St. Thomas’ College Seated from left: Sangeeth Peiris, Riyaz Allang (V. Capt), N. Priyankara (Coach), Punyakanthi Amaraweera (Asst PoG), Rev. Fr. Maxwell Silva (Rector), Antoinette Colombage, (Teacher in Charge), Sujatha Jayasumana (Asst PoG), Michael Vanhoff (Captain) and Gihan Benadict. Standing from left: Ian Fleming, Ian Basnayaka, Akila Weerasinghe, Amila Kariyawasam, Arthur Stuwert, Roy Niranjan, Lahiru Deldeniya, Nipuna Perera, Dhanushka Dharmasiri, Nishan Samarasinghe, Milroy Perera and Rangeeth Peiris.

Sri Jayawardenapura MV Seated from left: Thilina Maduranga, Navod Illukwatte, Jayathilaka Bandara (MiC), Mithun Jayawickrama(Captain), Mallika Seneviratne (Principal), Malitha Wickramasinghe (V. Capt), W.A.D. Ramyajith (Coach) and Milinda Payagala.
Standing from left: Iroshan Silva, Isuru Kariyawasam, Malinda Chathuranga, Sasanka Amarasinghe, Chamara Nayanajith, Dulaj Madhushanka, Krishan Botheju, Vishudda Ranganath, Hasitha Samaranayake and Chulantha Lahiru.
 

After some commendable performances in the Two Day tournament St. Thomas’ College, Kotte and Sri Jayawardenapura MV will clash for the honours in the 33rd Battle of Kotte Big match today and tomorrow at the NCC Ground.

After years of nurturing junior cricket, both these schools have remained under the shadows of their big time cricket playing counterparts of Colombo. But when the two institutions come together in the annual battle this year they have achievements that could attract the jealousy of their Colombo friends.

While Michael Vanhoff lead Thomians have made a giant leap from the Division III to be among the top 32 schools in the island to play in the Inter School Under-19 Limited Overs Tournament, Mithun Jayawickrama skippered Sri Jayawardenapura MV, a Division II school to have secured a place in the prestigious tournament. When the two schools secured their places in the Limited Overs tournament by virtue of their performances in the Two Day tournament, several leading Colleges including Wesley College, St. Sebastian’s College, S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia Richmond College and Kingswood College have failed to achieve the mark under the new format.

Meanwhile, Vanhoff will have an additional feather on his cap as he comes to the field as the holder of the Sri Lanka junior record for the highest individual score, a mesmerizing 354 amassed against Lalith Athulathmudali Vidyalaya. Sri Jayawardena openers Navod Illukwatte and Thilina Maduranga have the honour of amassing a massive first wicket partnership of 301 runs this season.

It was the strength of their top order batting line ups that helped these two schools during the season and they will look forward for their top order to continue their form in the annual battle.

Sri Jayawardenapura MV played 12 matches this season and registered a victory against St. Mary’s College, Kegalle while suffering a single defeat at the hands of President’s College, Rajagiriya. It was their openers who scored heavily this season. Left handers Navod Illukwatte and Thilina Maduranga accumulated over 750 and 650 runs respectively while the latter established a new College record for the highest individual score (175 against St. John’s Nugegoda) erasing a 32-year-old record held by Saliya de Silva.

Their skipper Mithun Jayawickrama with over 400 runs this season and deputy skipper Malith Wickramasinghe with over 550 runs will strengthen the top order along with their dependable openers.

Skipper Jayawickrama will be their key bowler as he comes to the match with a haul of over 50 wickets in 12 matches. Jayawickrama will control spin with co off spinners fresher Isuru Kariyawasam (over 30 wickets) and Navod Illukwatte. Malitha Wickramsinghe will open the attack for Sri Jayawardenapura. The right arm paceman has picked up over 25 wickets this season.

Thomians will rely on their skipper Michael Vanhoff to lead their batting department. Vanhoff has an aggregate of over 600 runs in just 10 innings. Vanhoff will combine with openers Akila Weerasinghe and Rangeeth Peiris who also have done well this season. Weerasinghe and Peiris accumulated over 500 and 350 runs respectively.

Deputy skipper Riyaz Allang will spearhead their bowling attack while Michel Vanhoff and Gihan Benedict will assist him in the bowling department. While Allang has picked up over 25 wickets, Vanhoff and Benedicts have shared over 40 wickets between them this season.

Having played just seven matches this season Thomians’ run and wicket tallies may look minute but their outstanding five outright victories suggest that they possess the match winnings abilities.

St. Thomas’ scored outright victories against Lalith Athulathmudali College, Ananda College, Kottawa, President’s College, Maharagama, Dudley Senanayake College and C.W.W. Kannangara College and lost to Zahira College Maradana while their match against Sastrananda Vidyalaya ended in a draw.

Sri Jayawardenapura MV leads the victory tally 12-3 in the Big match series.