St Thomas’ College: Seated from left: Senura Perera, Sanjaya Maduranga, Sachira Rashmika, Sineth Sithara Dissanayake (captain), Ruwani Rubasinghe (POG), T L Dayashantha (principal), Asanga de Silva (MIC), PIW Jayasekera (coach), Nipun Samarasinghe (vice captain), Harindu Jayasekara, Nenuka de Seram. Middle row from left: Thathsara Dewmith, Jimuth Dhanika Dissanayake, Pesandu Sanjan Jayaratne, Sanju Dulshan, Loshitha Diksith, Sandaru Thilinaka, Sashindu Jayasekera, Diluka Sandakelum, Pramudith Rashmika, Dinath Sanchith, Chavindu Rashmika, Dumindu Sakshara Edirisinghe, Sanju Dilshan, Netmina Indusara Jayathunga, Abdul Majid. Back row from left: Ochintha Chamika, Kancilu Gimhana, SMK Kithmina, KSS de Silva, Sashintha Bashitha, Manuga Yonal
St Servatius College: Seated from left: AM Pryantha (junior coach), TD Munasinghe (head coach), Hasitha Amarasinghe (captain), Amila Nianthi (deputy principal), HKLB Virajith (principal), Rev Viraj Fonseka (MIC), Chiran Neththaru (viice captain), Nayanananda de Silva (POG), Damith Chamara Kumara (assistant coach). Middle row from left: Mithila Minsara, Nehara Tharun, Abises Sulakshana, Chamarindu Nethsara, Bhathiya de Silva, Chathum Kulasekera,Chamith Manage, Diniru Abeywickremasinghe, Tharush Damindu, Kushan Wijerama, Tharun Devinda, Thisan Dewmith. Back row from left: Praneeth Mihiranga, Tharuka Punsith, Viran Chamuditha, Deneth Kawya, Imal Sandeepa, Tharuka Imadith, Damiru Senitha, Denuwan Pramod, Kaveesha Randula, Vishwa Supun
A result is on the cards when St Servatius College Matara host St Thomas’ College Matara for the 122nd edition of Ruhuna’s Battle of the Blues cricket match from March 25 to 27 at the Uyanwatta Stadium.
A result is predicted as the ongoing school cricket tournament is being played in the limited over format and both teams have had little exposure to the longer format of the game.
It is left to be seen if they have the endurance to play the full nine sessions of this three day encounter if not a result is on the cards if rain does not intervene.
If the Servatians emerge victors it will be a winning result after 51 years as it was in 1971 that Nimal Munaweera led them to their last victory. The Thomians last won in 2007 under the captaincy of Tharaka Dushmanth to lead the series 32 games to 27 with 61 matches ending in draws. The 120th encounter was not played due to the Covid 19 pandemic and the 121st encounter was the only game in the series that was not played at Uyanwatta as it was contested at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium at Sooriyawewa.
In the past five decades the Thomians put up some gutsy performances to deprive the strong Servatius outfits of certain victory. In the 114th encounter played in 2014 the Thomians were shot out for a paltry 81 in their first innings but in their second essay they did not allow the strong Servatian bowling attack to get through their guard for almost five sessions to cover up a 188-run deficit and declare on 322 for 8 with a lead of 134 runs which was an impossible target for the Servatians to achieve in the last six overs of the match.
The match is the third oldest cricket contest in the country and the most illustrious cricketers who have played in the series are Sanath Jayasuriya, Ruchira Palliyaguru and Kasun Rajitha for St Servatius and Indika de Saram and Prabath Nissanka for St Thomas’.
Led by Sineth Sithara Dissanayake the Thomian squad is made up with Nipun Samarasinghe, Sachira Rashmika, Harindu Jayasekara, Sanjaya Maduranga, Senura Perera, Nenuka de Saram, Dumindu Sakshara, Chavindu Rashmika, Pramudith Rashmika, Sasindu Jayasekera, Jimuth Dhanika, Dineth Sanchith, Loshita Diksith, Pesandu Sanjan, Abdul Majeed, Sanju Dulshan, Sahan Kanchana, Sandaru Thilanka, Diluka Sandakelum, Manuga Yonal, Nethmina Indusara, Thathsara Dewmith, Ochintha Chamika and Sachintha Bashitha. The Thomians are coached by Indika Jayasekera with Asanga de Silva as the Master in Charge.
St Servatius College is led by Hasitha Amarasinghe and the squad comprises Chiran Neththaru, Mithila Minsara, Nehara Tharun, Abises Sulakshana, Chamarindu Nethsara, Bhathiya de Silva, Chathum Kulasekera, Chamith Manage, Diniru Abeywickremasinghe, Tharush Damindu, Kushan Wijerama, Tharun Devinda, Thisan Dewmith, Praneeth Mihiranga, Tharuka Punsith, Viran Chamuditha, Deneth Kawya, Imal Sandeepa, Tharuka Imadith, Damiru Senitha, Denuwan Pramod, Kaveesha Randula and Vishwa Supun. The Servatians are coached by TD Munasinghe while Rev Viraj Fonseka is the Master in Charge.
The one-day encounter will be hosted by St Thomas’ at the same venue on April 2.