Close tussle expected
by S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy south group correspondent A close tussle is expected at the 10th limited-overs clash between Dharmaraja College and Kingswood College which will be played at Police grounds, Kandy this Sunday, March 22, at 9.30 am.
The tally of the series is level with four wins each with one match being abandoned due to rain. Last year's match was won by the Rajans which helped them to level the series.
But the man to watch in this match will be the big hitting Pubudu Seneviratne who should be a big draw. Unless the Kingswoodians get him out early, they will be in for trouble. Even in the big match, though he failed with the bat he won the Man of the Match award for capturing 11 wickets in the match with his off-spinners.
The Rajans have plenty of depth in their batting in Sunil Ranasinghe, Chaminda Werake, Yasas Jayasundera, Pubudu Seneviratne, Nuwan Ekanayake, Waruna Herath, and Asanka Marapona.
For the Kingswoodians it will be Roshan Perera who has scored 800 runs who will have to lead the run chase. Others who should help to build up the total are skipper Nisitha Rupasinghe, Omila Weerasuriya, Charmara Senaviratne, Jaliya Weerasinghe, Thushara Madanayake, Malith Mallawarachchi, Lasitha Ekanayake, Chanaka Amunupura.
Dharmaraja College (from) Waruna Herath (captain), Chaminda Werake, Sunil Ranasinghe, Pububu Senaviratne, Yasas Jayasundera, Nuwan Ekanayake, Dunish Bandara, Asanga Marapona, Chamila Kaduruwewa, Chathuranga Wickremanayake, Lakmal Weerasekera, Lakmali Jayasundera, Damith Ariyadasa, Priyantha Udunuwara. (Coach: Ananda Wijesekera. Sports Co-ordinator: Haroon Dole, POG: Sarath Mathararachchi. Principal: W. M. Bandaranayake.)
Kingswood College (from) Nisitha Rupasinghe (captain), Roshan Perera (vice captain), Lasitha Ekanayake, Jaliya Weerasinghe, Chanaka Amunupura, Thushara Madanayake, Sanjeewa Gamage, Omila Weerasuriya, Chamara Seneviratne, Namal Pushpakumara, Malith Mallawarachchi, V. Seneviratne, M. D. Wattegedera, E. K. D. Premachandra, S. N. D. Kiridena, M. R. Mousoor, L. C. Gunaratne and P. H. S. Karunaratne. (Coach: Gamini Debahapuwa. MIC: Kamal Weerasinghe. POG: R. M. D. Ratnayake. Principal: B. A. Abeyratne).
Moratota, Palihakkara the men to watch
by S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy south group correspondent
St. Anthony's College take on Trinity College in their 19th limited over clash to be played at the Asgiriya Stadium, today, March 21 at 9.30 am.
The Antonians are in the lead with 11 wins in the 18 matches played so far and Trinity have won six while the clash of 1993 ended without a result due to heavy rain after lunch.
The Antonians hold the record for the highest total in the series when they notched up 276 for 5 in 1993 and the lowest totals have been by Trinity scoring 72 in 1984 and 70 in 1983. Antonian Marlon Von Haght has scored two centuries 111 in 1981 and 139 in 1983. Ajaz Shafeek is the other centurian making 121 not out in 1993.
Suranga Moratota who has earned a big reputation for his big hitting should be a big draw for Trinity. The others who should be among the runs for Trinity are Rodney de Raffayal, skipper Sudhanga Fernando, Kaushalya Weeraratne, Dasun Weeraratne, Suranga Gamage, Nuwan Jayasena.
For the Antonians it be skipper Mahes Palihakkara who will be called upon to plunder the runs as he had so far scored 950 runs and taken 81 wickets this season, making him one of the best allrounders in schools today. Others who should wield the willow with aggression are Amila Pinnaduwa, Manjula Chithrasena, Ravindra Wickremapala, Neil Ferdinands, Nafeez Nizam, Samson Burke and Kasun Jayaratne.
With the weather in Kandy keeping bright, entertaining cricket is in store for the cricket fans.
St. Anthony's College (from) Mahes Palihakkara (Captain), Amila Pinnaduwa (Vice Captain), Kasun Jayaratne, Ravindra Wickremapala, Manjula Chithrasena, Nafees Nizam, Neil Ferdinands, Samson Burke, Nirosh Liyanage, Lahiru Fonseka, Prasad Ranawaka, Prasad Jayawardena, Ricardo Gunaratne, Prasanna Jayalath, Raj Wickremapala, (Coach H. M. Muthalib; MIC S. Udugama, POG, Nimal Willemuna).
Trinity College (from) Sudhanga Fernando (Captain), Rodney de Raffayal (Vice Captain), Chintaka Molligoda, Dasun Weeraratne, Suranga Moratota, Suranga Gamage, Kaushalya Weeraratne, Angus Nuwan Jayasena, Chathuranga Munaweera, Chaminda Aluthge, Sameer Samath. Nasroomi Azar, Janaka Weeraratne, Chitranga Vanderkoon, Migara Welianga, Amila Wijesekera, Pasan Weeraratne (Coach Bernard Perera. MIC: Dissa B. Gunaratne. POG S. Ariasingham)