112th Battle of Nilwala starts today

Priyan DE SILVA -Matara Sports Correspondent

The 112th annual cricket encounter between St Servatius College and St Thomas' College will take place on the March 23, 24 and 25 at the Uyanwatta Stadium Matara. St Servatius College host this year's three- day encounter while St Thomas' will host the 50 over game on the 31st.

The big match in Matara has been played since 1900 and St Thomas have won 32 encounters the last being in 2007 under the captaincy of Tharaka Dushantha while St Servatius have been deprived of a win for the past 41 years. They will be trying to break the hoodoo and add to their 27 wins the last was when Nimal Munaweera led them in 1971.

There have been many illustrious cricketers who played for these two schools. Sanath Jayasuriya, now member of Parliament for Matara is the most famous. He captained St Servatius in 1988 and is a international cricketing legend. Ruchira Palliyaguru is another Servatian who has reached international cricketing fame as an umpire. Prabath Nishshanka and Indika de Seram are Thomians who have excelled in the cricketing arena.

St Servatius play in the elite division one of the schools cricket tournament. They have not been able to impress in this year's tournament registering first innings wins against Zahira college, Nalanda college and Sri Sumangala college Panadura.

They lost first innings to Dharmaraja college Kandy and Mahinda college Galle and lost out right to Trinity college Kandy, Dharmasoka college Ambalangoda and Kaluthara Vidyalaya.

The friendly games against Sri Devananda Ambalangoda, Bandaranayaike MV Gampaha, Revatha MV Balapitiya and Mahanama College Colombo ended in draws. They lost outright to Maristella College Negombo an Lumbini College Colombo..

Fifth year coloursman wicket keeper batsman Sanidu Keshawa Ediriweera leads St Servatius to this year's 112th big match with all rounder Gihan Nimsara as his deputy.

Gihan a fourth year coloursman was able to play only six games this season in which he scored more than 380 runs with an unbeaten 111 against Sri Devananda Ambalangoda. Kasun Rajitha is a third year coloursman and an all rounder.

Sanjika Ridma also a third year coloursman is an allrounder. He is the only player to score an unbeaten century on debut in the series. He scored 100 not out in the 110th big match at the age of 15. Sanjika has 555 runs and 38 wickets to his credit this season. Third year couloursman Ruchira Jayathunga is also an all rounder called upon to open the innings with both bat and ball. Ruchira has claimed thirty wickets. Yohan Chanuka holds top spot in the St Servatius batting line up scoring 600 runs this season. He is a third year coloursman and an all rounder.

Second year coloursman Vihanga de Silva is the left hand opening batsman of the team while Vidath Dilshan is a consistent scorer and accomplished wicket keeper.

Thushan Eranga, Mohamed Rajad, Sameera Gunasekera, Chanuka Dilshan, Ashen Deemantha, Sachith Lakshitha, Randika de Silva and all rounder Lochana Mohotti who was a member of the Sri Lanka under-15 team are freshers capable of strengthening the final XI.

P B Buddhika an explosive batsman who scored 1000 runs in the season and captained St Servatius in 1996 completes his fourth year as senior coach of the team. He has the assistance of Pradeep Nishantha, A M Priyantha and Tharindu Mannage. G H Nayananda de Silva is master in charge of the first XI at Servatius this season.

The Thomian's have done well playing in division two of the schools tournament. They have out right wins against Tissa Central college Kalutara and St Annes Kurunegala. First innings wins were registered against Carey college Colombo, St Thomas' college Kotte and Sri Devananda college Ambalangoda. First innings wins were conceeded to Vidyartha College Kandy and Moratu Vidyalaya.

In the friendly games they won out right against P de S Kularathna MV Ambalangaoda, drew with Royal College Colombo, St Sebastians Moratuwa, St Aloysius college Galle, Devapathraja MV Rathgama and Rahula college Matara. They lost oughtright to Richmond College Galle.

Fourth year coloursman and all round player Ashan Dinura Ranasingha leads the Thomian's this year. Ashan has the distinction of scoring 1000 runs including and claiming more than 98 wickets with his right arm off spinners this season. This left hand batsman has one century and 9 half centuries to his credit. He has nine five wicket hauls in an innings and has claimed ten wickets in a match one game. Ashan has latched on to 08 catches and hence is a exceptional all rounder. Ishan Khanishka Abeysekera a third year colours man is his deputy. Ishan is a right hand batsman and has scored more than 600 runs with one ton and he bowls right arm leg spinners and has claimed more than 35 wickets so far. Jayanga Nirmana de Silva is a fourth year coloursman is good fielder in any position and a hard hitting right hand batsman.

Second year colours man Prashan Manohara bowls left arm leg spin and and claimed more than 33 wickets so far. Wicket keeper Ishan maduranga is a second year coloursman with 12 dismisals behind the stumps.

He is a left hand batsman who has scored more than 234 runs this season. Sixteen year old Lasith Lakshan is a second year coloursman with two centuries in his 500 plus runs and bowls right arm fast. The other second year coloursman of the team is opening bowler Danusha Lanka Kulasuriya. First year coloursman Hashan Vimarshana is also an all rounder who is a right hand bat and right arm fast bowler.

Rasika Damith, Vidath Jayanidu, Rusiru Akshaya, Kushan Rangana, Prince Dalugoda, Nimantha Kaweeshwara, thalisha Dilan, S S Dasun, Danuka Dilshan, Mohamed Nazhan, Shazni Ahamed, Randika Lakshan, Osnada Chamupathi and Dilum Krishan are the freshers who strengthen the Thomian team at this years big match.

Charith Palliyage is back with St Thomas' college after a one year stint as senior coach of Rahula College Matara.

Sisira Weerasingha a past cricket captain of STC Matara is the Master in Charge of cricket and has held the post for the past twenty two years.

ST SERVATIUS COLLEGE TEAM: (Seated from left) Tharindu Manage (assistant coach), Kasun Rajitha, Gihan Nimsara (vice captain), Nimalsiri Wanigabaduge (principal), Sanidu Ediriweera (captain), Nayanananda de Silva (master in charge), A M Priyantha (junior coach), Pradeep Nishantha (assistant coach) (Middle row standing from left) Vihanga de Silva, Chathura Sudarshana, Thushan Eranga, Yohan Chanuka, Lochana Mohotti, Ruchira Jayathunga, Sanjika Ridma, Mohamed Rajat, Vidath Dilshan, (Back row from left) Ashen Deemantha, Sachith Lakshitha, Ramesh Nimantha, Kavindu Umesh, Randika de Silva, Sameera Gunasekera (Absent) P B Buddhika (coach) and Chanuka Dilshan

ST THOMAS COLLEGE TEAM: (Seated from left) Ishan Maduranga, Charith Palliyage (coach), Lasith Lakshan, Shanthini Suraweera (deputy principal), Ashan Ranasingha (captain), W B Piyatissa (Principal), Ishan Abeysekera (vice captain), Janak Mathangadeera (prefect of games), Jayanga de silva, Sisira Weerasingha (Master in charge), Prashan Manohara (Back row from left) Kushan Rangana, Shazni Ahamed, Nevindu Udesh, Rusiru Akshaya, Vidath Jayanidu, Rasika Damith, Hashan Vimarshana, Krishan Weerarathna, Dinuka Dilshan, Dhanusha Lanka Kulasuriya, Nimantha Kawishwara, T D Kavinda, Prince Dalugoda, Osanda Gamage . Pictures by Priyan de Silva Matara Sports Correspondent