Moratu Vidyalaya vs Sri Sumangala:

Limited-over match tomorrow

Dilwin Mendis - Moratuwa Sports Correspondent

The 61st annual Big Match between two leading Buddhist Schools Situated in the Western Coastal belt Moratu Vidyalaya and Sri Sumangala College concludes today at Tyronne Fernando Stadium, Moratuwa. The 20th limited overs match will be played tomorrow at the same venue. The much awaited T/20 game will not come off due to unavoidable circumstances.

Sri Sumangala Vidyalaya First XI. Pictures by Dilwin Mendis, Moratuwa Sports Corr.

Moratu Vidyalaya team

The two principals Mrs Jayalath Menike and Z W Somathilaka are trying their best to uplift the standard of their respective schools and extending their fullest support for this noble game cricket. The master-in-charge of cricket is Neil Udaya Geeganage while Sumith Chandrasiri and his deputy is Mahesh Perera. The coaches are Prasanna Dissanayake of Moratu Vidyalaya while Jayathu Nilaweera coaching the Sumangalians and Duminda Lakmal as his deputy.

So far Vidyalians have played 16 matches this season and they have won one and have lost four matches and won five on first innings and against formidable St Anthony's Kandy and have lost four on first innings while Sumangalians have recorded two wins lost outright seven games and lost five matches on first innings and drew one.

This year Moratu Vidyalaya is led by a fifth year coloursman and wicket keeper of the team Ishan Nilaksha Peiris and he bowls occasionally and he bowls off spin. He has scored more than 600 runs. He has toured India with the Development Squad Twice. His deputy will be an all rounder Harsha Devinda Fernando who has captured 74 wickets for the season.

Saminda Maduranga who opens batting with Thilan Kaviska is the reserve wicket keeper, Kaviska is a second year player who has passed the six hundred mark.

He turns out for Old Moratu Vidyalians Sports Club in the under 23 tournament.

There are six players who are freshers and skipper has to rely on them.

The spin department is strengthened by Shanaka Roshan, Shanaka Madushanka, Ushan Tharaka and Nipun Randika while Dashan Sulakshan is an all rounder.

Sri Sumangala will be captained by a fifth year coloursman Taraka Madushanka who has scored more than 600 run and he bowls medium pace. His deputy will be Geeth Sanjaya.

Sanjaya has scored more than 350 runs and he is playing in his second big match.

Most of the players are freshers and only four members are in the team who have participated in the last years big match.

This season they have played 16 matches and have won two, won one match on first innings, lost seven matches outright, lost five games on first innings and one drawn.

Both teams are fresher laden sides but none can predict what the outcome be.