club, Vienna.

His deputy will be an all-rounder and fourth year coloursman who bats right and hard and bowls leg spin. He has performed well this season. Shashan will have the services of Sri Lanka Schools Cricketer and all-rounder Rumesh Thirimanne who represented schools on five occasions which is also a record for Cambrian Cricket.

Sebs will be led by a third year coloursman and an all-rounder Janitha Jayawardena who has performed well from the bat and the ball this season.

He has captured 64 wickets this season and has passed the four hundred mark. He is a fine fielder at any position. His deputy will be an another third year colourman and an all-rounder Trevin Fernando. He has scored 850 runs with three centuries and he opens batting. He is a medium pace bowler too. If he gets going it will be a problem for opponents.