The 67th annual 'Battle of the Golds' cricket encounter between the traditional rivals Jaffna College and St. Patrick's College will take place on March 20 and 21 on the Jaffna College grounds, commencing at 12.30 p.m each day.
Both teams have remained unbeaten in the current season and are out to put up a good performance in this important encounter. The 1998 inter-school cricket season was organised by the Jaffna District Schools Cricket Association after a lapse of 19 years.
A total of ten schools participated in the 1998 cricket season namely Jaffna Central College, St. Patrick's College, St. John's College, Jaffna Central College, Kokuwil Jaffna Central, Cavakachcheriya Central College and Heartly College Jaffna.
The Jaffna College team is coached by T. Arunothayan and R. Laxmeerian. They have received tremendous support from the Principal R. Rajathurai and the two masters in charge E. F. R. Jayakumar and V. K. Shanmugalingam. The St. Patrick's College team is coached by Rev. Fr. A. I. Bernard who is also the Director and the Principal of the school.
Meanwhile the Big Match between St. John's College and Kokuwil Jaffna College will also be worked off on March 20 and 21 at St. John's College grounds.
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JAFFNA COLLEGE - WHO'S WHO
V. Kirubaharan: Captain of the team, 2nd year player. Right-hand hard hitting batsman and right-arm bowler.
R. Kugan:. Vice captain of the team, Fresher, wicket keeper, dependable right-hand middle order batsman.
6T. Harri Newton: Fresher, right-hand hard hitting opening batsman and all rounder.
V. Vincent Jeyakumar: Fresher, right-hand middle order batsman and a dependable fielder in any position.
M. Vasanthakumar: Fresher, righ-hand batsman and opening medium pace bowlerr.
M. Pranavarruban: Fresher, right-hand batsman.
S. Ninithuruban: Fresher, dependable opening but good fielder and a leg-spin bowler.
S. Sathees: Fresher, hard hitting righ-hand batsman and medium pace bowler. Baby of the team.
S. Senthooran: Fresher, right-arm spinner and middle order batsman.
G. Pragash: Fresher, righ-arm fast bowler.
S. Senthooran: Fresher, dependable fielder, middle order batsman.
R. Nikesh: Fresher, safe fielder.
S. Partheepan: Fresher, hard hitting batsman.
A. Kirubaharan: Fresher, good fielder.
. P. Naren: Fresher, dependable fielder.
G. Luxuman: Fresher, medium pace bowler.
ST. PATRICK'S COLELGE WHO'S WHO
S. Sanjeevan: Skipper, second year. A right-hand hard hitting middle order batsman, quick scorer.
J. Bennet Rostan: Deputy skipper, second year. A right-hand dependable middle order batsman and opening right-arm pace bowler. (38 wickets in the 6 matches so far)
G. Ranjith Thevarajan: Second year. Opening right-arm medium pace bowler and a right-hand dependable one down batsman. A good fielder in any position (25 wickets in the six matches so far).
A Jude Angelo: Right-arm off spinner. Hard hitting right-hand bat. A brilliant gully - fielder.
Samson: Second year. Right-hand bat and a right-arm medium pace bowler. Safe fielder.
T. Jeyaraguvan: Second year. Keeper of the team. Stylish left-hand bat with a penchant for quick runs.
P. Parthipan: Fresher, fine all rounder, right-arm medium pace bowler and right-hand dependable bat. Smart fielder in any position.
M. Thivaharan: Fresher right-hand opening bat. Consistent scorer. The new ball, its shine and turn and trajectory don't worry him in the least.
S. Ruthrasegaram: Fresher, very consistent with the bat. Opens the innings and contributes many valuable runs.
V. T. Jeyamuthunathan: Fresher, right-hand bat and useful change bowler, safe feilder.
N. J. Imayakanthan: Second year. Right-arm leg-spinner and a close in fielder.
B. Tharashan: Second year. Patient plodder and a smart fielder.
J. C. Banujayan: Second year. Left-hand bat with lots of promise. Good fielder.
G. Arulraja: Fresher, a right-hand bat and a right-arm bowler.
E. Niirmarlraj: Fresher, a right hand bat.
T. Jude Antornines: Fresher, baby of the team. an effective spin bowler.
93rd Lovers' Quarrel : Decision hopeful in Galle's Richmond-Mahinda big match
By Mahinda. P. Liyanage
The 93rd Mahinda-Richmond annual cricket big match popularly known as the ``Lovers' Quarrel'' of Galle, will be played on March 20 and 21 on the Galle esplanade.
