Another draw in store

'Battle of the Babes':

S. M. JIFFREY Abdeen Kandy sports corr.

Another draw is in store when St. Sylvester's College take on Vidyartha College in their 51st 'Battle of the Babes' at the Asgiriya stadium in Kandy on Friday and Saturday commencing at 9.30 a.m. on each day.

Records show, of the 50 matches played so far, the Sylvesterians are leading by winning 14 matches against two by Vidyartha College. St. Sylvester's last won under Hemantha Wimalawickrema in 1998 which was also the last time a decision was produced in this match.

Last win

Vidyartha's last win came in 1967 under R. M. Lafir who later rose to the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police. Thus the Vidyarthians have a 41 year old 'jinx' to roast.

Thushara Kodikara of Vidyartha College holds the record for the highest individual score in the series when he slammed 217 not out in 1983 and the same year V. P. Sugathadasa responded with a magnificent 128 not out to force a draw.

Another little known fact is that the present Governor of the Central Province Tikiri Kobbekaduwa has scored a century for St. Sylvester's College in this big match in the late seventies.

Late Hiran Rajakaruna in a phenomenal spell captured 4 wickets in four balls in 1967. Late Sarath Basnayake, a medium pacer from St. Sylvester's bowled with such hostility in 1962 and took 9 for 14 in the first innings and 5 for 34 in the second to have a match haul of 14 for 48 which could be a record for a big match in the Central Province. Vidyartha were bowled out for 45 and 98 and the Sylvesterians won this match by innings and 12 runs. This big match will be played for the Rev. Fr. Don George trophy donated by the late N. C. R. Herathge.

The chief guest on the first day will be St. Sylvester's captain of 1958 and 1959 A. H. Hiddelarachchi. The chief gust at the awards ceremony on the second day will be the Provincial Director of Education of the Central Province Wijesiri Herath. The old boys of St. Sylvester's College have also organised a dinner at Hotel Hill Top on Friday, April 3.

St. Sylvester's will be led by fourth year coloursman Chanaka Colombage, an attractive batsman and a Wily off-spinner. He has scored over 400 runs and captured 59 wickets which makes him the top allrounder of the side.

The Sylvesterians cannot boast much about their performance this season and it will be not incorrect to state that they have under-performed this season. They have played 12 matches, won 1 and lost 5 and drawn 6. Quite a lean season by their standards which had made them one of the leading schools in the Central Province as they won the All Island Schools Championship for the Coca Cola Trophy in 1994.

Star-studded

The only other school which had won this trophy was St. Anthony's College in 1991 when they had in their folds cricketers like Muttiah Muralitharan, Ruwan Kalpage, Piyal Wijetunga, Nuwan Kalpage and many others in that star studded side.

Nuwan Silva another allrounder is the deputy skipper of the side, scoring 435 runs and bowls off spinners. Mohammed Saffraz, a very aggressive batsman as not really hit it off scoring 442 runs and has captured 10 wickets with his off spinners. But he has the potential to perform better.

The other capable batsmen in the side are Saman Embilimeegama (375 runs), Nuwan Nilantha (310 runs), Menuka Nanayakkara (383 runs), Sachith Alwis (150 runs), Ruwantha Ekanayake (165 runs) and Thiwantha Gunaratne (110 runs).

Third pacie

The bowling will be spearheaded by Maithree Wijesekera and Dananjaya Athauda with Sachith Alwis being the third pacie in the side. But the Sylvestrian attack will depend much from their slow bowlers with off spinner Chanaka Colombage being called to bear the brunt of the attack. The other spinners in the side are off spinner Nuwan Nilantha, leg spinner Umesh Weerasinghe, off spinner Mohamed Safraz and leg spinner Ruwantha Ekanayake. Saman Ambilimeegama with 36 victims will keep wickets.

The Sylvesterians are coached by former Kandy Youths and Kandy CC and St. Sylvester's College cricketer Tudor Gunaratne.

Vidyartha College will be led by fourth year coloursman Sameera Abeyratne who has scored over 450 runs and has captured 30 wickets with his medium pacers, to be one of the key players in the side.

Vidyartha College have played nine matches, won 0, lost 3, and drew 6. The only difference is that Vidyartha have gone through winless while St. Sylvester's have won one, while the latter have lost 5 against 3 by former. Vidyartha College started the season on a dismal note but made vast improvements in the latter half.

Tirantha Dissanayake is the vice captain of the side. One of the key batsmen in the side, scoring over 500 runs including an epic 110 against Trinity College at the Asgiriya stadium which helped them to force an honourable draw after a first innings debacle. He has 40 victims behind the stumps.

Others who should swell the total are Rasun Wijekoon (520 runs), Lahiru Herath (250 runs), Sajith Pallihawadana (270 runs), Dinusha Gunatillake (325 runs), Lahiru Herath (250 runs), Ushan Wickremasinghe (225 runs), and Charitha Daulagala.

Pace attack

The pace attack will be opened by skipper Sameera Abeyratne and Lahiru Herath with Dinusha Gunatillake coming at first change. The spin attack will comprise off spinners Tilina Wijekoon, Charitha Daulagala, Tharindu Ranaweera and Ushan Wickremasinghe. Team is being coached by former Vidyartha College cricketer Bandula Ranasinghe.

The teams:

St. Sylvesters College (from): Chanaka Colombage (captain), Nuwan Silva (vice captain), Saman Ambilimeegama, Nuwan Nilantha, Mohammed Saffraz, Dananjaya Athauda, Menuka Nanayakkara, Sachith Alwis, Ruwantha Ekanayake, Thiwantha Gunaratne, Umesh Weerasinghe, Kanishka Herath, Dushan Malalasekera, Sasanka Navaratne, Suranga Yatigammana, Laliru David. Coach: Tudor Gunaratne.

Vidyartha College (from): Sameera Abeyratne (captain), Tirantha Dissanayake (vice captain), Tilina Wijekoon Dinusha Gunatillake, Sajith Pallihawadana, Charitha Daulagala, Kasun Wijekoon, Lahiru Herath, Ushan Wickremasinghe, Tharindu Ranaweera, Yasantha Dissanayake, Dulaj Madhushan, Ushan Bandara, Dushantha Gangoda, Prabath Perera, Kanishka Seneviratne. Coach: Bandula Ranasinghe.