Isipatana College, Colombo, may have commenced their Under-19 tournament campaign on a disastrous note, losing outright to St. Joseph’s College, Colombo, but their stature in the tournament proper is higher than anyone could have expected.

Captained by third year player Thivanka Ranasinghe, the team has recorded first innings victories in all their outings in the tournament proper, in Group D of the Division I tournament. That places them on par with Dharmapala, who have an equal number of first innings victories.

Unlike in the past few years, the Under-19 tournament is a relegation tourney and the first innings victories in the rain-hit third term plays a big part in the final analysis. Isipatana have played six matches, three tournament matches and three traditional matches. In all, they have scored four first innings victories while suffering one first innings defeat and one outright defeat.

A prominent feature of Isipatana this season is the way they have transformed into a fighting outfit, which their coach Suranga Wijenayake attributes to their batting strength and the ability of the spinners to put pressure on the batsmen. Last year, Isipatana suffered five outright defeats and recorded six outright victories.

Although an outright victory has eluded them, they have proved that they are capable of getting the better of formidable teams. Their first innings victories against Royal, S. Thomas’ and St. Peter’s are indicative of their new found strength in the bowling department. They have done so without their bowling spearhead, Dinusha Fernando, who was unavailable due to National duty with the Sri Lanka Under-19 pool and later due to injury. Chanaka Jayaneththi has opened the bowling in his absence.

Spin has been Isipatana’s main weapon in his absence, with Anushka Samarathunga the most outstanding. The leg spinner has been the main wicket taker with a huge haul of 43 wickets in just six matches. A second year coloursman, Samaratunga bagged two eight wicket hauls this season, one against Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa and the other against S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia. On both occasions, the Pathans recorded first innings wins. He was also mainly responsible for their first innings wins against St. Peter’s and Royal. A five wicket haul by Samarathunga skittled out the Petes, braced with three Sri Lanka Under-19 batsmen for 97 runs while his eight wicket haul restricted the Thomians to 87. Against Royal, he had a four for.

Alongside him in the spin department are off spinners Samitha Sulochana and deputy skipper Chamara Waduge. Sulochana is the next highest wicket taker with 20 wickets in six matches.

Isipatana’s batting is strengthened by third year players Thivanka Ranasinghe and Chamara Waduge, openers Nilusha Sasanka and Harshaka Cooray, coloursmen Dimuth Warapitiya and Dimithri Perera and Harith Wanigarachchi and Vidharshana Shenuka.

Their leading scorer is Vidharshana, who has as aggregate of over 350 runs with a century against the Bens. Sasanka is second to him with over 250 runs. While left hander Dimuth Warapitiya and wicket keeper bat Dimithri Perera are the other leading scorers, some of their experienced players are yet to make major contributions with the bat.

With the team in good form, they are looking forward to record a few outright victories this season and their coach said that leading Group D is a top priority. While coach Suranga Wijenayake is in his second year with the team, Isipatana’s MiC is Sirira Kumara.