Mahinda who has displayed good cricketing prowess this season with two victories against St Servatius Matara (by an innings and 85 runs) and St Anne's, Kurunegala (by 29 runs) and 12 drawn games out of a total of 16 matches, are looking forward to a decision-oriented event.
Richmond despite seven freshers is determined to give a keen contest to their traditional rivals. They believe that the efficiency in fielding is the decisive factor of the match as they have to play on a batting friendly wicket.
Out of the past 92 games, Mahinda has secured 21 victories, the last being in 1978 under captain G. W. Dulip de Silva while Richmond has recorded 20 wins, the last in 1969, under the captaincy of D. Sirisena.
V. Rode for Richmond College and C. Weeratunge for Mahinda College captained the inaugural ``Lovers' Quarrel'' in 1905. It is pertinent to note that the then principals of the two institutions Mr. Woodward (Mahinda) and Rev. Fr. Dareel (Richmond) were the umpires of that first encounter.
Since the inaugural big match, Richmond recorded three consecutive victories until Mahinda registered their first victory in the series in 1908. In this big match series, P. M. K. Ranasighe has recorded the highest total of 162 in an innings for Mahinda and P. Kariyawasam (156) for Richmond.
Priyanka Lorenzuhewa, the fourth year, right-hand and right-arm medium paceman, will lead Richmond this year while Mahinda will be captained by fourth year player and the team's stumper, aggressive right hand opener Hasith Darshana assisted by fourth year promising batsman Hirantha Wijesinghe who has completed 1000 runs in the season. Richmond skipper Priyanka will be supported by his deputy, third year right hand batsman and right arm seemer Pradeep Kumara.
The Mahinda College team is coached by Mr. S. S. A. Shanta de Silva while Mr. Lasantha Kaggodaarachchi coaches the Richmond side.
92nd Battle of the North between Jaffna Central and St. John's
The 92nd 'Battle of the North' annual cricket encounter between Jaffna Central College and St. John's College will be played today and tomorrow in Jaffna.
Begun in 1904, the series could easily have been the second oldest after the Royal-Thomian encounters, had it not been for the nine years it was not played (1948, 1961, 1985-89, 1996, 1997). For seven years (1904, 1908, 1909, 1918, 1919, 1921, 1922) their were two matches played between the two schools during a year.
R. Sutharsan leads Jaffna Central and A.T. Gowribhahan captains St. John's.
Who's who of St. John's College cricket team - 1998:
A. T. Gowribhahan: (Captain) 4th year coloursman, successful opening batsman of the Jaffna District cricket team, an aggressive right_hand batsman, has some big scores this season, wicket_keeper.
K. Pragashan: (V. captain) 3rd year, all_rounder, right_handed batsman capable of big scores, right_arm fast bowler, a safe fielder.
P. Dinesh: 2nd year, all_rounder, bowls first change, a dependable batsman with a variety of strokes.
K. Sanjeyan: 2nd year, opening batsman capable of occupying the crease for a long time.
S. Amilthan: 2nd year, middle order batsman, specialist gully fielder.
S. Ratheeskumar: 2nd year, penetrative right_arm opening bowler, fields well in the deep.
A. Arunan: 2nd year, all_rounder, promising right_hand batsman, off_spinner, a good fielder in any position.
N. Logulan: 2nd year, all-rounder, a capable middle_order batsman, bowls leg_spin, a smart fielder.
A. Dinesh Ebeneezer: 2nd year, hard_hitting right_handed batsman, off_spinner.
P. Thomas: Fresher, the tall left_arm bowler shares the new ball with Ratheeskumar.
T. B. S. Dilan: Fresher, 'baby' of the side, right_arm leg_spinner, a useful left_hand batsman.
T. Rajeeve: Fresher, a dependable right_hand opening batsman, a safe fielder.
P. Kugaraj: Fresher, deputy wicket_keeper.
K. B. Prashanthan: Fresher, all_rounder, a left_hand batsman and a right_arm bowler.
T. Rahulan: Fresher, all_rounder, left_hand batsman and a right_arm bowler.
Who's who of Jaffna Central College team 1998:
R. Sutharsan: Captain of the side and second year talented allround player. Right_arm medium pace bowler. A right_hand middle order batsman and a safe field in any position, good pleasant leader.
