Mangoosteens battle begins tomorrow

Thushan JAYASURIYA and Dinesh MALAWARAARACHCHI

The Battle of the Mangoosteens which started in 1949, will be held for the 54th occasion between Kalutara Vidyalaya and Tissa Maha Vidyalaya on March 23 and 24 at Kalutara Public Stadium.

The KVians side will be led by Dharshana Manathunga and Isuru Buddhika will be the Vice Captain of the team. Allrounder Supun Dilshan is the captain of the Tissa MMV side while fourth year player Damindu Niranjan will be the vice captain of the squad.

Kalutara Vidyalaya team will be hoping to secure a victory this time too, with plenty of experiences against pioneering schools in school cricket including Zahira, Ambalangoda Dharmasoka, Dharmaraja Kandy, Sri Sumangala Panadura, Mahinda Galle, Nalanda,Trinity Kandy and St.Servatius' Matara. And a significant fact is there are four players in the squad who played for the Under 13 Group 'A' team which won the runners up in the all island under 13 'A' group championship .

Kalutara Vidyalaya possesses a strong batting side with centurions and half-centurions including Nuwan Sanjeewa, Subhath Upekshana, Vinod Rashinda, Dharaka Dilshan, Isuru Buddhika, Pathum Nissanka, Chamal Eranda. They have been able to prove their batting power during the past fixtures. The bowling department of Kalutara Vidyalaya is also a well balanced one. Captain Dharshana Manathunga has captured a matchbag of eight wickets (eight for 31) against Dharmaraja College, Kandy. Nimesh Madushanka has bagged eight wickets for 75 against St.Servatius College, Matara. Pathum Nissanka, who is another star player who strengthens their bowling, has been able to made a crucial blow of six wickets for nine runs against Aluthgama Vidyalaya. Vinod Rashinda captured six wickets for 55 runs against Sumangala Vidyalaya. Among the others, Dulan Weerasooriya, Sumudu Sameera, Hiruna Chathuminahave also have made superb efforts in bowling.

On the other hand, Kalutara MV has plenty of experiences aginst S.D.S.Jayasinghe MMV Dehiwala, Sri Rahula Matara, Vidyartha Kandy, Carey, St.Anne's Kurunegala, Moratu MV, Ambalangoda Devananda and St.Thomas' Kotte. They won against Vidyartha Kandy and St.Thomas' Kotte in first innings' and drew with St.Anne's College Kurunegala.

All rounder skipper Supun Dilshan, a right hander batsman who has made superb performances in the Lemonade trophy tournament, has reached his 500th run mark for the season and he has been excelled in bowling side too.

Vice captain Damindu Niranjan is the opening batsman. Other than him, the Tissa Vidyalaya first XI squad consists of Hashan Chamara, Yasitha Chamod, Ishara Dhanesh, Milindu Fernando, Manula Prasanna, Rasinda Gayashan, Himash Sachin, Vinod Lahiru, Rumesh Madushanka, Navod Lahiru, Isuru Ashan, Dilshan Sudeera, Sanka Chathuranga, Nilnuwan Pushpika, Dulan Chameera.

With these two teams clashing for honours at the 54th Battle of the Mangoosteens, the historic city of Kalutara will be filled with thrills and cheers tomorrow and day after.

Tissa MMV team: (First row from left) Manula Prasanna, Yasitha Chamod, Supun Dilshan (Captain), Palitha Alwis (Coach), Maithripala Liyanarachchi (Principal), W. Sunil Jayasiri (MIC), Damindu Niranjan (Vice captain), Hashan Chamara, Rashinda Gayashan (Second row from left) Dulaj Harshana, Namod Prabodha, Dimuthu Madushanka, Sankha Chaturanga, Milindu Sampath, Chanaka Lakshan, Isuru Ashan, Rumesh Madushan (Back row from left) Janath Priyankara, Roshitha Dilshan, Dilshan Sudheera, Nilnuwan Pushpika, Ishara Dhanesh, Dulan Sameera, Himash Sachin

Kalutara Vidyalaya team: (first row from left) Darshana Manatunga (Captain), Rumesh Milroy (Assistant Coach), Sunil Saluwadana (Coach), K Ratnaweera Perera (Principal), B Upul Kumara (MIC), Isuru Buddhika (Vice Captain), (Second row from left) Pathum Nissanka, Ashen Shanuka, Chamal Eranda, Hirusha Himasha, Sumudu Sameera, Thilina Madushan, Kaun Buddhika, Nuwan Sanjeewa (Back row from left) Nimesh Madushan, Vinod Rashinda, Dulan Weerasuriya, Subhan Upekshana, Dharaka Dilshan, Heshan Thamoda, Sathis Dilshan, Sandun Sameera, Shanila Shehan