Two equally good teams Thurstan College and Isipathana College packed with spinners, will vie for major honours in the 60th annual Battle of the Brothers Inter-School Big Match at the SSC Grounds in Maitland Place today and tomorrow.
This first Big Match for the current season, played for the coveted Blackam Wijewardena Trophy, will have a great amount of significance as the Grounds will be open for the spectators after a lapse of two years following the deadly COVID-19 pandemic
Thurstan are currently ahead in the Big Match series with six wins while Isipathana have emerged victorious on four occasions with the rest of the matches ending in a draw.
Thurstan had the honour of recording the last win in the series when the team led by Sandaru Dias triumphed by 10 wickets at the same venue.
Meanwhile, Isipathana last tasted success in the Big Match series way back in 1999 where the team led by Krishantha Jayawardana emerged victorious by seven wickets at the P. Sara Oval.
This time both teams have performed well in the Inter-Schools Division One Tier ‘B’ Cricket Tournament with Isipathana claiming the top spot and Thurstan currently lying in second place.
The other feature of the two teams is that they have rallied around through their spinners mostly throughout the season and the game could turn into a low-scoring contest.
The teams
Thurstan (from): Shanikya Deshappriya (Captain), Kavindu Prabath, Duvindu Nishan, Vihas Thewmika (Vice-Captain), Mohomed Azeem, Thenuka Dewappriya, Thanuja Rajapakse, Roshan Jenson, Thanuga Palihawadana, Adithya Sethmina, Yovun Silpa, Navindu Fernando, Nimantha Hanshaka, Gagana Perera, Vishwa Dhananjaya, Umesh Perera, Ramika Sonal, Talisha Nanayakkara, Navindu de Alwis, Udeep Edirisinghe, Kaushalya Balasuriya and Rachintha de Silva.
Isipathana (from): Naveen Kanishka (Captain), Sithuka Gunawardena (Vice-Captain), Themiya Gunarathne, Malisha Sandaruwan, Yesith Kalupahana, Yuneth Seneviratne, Pawara Gimhana, Sahan Viraj, Kevin Samuel, Dushan Malinga, Tharushka Ashel, Dasith Senal, Lesandu Kalpage and Sanija Rahal.
Big Match Special Awards:
Harsha Deepal Memorial Trophy for the Man-of-the-Match. Jayantha Paranathala Challenge Trophy for the Best Batsman. Mahanama Wijeyaratne Challenge Trophy for the Best Bowler. Chakrawarthy de Silva Memorial Trophy for the Best Fielder. Diyanesh Rajaratnam Memorial Trophy for the Best Striker. Priya de Mel Challenge Trophy for the Best All-Rounder.
Playing hours:
(Friday): 9.40 a.m. – 12.00 Noon: Play. 12.00 Noon – 12.40 p.m. – Lunch. 12.40 p.m. – 3.00 p.m. – Play. 3.00 p.m. – 3.20 p.m. – Tea. 3.20 p.m. – 5.40 p.m. – Play.
By – Daily News