N. Sureshkumar: Vice captain and second year player. Left arm medium pace bowler and middle order right hand batsman good fielder Ace bowler of the side.
T. Rohankumar: Second year player. Speed merchant who opens the bowling. Talented allrounder. A very good fielder.
T. Vasuthevan: Second year a confident stylish right hand batsman who usually open the innings, very good gulley fielder. Ace batsman of the side.
P. Kethees: Second year left_hand opening bat. A very good right_arm spinner a safe close fielder.
S. Thnakanthan: First year wicket_keeper of the side. Aggressive right_hand middle order bat who is always alert with gloves. Much improved keeper.
M. Thivagaran: First year left_arm medium fast bowler, shares the new ball with Rohankumar. Left_hand batsman a safe field.
S. Rajeev: First year, dependable one down batsman. A good close fielder. A tactful leg_spinner.
J. Paveenthan: Second year, fearless middle order right_hand batsman capable of quick runs. Safe field.
T. Rajeevan: First year, right_hand middle order batsman. A good fielder.
B. Maytharan: First year, right_hand batsman. A medium pace bowler. A safe field.
P. Mugunthan: First year, hard_hitting batsman, capable of keeping_wicket in an emergency.
B. Cajitharan: Fresher right_hand batsman. A good medium pace bowler. A safe field.
T. Thinesh: Fresher - right_hand batsman. Bowls off_spin. A very good fielder. Baby of the side.
K. Suthaharan: Fresher, right_hand bat. A useful fielder.
K. Pragash: Fresher, right_arm bowler. A good_middle order batsman.
V. Suresh: Scorer of the side.
DSS _ Bens will play for a result
By Chris Dhambarage
St. Benedict's College and D.S.Senanayake College without a win so far in the series are determined to produce a result when the two teams clash in their 7th annual cricket encounter which begins at the R. Premadasa Stadium today.
Both teams are packed with some good all rounders in addition to the presence of three Sri Lanka youth players. The Benedictines will be depending heavily on the individual brilliance of Pradeep Hewage who captained the Sri Lanka under 19 team at the recent Youth World Cup in South Africa.
D.S.Senanayake too will be backed up by two Sri Lanka youth players Arshed Junaid and Malintha Gajanayake. The former in fact could be a matchwinner as he is capable of running through any batting side in a short period. D. S. Senanayake has a good bowling attack although they recorded only a solitary win during the season.
In contrast the Bens have experienced mixed fortunes but have improved tremendously during the last three weeks. They bounced back into recognition by registering two morale boosting victories over Kingswood and St. Anne's College in their last two outings. The presence of Pradeep Hewage made a great impact and the all rounder is certain to carry on with the good work in this important fixture too.
However D. S. Senanayake has a well balanced side and more importantly they will have the services of six coloursmen. Their batting will revolve around skipper Dushantha Amaraweera, vice captain Shashi Lafir, Muditha Maduwantha, Duminda Perera and Malintha Gajanayake. All of them are in good form having scored heavily during the current inter school season.
The teams:
St.Benedict's (from): Dinesh Silva (captain), Pradeep Dassanayake (vice captain), Pradeep Hewage, Rally Tissera, Shahane Perera, Dinesh Perera, Joel Saverymuthapulle, Chinthaka Perera, Asiri Gunatilleke, Ashley Fernando, Malka Fernando, Susith Silva, Suranga Fernando, Jerome Adams, Suresh Chandrasiri, Jeevantha Pussewela, Niranjan Rodrigo.
D.S.Senanayake (from): Dushantha Amaraweera (captain), Shashi Lafir (vice captain), Muditha Maduwantha, Duminda Perera, Malintha Gajanayake, Arshed Junaid, Nalin Pradeep, Rukshan Gunasekera, Namal Abheywickrama, Anjana Danansuriya, Suranga Rajakaruna, Lassana Dias, Malshan Alwis, Mevan Bandara, Amila Dharmapriya, Ranjula Sumein, Indika Sampath.
Umpires: Tissa Kudahetti and T.Junkeer. Stand by: Austin Fernando.