Moratuwa 'Battle of the Golds':

Both teams evenly matched

Dilwin MENDIS- Moratuwa Sports Corr

The biggest and much awaited social event of the cricket crazy town of Moratuwa will host the annual 61st Battle of the Golds between two prestigious colleges of the coastal belt Prince of Wales and St Sebastians at the Tyronne Fernando stadium on 11th and 12th March 2011, while the 26th limited over game will be followed at the same grounds on March 13, 2011.

Seated L/R - Lantra Fernando (Coach), Shehan Jayasuriya (Vice Captain), K A Somapala (Snr Dep Principal), Isuru Thilina (Captain), Rohana Karunarathne (Principal), Tarindu Dilshan, Susantha Mendis (POG.Mic). Second Row - L/R – Shanuka Withanawasam, Rajeeva Perera, Nishka Hewavitharana, Chamika Fernando, Eshan Fernando, Amila Sudesh, Hashan Fernando, Premesh Fernando, Kusal Mendis. Back Row - L/R – Adeesha Devadithiya, Suchira Fernando, Ashen Mendis, Aruna Fernando, Bindu Rupasinghe, Nipun Perera, Namindu Fernando. Picture by Dilwin Mendis – Moratuwa Sports Correspondent

As the Cambrians are the hosts this year the Chief Guests for this two memorable occasions will be the Rector of St Sebastians College Rev Fr Bonnie Fernandopulle.

This match was inaugurated in 1933 and if there was no two interruptions due to unknown reasons this will be the 80th encounter. The two skippers for this inaugural match was Cambrian Duncan Fernando and Sebastanite Eugene de Silva. This year the two captains being Isuru Thilina and Sanitha de Mel respectively.

The last victory was recorded by Cambrians in 1977 and since then all 33 matches have ended in tame draws. It could be a record in big matches of the island.

This season out of the sixteen matches played by either schools Sebs are far ahead with seven wins and Cambrians with only a single game.

None can predict who will emerged as winner as cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties and the better side on the day will bear fruits and a fine example is the recent England versus Ireland match at the World Cup. If the weather permits Moratuwites could witness two keen tussels.

As mentioned earlier Cambrians will be led by third year coloursman who bats left hand and bowls right arm off spinners who has more than 500 runs under his belt. His deputy is Sri Lanka schools under 19 third year coloursman Shehan Jayasuriya who is the best batsman of the side with more than 800 runs from ten matches and has claimed 25 wickets with his off spin and with the top sure of an unbeaten 137 against St Servatius College, Matara.

Tarindu Dilshan is a second year coloursman who has scored 450 runs and claimed 50 wickets. Rajeev Perera a fresher has scored 450 runs and he is a fast run getter. The Baby of the team is Kusal Mendis who too has scored 450 runs and he led the Sri Lanka Schools under 15 team to Malaysia the first Cambrian to achieve this feat. He is the reserve wicket-keeper to Nipun Perera. Namindu Fernando who is a fresher has taken 42 wickets and speedster Hashan Fernando share the new ball with Chamika Fernando while the two openers are Ashen Mendis and Chamika Fernando.

Seated L/R - Frank Cooray (Mic), Deshan Dias, Anuk de Alwis, Sanitha de Mel (Captain), Rev Fr Bonnie Fernandopulle (Rector), Charith Fernando (V Captain), Oshada Fernando, Amila Aponso, Neil Rajapakse (Coach) Standing L/R - Ramesh Mendis, Ruwan Fernando, Angelo Silva, Nishamal Fernando, Luke Jayadeva, Vishva Fernando, Marlon Fernando, Rusiru Gunatilleke, Anushka Perera, Kalana Silva. Picture by Dilwin Mendis – Moratuwa Sports Correspondent

The team is coached by a former Cambrian skipper Lantra Fernando while the MIC is too a Cambrian Susantha Mendis.

Third year colourman and an allrounder and Sri Lanka schools under 19 vice captain Samitha de Mel leads the Sebastians and opens bowling with a second year player Vishva Fernando who has already claimed more than 50 wickets. During the absence of Sanitha de Mel a fourth year player vice captain Charith Fernando who has scored more than 500 runs and taken 30 wickets led the Sebs with his allround talents. He too missed the Services of second year a good allrounder Amila Aponso who has taken more than 50 wickets as he too was a member of the Sri Lanka Schools cricket team to the occasion. A fifth year coloursman former skipper and most experienced player of the side is Anuk de Alwis.

It is an asset to Sanitha his presence in the team. He too has taken 40 wickets and had several good knocks during the season. A third year player and one of the best batsmen in schools today is Oshada Fernando. He joined the thousand brigade during the last match when he scored 70 runs against S Thomas', Mt Lavinia (1012). His whirlwind unbeaten 235 runs against Holy Cross, Kalutara is a ground record and also the highest score by a Sebastianite. He surpassed the previous ground record held by Susil Fernando who scored 215 runs against Thurstan College.

A third year coloursman left hander who scored 1000 runs last year and the gloveman of the side is Deshan Dias. In his absence Ramesh Mendis keeps wickets. So far Deshan has scored more than 800 runs and he opens batting with Luke Jayadeva who is the Baby of the team.

A second year player and an allrounder Marlon Fernando bowls right arm off spin and he can bat at any position. He scored a century against St Aloysius College.

The team is coached by Neil Rajapakse and the Master-in-Charge is ever green Frank Cooray who too is an old Sebastanite.