77th Battle of the Blues:

Joe - Pete clash for Le Goc Trophy

Yasaratne GAMAGE

The 77th annual cricket encounter between St Joseph's and St Peter's College played for the Rev Fr Maurice Le Goc Challenge Trophy will be played tomorrow and day after, at P Sara Oval.

In addition, the Joe - Pete limited over cricket match will be held on March 12th at the same venue. This year the big match and the limited over match is organized by Josephian-Peterite joint organizing committee.

The Peterites are captained by Chatura Pieris. Petes won last year's encounter and will be looking forward to a repeat performances. Skipper Denham Perera, Nilochana Perera, Dushan Hemantha, Shehan Fernando, Jason Buultjens and Lahiru Jayaratne who played in the winning team last year are playing this year too. Josephians on the other hand won the encounter in 2008 under the captaincy of Ruwantha Fernandopulle. The Peterites have an experienced batting line up with opener Shehan Fernando topping the 700 run mark and the rest of the batsmen Shashin Fernando, Denam Perera, Lahiru Nilantha and Nilochana Perera will be keen on facing the Josephian bowling attack.

Joes' attack will comprise of last year's skipper left-arm medium pacer Dinal Dhambarage,

and spinner Rosco Paul Thattil who has been the leading wicket taker for them with 68 wickets. Out of the 16 matches played, the Joes remain unbeaten, winning against Kalutara MV, Maris Stella and Kingswood and have drawn the rest of the matches. The Peterites, on the other hand had a solitary win defeating Holy Cross, Kalutara but lost to Trinity.

The first innings of both teams are limited to 60 overs in the big match irrespective of interruptions or unless all out. Nevertheless the team has the option of declaring within the 60 overs. The team batting second could be enforced to follow-on at the end of the 60 overs if they are 100 runs behind though they are not all out.

The chief guest for the big match will be Rohan Paulpillai, a distinguished old boy of St. Peter's College. Jonathan Alles who captained St Joseph's College in 1985 will be the guest of honor for the limited over encounter.

St Joseph's College has won the encounter on 12 occasions while St Peter's has defeated their rivals on eight occasions.

St Joseph's have won 18 limited over matches whereas the Peterites won 16. The last time St Joseph's won a big match was in 2008 while in 2010 St. Peter's got their revenge. This year the tourney is powered by Dialog Axiata PLC for the second successive year. Prima (Ceylon) limited and Coka-Cola Beverages are the sponsors for food and soft drinks.

Teams

St Peter's College (from): Denham Perera (Captain), Shehan Fernando, Shashin Fernando, Lahiru Nilantha, Thanusha Jayawardena, Nilochana Perera (V.Captain), Dushan Hemantha, Lahiru Jayaratne, Julien Zilva, Ali Khan, Udaka Galhena, Jason Buultjens, Kavinda Tissera, Treshan Fernando, Janith Kannangara, Sidath Jayaweera.

St Joseph's College (from): Rosco Thattil (Captain), Kevin Bernadus, Vidusha Jayasinghe, Sadeera Samarawickrema, Chaturanga Kumara, Dilan Fernandopulle, Sachin Hewawasam, Asiri Supekshala, Dinal Dhambarage, Fabian Fernando, Piyamal Perera, Keshan Perera, Dinmithri Cooray, Dilshan Dissanayake.