Matara's Battle of the Blues begins today

Priyan de Silva and A W Gunawardena

The 111th Battle of the Blues between St Servatius College Matara and St Thomas' College Matara will be played on March 18, 19 and 20 at the Uyanwatte Stadium, Matara.

St. Thomas' have won 32 encounters the last was in 2007 under the captaincy of Tharaka Dushantha. St Servatius have won on 27 occasions the last being in 1971 under the captaincy of Nimal Munaweera. Gratiaen Liyanage (207 not out) in 1982 is the highest individual score by a player.

St. Servatius is led by fourth year cloursman K H Lahiru Kokila an accurate right arm off spinner who has Nimanda Subasinghe as his deputy.

While St. Thomas' is captained by all-rounder Nipun Rangana Ranaweera who has more than 450 runs and 20 wickets to his credit this season with wicket keeper Ravindu Damsara as his deputy.

St. Servatius won their match against Lumbini College outright and registered a first innings win against Nalanda College. Lost first innings to Richmond College Galle, Mahanama College Colombo, Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda and Prince of Wales College Moratuwa. They lost outright to Maristella College, Negombo and the strong Trinity College team.

Gihan Nimsara, Janitha Ranasinghe, Nimanda Madhusanka, Sanidu Ediriweera, Sanjika Ridma and Johan Chanuka strengthen the St Servatius batting while skipper Lahiru Kokila, Nimanda Madhusanka, Inzam Mohamed, Gihan Nimsara, Kasun Rajitha, Sanjika Ridma, Thanula Sasmith, Thushan Eranga and Ruchira Jayatunga can curtail the Thomian batting in this 111th encounter. St Thomas have fared well in the division II tournament this season with outright wins against Devananda College Ambalangoda, Siri Piyarathna College, Padukka and St. Thomas' College, Kotte. They registered first innings wins against P de S. Kularathna College, Ambalangoda, Presidents' College Kotte, Karandeniya Central and St John's College Nugegoda.