Thurstan College will enter the battle with confidence in their ability to retain the Blackham Wijewardene Trophy for the second successive year while Isipathana College will be hoping to break the 21-year hoodoo this year when they clash in their annual 57th ‘Battle of Brothers’ cricket encounter at the Sinhalese Sports Club grounds today and tomorrow with play commencing at 9.30 am on both days.
Thurstan will be captained by third year coloursman Jayavihan Mahavithana who made a century on debut while Isipathana College will be led by fourth year coloursman Leshan Amarasinghe. Thurstan have won six matches in the series including last year’s victory under Sandaru Dias and Isipathana have triumphed on four occasions having last tasted success in 1999 under Thushantha Jayawardene. Both teams have yet to establish a worthy record of wins and of the 56 matches played 46 have ended in draws.
Thurstan remain unbeaten having won three matches outright against Maris Stella, Lumbini and S. Thomas Matara from 13 games while Isipathana have won just one game against St. Benedict’s and lost three matches outright against Royal, St. Aloysius Galle and St. Joseph’s.
Thurstan field a strong batting line up spearheaded by skipper Mahavithana who has amassed 613 runs with 3 fifties with a top score of 86 against Mahanama while Yohan Liyanage has scored 503 runs including a top score of 84 and another half century. The others who have contributed to Thurstan’s batting success are Avishka Kaushalya (350), Bavantha Jayasinghe (332),
Sanuth Nandinu (245), Dananja Silva (243) and Theneth Prabuddha (237).
Thurstan boast of a three-pronged spin attack led by leg spinner Punthila Samanthakumara who have captured 64 wickets including six five-wicket hauls and two match bags of 10 wickets while off spinner Yohan Liyanage has also been a key wicket-taker with 46 wickets. Off spinner Dananjaya Silva has bagged 20 wickets. The new ball will be shared by Avishka Kaushalya and Bavantha Jayasinghe.
Skipper of Isipathana Amarasinghe has been in peak form for the Havelock Town school with a tally of 839 runs and a top score of 159 against Maliyadeva and another century (106) against Maris Stella. Ravindu Rathnayake too has contributed lavishly with the bat and scoring 774 runs with a top score of 162 against Wesley. He has scored another century against Maliyadeva and four fifties. Thevindu Dickwella is another key player in their batting line up and has obtained 552 runs with a top score of 71 not out and two other half centuries. Lisura Vinath (313) has also done well with two fifties including of top score 76 against Prince of Wales.
Left-arm leg-spinner Savindu Uthsara has been the main wicket taker for Isipathana capturing 48 wickets including two five-wicket hauls against St. Joseph’s and St. Benedict’s. He will be ably supported by left- arm leg-spinner Sithuka Gunawardana who has taken 30 wickets with a five wickets haul against St. Benedict’s. Paceman Yasiru Kasthuriarachchi has also been effective by claiming 29 wickets and he will share the new ball with left-arm paceman Dinath Dissanayake (20) wickets.
Thurstan skipper Jayavihan Mahavithana said that their team is brimming with confidence and will go out to make it two in a row this year by overcoming the Isipathanians.
The skipper of Havelock Town school Leshan Amarasinghe said that they are determined to wrest back the Blackham Wijewardena Trophy this year as they have been practicing hard during the last two days hoping to come up with a much better display.
Add new comment