For Blackham Wijewardena Trophy :

Thurstan-Isipathana clash

Yasaratne Gamage

The Thurstan vs Isipathana 48th Cricket Encounter for the Blackham Wijewardena Memorial Trophy will get underway on February 26 and 27 at the Singhalese Sports Club (SSC) ground, Colombo.

The chief guest will be Rtd. Brigadier Lalith Peiris who was the captain of Thurstan in 1965 and led his team for the first big match victory.

The 31st limited over cricket match for the W A de Silva Trophy will be played on March 6 at P Sarawanamuttu Stadium while the fourth T-20 cricket encounter will be held on March 13 for the Priya Paranavitane Trophy at Thurstan College ground.

The chief guest in the limited over match will be Mahesh Manamperi who played for Thurstan from 1980 to 1982. Jayalath Aponso who played for Thurstan in 1970 and the former Thurstan coach will be the chief guests for the Twenty 20 match.

Harsha Deepal Memorial Trophy, Jayantha Paranathala Challenge Trophy, Mahanama Wijeratne Challenge Trophy and Chakrawarthy De Silva Challenge

Trophy will be awarded for the man of the match, best batsman, best bowler and best fielder respectively as special prizes for the big match.

Anusha Priyantha De Alwis Memorial Trophy will be given to the man of the match in the limited over match while Aravinda Fernando Memorial Trophy for the best batsman and Upali Bandaratileke Challenge Trophy for the best bowler are also to be awarded. Sirosha Gunatilake Challenge Trophy, Athula Wijesundara Challenge Trophy and Deepal Madurapperuma Challenge Trophy will be awarded to the man of the match, best batsman and best bowler respectively in the Twenty 20 match.

Thurstan are equipped with one four year player, three third year, seven second year players and five freshers.

Isipathana on the other hand consists of two four year, three third year and second year players and seven freshers.Both teams are captained by fourth year all rounders. Dimuth Warapitiya the captain of Isipathan with his 600 (one century and three half centuries) runs in the season and a haul of more than 20 wickets with his right arm off spin bowling seems the best choice to lead the team. He and Nilusha Sasanka who represented the U-19 inter district tournament , will use their experience to bring victory to Isipathana.

Harith Wanigaarachchi (509 runs) and Chenutha Wickramasinghe (266 runs) in the season can harm the Thurstan bowling attack to feed the scoreboard. Sidath Mallawarchchi and Samitha Sulochana who have taken 40 and 36 wickets in the season respectively will stirve to threaten Thurstan batting squad. However Thurstans are no second best.

Thisura Madurapperuma the allrounder left hand middle order batsman and the captain together with Prabodha Arthavidu who has scored more than 700 runs (six half centuries) with 40 wickets in the season have proved that they could turn the game other way. Supun Navaratne (703 runs), Sajeewa Salgado (585 runs) and Harith Dias (561 runs) strengthen the Thurstan batting line up.

Sachith Dias, Sachintha Wijesinghe and Prabodha Arthavidu who have taken 77, 62 and 51 wickets respectively in the season must be targeting the opponent’s Isipathana wicket. Thurstans in the season could have three outright wins to gain an added mental advantage over the Isipathana. Thurstan have won five big matches and Isipathana have won four while 37 matches have been drawn. Each has won 15 matches in their limited over encounter while T-20 history remains as Thurstan two and Isipathan one.

Dimuth Warapitiya leads Isipathan while Thisura Madurapperuma captains Thurstan. This year’s tourney is organized by the Thurstan-Isipathana joint Cricket Committee as usually and powered by Dialog Telekom PLC.