Peterites out to avenge last year’s defeat
RANJAN Anandappa
St. Peter’s will have their last year’s defeat firmly embedded in
their minds, and no doubt will try to hit back strongly, while the
Josephians will be equally determined to keep their unbeaten record
intact when they meet their traditional rivals in their 75th annual ‘big
match’ at the P. Sara Stadium for the Rev. Fr. Maurice Legoc Trophy
today and tomorrow.
A Peterite win is long overdue as they won last in 1978, under Suraj
Abeysekera. The Peterite coach Ranmore Martinesz who captained the
Bambalapitiya school in 1986 made his intentions clear that a positive
approach to the game at all times will be maintained for them to make
their ‘Diamond’ Jubilee ceremony a memorable one.
Last year
The Joes won last year under the leadership of Ruwantha Fernandopulle,
while Anuk Silva was the Peterite skipper on that occasion.
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St. Joseph’s College. Seated (from left): Prashantha
Ranaweera (Master-in-Charge), Kapila Manohara (2nd XI
coach), Nishika de Silva, Rev. Fr. Chaminda Wanigasena
(Prefect of Games), Shameera Weerasinghe (Captain), Rev. Fr.
Sylvester Ranasinghe (Rector), Hareen de Silva (v. captain),
Rev. Fr. Sudath Gunatileka (Vice Rector), Treshan
Rajasooriya, Harsha de Silva (Coach), Samith Danushka
(Junior Coach). First row (standing from left): Vidusha
Jayasinghe, Anushka Shakthi, Jaan Jayasinghe, Dinal
Dhambarage, Shalindra Perera, Rosco Thattil, Chaturanga
Kumara, Ashan Vithanage, Shyan Seneviratne. Second row (from
left): Nicole Liyanage, Dinal Fonseka, Enrico Silva, Gihan
Dalpadadu, Thilina Sathurukulasinghe, Ramesh Vithanarachchi. |
“We have all the ingredients of a match winning outfit, and we have
created history by winning 10 matches, which no Peterite side has done
in the past. We lost to Ananda in a low scoring match but the team is a
well knit combination with a strong batting line up,impressive bowling
combination and an agile set of fielders.” said the Peterite coach.
The Peterites have five batsmen who have scored over 700 runs, and
fared prominently, namely skipper Angelo Perera, Vinod Perera, Chatura
Pieris, Andri Berenger and Shivanga Ranasuriya. Isuru Pieris and Denam
Perera too have made useful contributions.
The sides are led by two of the most promising all-rounders in school
cricket today, Angelo Perera (St.Peter’s) and Shameera Weerasinghe (St.
Joseph’s), both represented the country at under 19 level. Weerasinghe
is a bowling allrounder while Perera is a batting allrounder. Both
captains are capable of individual brilliance.
Absorbing
This coupled with the support of the other team members of either
side, will surely lead to an absorbing contest. Each side will bat for
60 overs only in the first innings and there will be no restrictions of
overs in the second innings.
Peterite skipper Angelo Perera heads the batting average with 1,468
runs including five centuries and six 50’s , with a career best 239
against Nalanda. Perera’s double hundred is the highest individual score
in the Peterite cricket history. He has also excelled with the ball
taking 61 wickets with his left arm spin. Left arm paceman Chatura
Pieris tops the bowling taking 80 wickets while Vinod Perera besides his
impressive batting has taken 45 wickets.
Remarkable
Josephian skipper Shameera Weerasinghe too, has a remarkable record
as an allrounder. He has scored over 900 runs which includes four
centuries and three 50’s and has taken over 97 wickets with his right
arm leg spin. He has obtained match bags of 10 wickets on four occasions
and has taken five wickets in an innings nine times.
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St.Peter’s College. Seated (from left): Kitto Fernandopulle
(2nd XI coach), Shanaka Fernando (Assistant coach), Rev. Fr.
Shamira Cooray (Sports Cordinator), Angelo Perera (captain),
Rev. Fr. Travis Gabriel (Rector), Chatura Pieris (v.
captain), Ranmore Martinesz (Head Coach), Sanath Chinthaka
(Asst. MIC), Wasantha Haputhanthri (Master-in-Charge). 1st
Row (standing from left): Hashan Wickremasooriya, Nilochana
Perera, Andri Berenger, Vinodh Perera, Shivanga Ranasuriya,
Isuru Pieris, Akshu Fernando, Angelo Emmanuel, Denham Perera,
Kaushal Rodrigo. 2nd row (standing from left): Shanendra
Fernando, Sidath Jayaweera, Aasif Mackie, Ranitha
Liyanarachchi, Sampath Kumara, Damien Nadian. |
The Josephian coach Harsha de Silva was equally confident of a
favourable outcome for the Joes said. “No doubt that the Peterites have
a very good side, but when it comes to a ‘big match’ it could be a
different ball game with the players of either side rendering more than
one hundred percent, it has happened in the past, and the pattern could
continue.” said the Josephian coach.
The Josephians have so far played 15 matches and have won 5 and
remained unbeaten. They defeated Isipathana, Maris Stella, Negombo, De
Mazenod, Kandana, S.Thomas’ and Lumbini. They drew against Ananda in an
absorbing contest falling short by 16 runs for an outright win.
The Peterites have registered outright wins over Joseph Vaz,
Wennappuwa, Trinity, Kalutara MV, St.Benedict’s, St. Sebastian’s, St.
Aloysius’, Galle, Maris Stella, Isipathana, St.Anthony’s, Katugastota
and Revatha MV, Balapitiya.
Highest
Out of the 74 encounters played so far, the Joes have won 12 to the
Peterites 7, with 55 matches drawn. Former Peterite and Leicestershire
cricketer Clive Inman’s 204 n.o in 1954 is the highest individual score,
while Josephian Shenal Warnakula’s 9 for 41 in 1997 is the best bowling
effort . Peterite Dion Walles too, took 9 for 53 in 1947.
St. Peter’s College: Angelo Perera (captain), Chatura Pieris (v. capt),
Shivanga Ranasuriya, Vinod Perera, Andri Berenger, Akshu Fernando, Denam
Perera, Angelo Emmanuel, Nilochana Perera, Hashan Wickremasuriya, Sidath
Jayaweera, Asis Mackie, Isuru Pieris.
St. Joseph’s College: Sameera Weerasinghe (captain), Hareen Silva (v.capt),
Treshan Rajasooriya, Nishika de Silva, Vidusha Jayasinghe, Anushka
Shakthi, Jaan Jayasinghe, Dinal Dambarage, Shalindra Perera, Rosco
Thattil, Chaturanga Kumara, Ashan Vithanage, Shyan Seneviratne, Dinal
Fonseka, Enrico Silva, Ramesh Vithanarachchi. |
