Thomians have a distinct advantage

Dinesh WEERAWANSA

S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia will make every effort to add salt to the wounds of their inconsistent opponents Royal College, Colombo in their 133rd Battle of the Blues three-day cricket encounter which starts at SSC grounds, Colombo tomorrow.

With a far superior side and a better track record than their opponents, the Thomians are well set to capitalize on the weak links of their opponents. The team from Mount Lavinia is determined to capitalize on early setbacks suffered by Royal and press for a win. They have already registered six wins this season and would go flat out to make a big match win their lucky seventh!

But their lead-up to the big ‘un does not reflect that superlative record. In the final round of matches before the big match, the Thomians suffered a crushing nine-wicket defeat at the hands of Trinity at Asgiriya Stadium. But they are determined to bounce back and regain the old form in their most important assignment for the season.

On the other hand, S.Thomas’ will have a distinct advantage when it comes to experience as they have four players who are fourth year coloursmen, including last year’s captain. That should well hold the key to this year’s Battle of the Blues encounter.

Fourth-year colourman Sachin Peiris will lead S.Thomas’ this year. He has proved his credentials as a wicket keeper batsman, doing a neat job behind the stumps while being a reliable middle-order batsman.

He will have the luxury of last year’s captain Chamod Pathirana, another fourth-year coloursman who opens the new ball attack. Pathirana’s presence will also boost the Thomian middle order batting. If these two seasoned campaigners click well, S.Thomas’ are assured of a healthy total.

S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia cricket team: seated (from left) Lakmal de Zoysa (Master-In-Charge), J.B. Peiris (Prefect Of Games), Madushan Ravichandrakumar (Secretary), Sachin Pieris (Captain), Professor Indra de Soysa (Warden), Umesh Fernando (Vice captain), Chamod Pathirana, Ranil Pieris (Coach), Dharantha Manerigama (Assistant Coach), Standing first row from left. Rishen Mathangaweera, Javed Bongso, Asiri Wickremanayake, Ramith Gunaratne, Neomal Wickremasinghe, Thilaksha Sumanasiri, Standing second row from left. Navod Henakankanamge, Shiven Perera, Usman Ishak, Sanesh de Mel, Akthab Abdul Cader, Sahan Wijesinghe, Devin Jayasinghe, Dinush Peiris, Bashitha Jayasuriya. Absent - Lakshan Weerakoon, Dilum Fernando.

The due have jointly aggregated over 1,300 runs this season are well set to give additional headaches to Royal bowlers. The former captain has aggregated nearly 600 runs with a season’s best knock of 91 while skipper Peiris has aggregated nearly 800 runs with a top score of 83.

Comparatively, the Thomians has a proven batting record this season. Apart frpm Peiris and Pathirana, the other who are capable of keeping the scoreboard moving are Asiri Wickremanayake (an aggregate of 807 runs with three centuries), Javed Bongso (aggregating nearly 500 runs with a season’s best 75) and fresher Thilaksha Sumanasiri (aggregating 525 runs) and Rishane Mathangaweera (400 runs). In fact, Matangaweera and Wickremanayake are the only centurions produced by S.Thomas’ this year.

Experienced Pathirana is capable of early breakthrough with the new ball.

The Thomian bowling armory is rich with variety of spinners - Neomal Wickremasinghe (left-arm leg spin), Madushan Ravichandrakumar (right-arm spin), Rishane Mathangaweera (a spinning all-rounder) and fresher Thilaksha Sumanasiri. The latter is an emerging off spinner who has also proved his might with the willow, scoring 93 to save his side from a certain defeat against Wesley.

The Thomians’ last win in the series was registered five years ago when they emerged victorious under Ashan Peiris in 2007.

They also won in 2005 under Vidyesh Balasubramanium.

The best Thomian partnership for any wicket is 238 runs (for the second wicket) held by Ashan Peiris (161) and N.Mazahir (162) since 2007 match. In the 1884 match, Thomian F.Thomasz took 8 for 3 to register their best innings analysis.

In 1935, Thomian M.O. Gunaratne produced a superb allround effort, scoring 107 and taking 7 for 34. Thomian L.H.Arndt had the startling bowling figures of 6 for 26 and 8 for 28 in the 1905 match. The highest innings total for S.Thomas ‘ is 411 all out, registered in 2009.

The last instance the Thomians registered successive wins in the series was way back in 1952 and 1953 under C.A. Barrow and Ian Peiris respectively. During that 1953 innings win by the Thomians, former SLC chief Ian Peiris and former Chief Editor of the Daily News, Geoff Wijesingha shared a record 186-run partnership which was a Thomian record for any wicket until 2007.

It was at the 128th Battle of the Blues that this Peiris-Wijesinghe record was shattered after 53 years with a 238-run alliance by Ashan Peiris (161) and Nisham Mazahir (162). It is the only double century partnership recorded by Thomians.

S.Thomas’ lost the first two matches of the Battle of the Blues series after its inauguration in 1880 before first tasting victory in 1882 under F.W. Mc Donnel, But that wait proved to be productive as S.Thomas’ went on to complete a hat-trick of big match wins from 1882 to 1884.

Brothers M. Saravanamuttu (1914) and S. Saravanamuttu (1918), both captained S.Thomas’ College cricket team in their respective years, while their brother P. Saravanamuttu played for College (1910-1912). Colombo Oval was later named after P. Saravanamuttu for his great contributions to Tamil Union C&AC.

S. Thomas’ has produced some of the top Sri Lanka cricketers. The most notable them of all is undoubtedly Sri Lanka Test captain and ex-CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket Duleep Mendis who still accounts for the highest individual innings by a Thomian in the Battle of the Blues series.

Mendis played for S.Thomas’ from 1970 and 1972 scoring back to back centuries in 1971 and 1972. He also captained the side in 1972.

His nephew B.C. M.S. Mendis represented College from 1991 to 1994 scoring two centuries and one half century. He too captained the side in 1994. Duleep Mendis's son R.S Mendis (2003-2005) was the vice captain of the victorious 2005 team and also scored a half century.