Uva Thomians encounter starts today
S. Thomas' College Gurutalawa team |
S. Thomas' College, Bandarawela team |
The annual Uva Thomian Cricket Encounter 2013 will be held today and
tomorrow at Bandarawela Municipal Ground, starting at 9.00 a.m.
S. Thomas' College, Bandarawela is captained by 4th year coloursman
Nihanga Divantha Liyanage while S. Thomas' College Gurutalawa will be
captained by 3rd year coloursman M.H.B. Dickkumbura.
The Uva Big Match fever was introduced to the up-country and thus
began the annual fixture in 1984. Although many other schools in the
region were involved in cricket matches, none of them were annual
fixtures and they were never able to generate the kind of enthusiasm and
excitement that is usually accustomed in Big matches. Although during
this period leading schools in Colombo had already begun their "Big
Matches" with the "Royal Thomian Encounter" taking center stage, people
from the up-country didn't have the privilege to witness such events and
as a result the fixture between the two Thomian Colleges was most
welcome.
As mentioned previously the "Battle" of the Blues as it was called in
the 80's began on the March 24 in 1984 under the guidance of the late
Headmasters Messrs S.L.A. Rathnayake from S.Thomas' College, Bandarawela
and Patrick Gunawardana of S.Thomas' College, Guruthalawa .
The big match is played for the A.G. Gunasekara and Ratnayake
challenge cup. Gurutalawa Thomians won the big match in 2011 but
narrowly lost by 24 runs in 2012. |