Sri Sumangala College: Standing back row from left: Akila Wedamulla, Senira Wijegunasinghe, Manmitha Kahapalaarachchi, Rasika Dilshan, Duranka Silva, Krishan Eranga, Mevindu Kumarasiri. Standing middle row from left: Anuhas de Silva, Bihanga Silva, Dinal Weerasinghe, Sandeep Weerasinghe, Rusith Jayawardana, Neksha Iddamalgoda. Sri Sumangala: Seated from left: Asela Perera (head coach), Kavindu Gayathra (vice captain), Vidusha Peiris (captain), Raveendra Pushpakumara (principal), Vishwa Lahiru, Priyankara Nandasena (master in charge), Dinuka Hodakanda (assistant coach)
The 72nd Battle of the Golds cricket encounter between Sri Sumangala College (SSC) and Moratu Maha Vidyalaya (MMV) will be played at the De Soysa International Cricket Stadium, Moratuwa on March 29 and 30
The 31st One Day encounter will be played on March 31.
Of the 71 encounters played between the two schools, the Sumangalians have won eight and Moratuwans seven, with the rest ending in draws.
Vidusha Peiris will captain Sri Sumangala College and he is the son of Sri Sumangala College 1993 captain Arosha Peiris while Mahith Appuhamy will captain Moratu Maha Vidyalaya.
In the 2023/2024 cricketing season, the Sumangalians performed incredibly well and from eight matches in the U-19 Division II Tier A tournament first round they posted seven wins with five wins by an inning, one outright win and one match ended in a draw.
The Moratuwans played eight matches in the U-19 Division I Tier B tournament first round securing six wins with one by an innings, five on the first inning and lost one by an innings and one on the first innings.
For Sri Sumangala College, Duranla Silva has scored more than 500 runs with two centuries while Krishan Eranga hit more than 400 with a century.
Rusith Jayawardana has also scored more than 400 runs with a century while Sri Lanka U-19 player Vishwa Lahiru scored more than 400 runs inclusive of two centuries. Another player Neksha Iddamalgoda scored more than 400 runs with a century.
In the bowling department, Sri Lanka U-19 player Vishwa Lahiru and Mevindu Kumarasiri have grabbed more than 50 wickets each.
For Moratu Maha Vidyalaya, vice captain Isuru Nidarshana scored more than 600 runs and Deneth Sithumina clobbering more than 500 runs. Another batter Kanchana Nimshan scored more than 400 runs.
From the bowling department, Isuru Nidarshana and Nishitha Fernando have gabbed more than 40 wickets.
This year’s Battle of the Golds is sponsored by Anunine Holdings, Naturub, Dialog, Super Fashion, Shopimo and Singer Sri Lanka.
Both schools have produced a few national cricketers in Ravin Wickramaratne, Don Anurasiri, Tissa Eleperuma, Indika Gallage, Dilruwan Perera and Vishwa Lahiru of Sri Sumangala.
Moratu Maha Vidyalaya has produced national cricketers both in both the men’s and women’s categories. Sarath Fernando and Bernard Perera represented the national team before Sri Lanka obtained Test status. Ajantha Mendis was the first Test player followed by Nishan Madushka. Inoshi Fernando and Upeksha Thabrew represented the national women’s cricket team.
Sri Sumangala College squad: Vidusha Peiris (captain), Kavindu Gayathra (vice captain), Vishwa Lahiru, Rasika Dilshan, Manmitha Kahapalaarachchi, Akila Wedamulla, Senira Wijegunasinghe, Mavindu Kumarasiri, Krishan Eranga, Neksha Iddamalgoda, Dinal Weerasinghe, Sandeep Weerasinghe, Bihanga Silva, Anuhas de Silva, Rusith Jayawardana
Moratu Maha Vidyalaya squad: Mahith Appihami (captain), Isuru Nidarshana (vice captain), Deneth Sithumina, Vihanga Nimsara, Shehara Fernando, Kanchana Nimshan, Hasindu Gimsara, Vihanga Nethsara, Himash Tharushka, Nishitha Fernando, Malith Shehan, Akalanka Silva, Sandaneth Yahampath, Sanjana Seneviratne, Sandun Suwaris, Sithum Silva
