Thurstan searching for elusive win

The big match fever for 2019 will usher with traditional rivals Thurstan and Isipathana colleges clashing for the Blackham Wijewardene Memorial Trophy in their two day 56th “Battle of The Brothers” encounter due to be played on February 22 and 23 at the SSC ground.

Thurstan leads the series with five wins as against four to Isipathana with the rest ending in draws. No outright result has been recorded by either side since 1999 which was won by the Isipathana when the side was led by Krishantha Jayawardena.

For Thurstan an outright win is badly in need with their last win being in 1992 under Mackenzie Perera and no doubt they will put in all effort to break the 26-year winless hoodoo.

Third year coloursman Sandaru Dias will lead Thurstan who have played 14 matches this season securing five outright wins against St. Anthony’s Wattala, Dharmapala Vidyalaya Pannipitiya, St. Mary’s Kegalle, St. Anne’s Kurunegala and St. Thomas’ Matara.

He has also claimed 60 wickets and has the backing of his vice-captain Ayesh Harshana who is the leading wicket-taker of the team with 75 wickets and will lead the bowling attack.

Thurstan’s batting will revolve around Bavath Jayasinghe who has scored over 450 runs inclusive of two centuries against St. Mary’s and St. Anthony’s and last year’s Big Match centurion Jayavihan Mahavithana (400 runs), Yohan Liyanage (350) and Ranesh Silva (350).

Thurstan has a well-balanced side with talented batsmen and bowlers and one can expect them to put up a performance that will be worthy of a win. Looking back at the performances of the two teams this season unbeaten Thurstan has the edge, but this being a match that is something special it could be anybody’s game due to the fact that the underdogs have done better in a match of this nature.

But the need of the hour is to break the hoodoo and the two teams know that a win is needed for which positive cricket should be played if they are to achieve that.

Thurstan College Principal Lakshman Dias said, “I take this moment to wish both teams best of luck, play to your full potential and I hope we build more and more upon our brotherhood, whatever the result maybe. We have organized plenty of other events to experience the true spirit of Thurstan-Isipathana big match such as joint cycle parade, old boys match and teachers match.”

The school has produced quite a few national players such as Amitha de Costa, Niroshan Bandaratilleke, Hemantha Boteju and Lahiru Kumara.

Thurstan are coached by Thamara Abeyratne who took over as coach in September last year.

The 54th Battle of the Brothers between Thurstan College and Isipathana College at the SSC grounds on February 24 and 25 will mark the beginning of the ‘Big’ match season for 2017.

In the current season Thurstan has recorded seven outright wins from 14 matches against Dharmapala, Bandaranayake MMV, De Mazenod, Prince of Wales, St. Joseph Vas Wennappuwa, Nalanda and Maliyadeva with the rest of the matches ending in draws.

In the history of their traditional contest with Isipthana, Thurstan leads the series with five wins their last success coming way back in 1992 under the captaincy of Mackenzie Perera. In their batting the Thurstanites will be captained by Kasun Abeyratne who scored 147 in last year’s big match.

Last year’s skipper Charana Nanayakkara who represented Sri Lanka under 19 team is the most prolific run-getter with 701 runs including a century and five half tons. He has also claimed 48 wickets with best figures of 8 for 15 against St. Joseph’s.

Another centurion Prageesha Mendis has contributed 322 runs to the team while right hand batsman and right arm off spinner Sawan Prabash has scored 560 runs including with three fifties and captured 15 wickets.

Another key player in the side is Nimesh Lakshan who has scored 485 runs with four fifties.

In the bowling line-up left-arm leg-spinner Naveen Gunawardana is the leading wicket-taker with 70 wickets that includes the unique feat of taking all ten wickets in an innings (10/36) against D.S. Senanayake College. He nearly repeated that performance against Maliyadeva College snapping up nine wickets.

Thurstan has a well balanced squad comprising talented batsmen and bowlers such as Kasun Abeyratne (captain), Nipun Lakshan (vice-captain), Imesh Viranga, Sandaru Dias, Navod Samarakoon, Sawan Prabash, Jayavihan Mahavitharana, Akila Ranatunga, Yeshan Wickramarachchi, Thisara Deshan, Prageesha Mendis, Nimesh Lakshan, Thusal Madusanka, Bimara Ranatunga, Pansilu Deshan, Ayesh Harshana, Naveen Gunawardana, Janushke Fernando and Pramesh Dilushana.

Suneth Gunathilake who has coached the team since 2010 said, “We expect to put out a strong side and hope to break the hoodoo of not winning a big match for the past 25 years. Our opponents also have a very good batting line up and I think the SSC pitch will help the batsmen.”

Gunathilaka is assisted by Saman Hewavitharana who has served as Technical Instructor for the past 25 years.