THURSTAN-ISIPATHANA 42nd CRICKET ENCOUNTERAT SSC GROUNDS ON FEBRUARY 25th & 26th , 2005
The annual Big Match 42nd in the Series was played for the first time without the usual music, papare bands and merry making associated in a match of this nature. This was sequel to decision made by the two Principals & the Big Match Organizing Committee which was endorsed by the Ministry of Education to refrain from merry making in respect of the many thousands who lost their lives due to the Tsunami catastrophe of December 26th .The match commenced with the Chief – Guest Mr Prasanna Abeyratna who has the unique honor of the being first student at Thurstan being conducted in procession by the Thurstan Junior band and the 2 teams being introduced. Isipathana was put into bat by the Thurstan skipper who banked his successful pace duo will capitalize on the usually lively first hour at SSC. But after taking the first wicket at 6 and a drop catch at the next over off Waduge & wayward bowling helped Isipathana to lay the foundation to score the highest Total in this traditional encounter when they declared at 308 for 9.Tharaka Waduge literally tore into the Thurstan attack to score a blistering 90 in 87 balls with one six and 13 fours, was unfortunately dismissed due to a careless stroke just short of a well deserved century with few minutes to lunch. Skipper Dilan Anuradha who anchored the Innings stroked a fluent 68 off 132 balls with 8 fours and Isuru Vindana a fine 62 from 88 balls with 5 fours helped Isipathana to achieve this big total. Thusrtan replied aggressively and ended the first day at 110 for 3 in 29 overs with the wicket keeper – opening batsman Hasitha Perera leading the way with a fluent 72 in 62 balls with 11 hits to the boundary. 2 quick wickets at the tail end of the day helped Isipathana to come back to the game.The second day started badly for Thurstan losing wickets at regular intervals until an aggressive 59 by Lahiru Gamage saved Thurstan from the ignominy of a follow-on. In the second Innings too Isipathana went on another run spree rattling 202 for the loss of 1 wicket before making a token declaration. The highlight was the unbeaten 102 by Visuddi Kaluwitharana with one six & 17 fours and thus being the 4th Isipathanian to score a century in a big match and the tally four all as 4 Thurstanites have also achieved this feat.Thurstan replied with 90 for 2 with Hasitha Perera unbeaten on 73 with 2 sixes & 11 fours thus becoming only the second Thurstanite to score twin fifties, other being Sathyapriya Liyanage in 1982.The match ended in a tame draw with all honours taken by Isipathana with Kaluwitharana adjudged the best batsman, Chatuska Wickrmarantna the best bowler & Tharaka Waduge as the man of the match. Many records were broken in this match. Highest Total in the series, one century, seven 50’s aggregate of 820 runs for loss of only 22 wickets eclipsing 809 for 25 wickets in 1995. Record second wicket partnership for Isipathana 139 between Waduge & Anuradha.
Another unique feature was that for the first time, a set of brothers have captained the big match – Nisal Gamage in 1981 & Sithuka Gamage in 2005 for Thurstan.
Isipathana 1st Innings – 308 for 9 declared in 74 oversTharaka Waduege 90, Dilan Anuradha 68, Isuru Vindana 62, Gayan Wijesinghe 29, Pubudu Viraj 25. Ranga Nirosh Ratnayaka 3 for 60, Sithuka Gamage 3 for 76, Rishy Ukwatte 2 for 51
Thurstan 1st Innings – 220 all out in 67.1 oversHasitha Perera 72, Lahiru Gamage 59, Sithuka Gamage 25, Buddhi Samarawickrama 24Chatuska Wickramaratna 3 for 58, Tharaka Waduge 2 for 66, Liyan de Silva 2 for 48, Sachith Jayasinghe 2 for 30
Isipathana 2nd Innings – 202 for 1 dec Visuddi Kaluwitharana 102 not out , Liyan de Silva 56 not out, Tharaka Waduge 39
Thursatan 2nd Innings – 90 for 2 in 17 overs Hasitha Perera 73 not out
MATCH DRAWN
THURSTAN – ISIPATHNA 25th LIMITED OVER ENCOUNTER
AT P .SARAVANAMUTTU STADIUM ON MARCH 6th , 2005
The Silver Jubilee encounter was playedwith colored clothing and white ball, but it was a day game.All arrangements were made to play it as a day- night game at Premadasa Stadium, but Tsunami put paid to this arrangement.The game commenced with the 2 teams being introduced to the Chief Guest Nimal Warusawithrana who had sponsored the Radio commentaries of this game since inception. The match is played for the W A de Silva trophy who was the father of Nimal, now deceased.
The game commenced with Isipathana winning the crucial toss & sent Thurstan into bat. They immediately struck gold by dismissing the danger man, the scorer of twin 50’s in the big match Hasitha Perera for a duck. Thurstan never recovered from this blow and were one time reeling at 96 for 6 and due to sensible batting by the lower order scored 158 in 49.1 overs. Tharaka Waduge was the principle destroyer of the Thurstan Innings with 4 for 31.He continued his form with a blistering knock of 53 in only 38 balls. His dismissal brought the left handed Liyan de Silva who continued his touch from the big match & scored 40 runs in 48 balls with 5 fours. When bad light stopped play Isipathana were 151 for 4 in only 33.1 overs and were declared winners by the Parabola system in operation for the match, by virtue of a faster run rate
All the awards of this game went to Tharaka Waduge for magnificent all round display and thus became the first person to achieve this feat of being the best batsman, bowler & man of the match.With this win, Isipathana stalled Thurstan’s seven year winning streak and took home the W A de Silva trophy for good by virtue of winning 14 of the 25 games played. The sponsors will offer a new trophy next year.
Thurstan 158 in 49.1 overs Praneeth Jayasinghe 15 Achala Ramanayaka 14, Sithuka Gamage 15, Lahiru Gamage 19 Kanishka Elvitigala 27 Ranga Nirosh Ratnayaka 16 T Waduge 4 for 31(10), A Janoda 2 for 27(6.1)
Isipathan 151 for 4 in 33.1 overs Tharaka Waduge 53 Dilan Anuradha 19 Liyan de Silva 40, K Elvitigala 2 for 44 (7) Rishi Ukwatta 1 for 21 (7)
Isipathana winners by a faster scoring rate
Compiled by Priya Paranavitane