The 24th Battle of Sri Jayawardenapura between St John’s College Nugegoda and Ananda Sasthalaya Kotte will be held on April 6-7 at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo.
The two teams are equally balanced and a keen tussle can be expected at this big match.
Education Minister Susil Premajayantha who is an old boy of St. John’s will be the chief guest at the opening ceremony while Sanath Jayasuriya will be the guest of honour.
Although not in the limelight, the two schools have made contributions at national level. The current national bowling coach Anusha Samaranayake and present Test team squad player Lahiru Udara are two of the best products of St John’s while former Sri Lanka paceman Ruchira Perera was a product of Ananda Sasthlralaya.
This season Piumal Dewranga captains St John’s with the guidance of coach Sumith Prasanna while his assistant coach is Ronila Gunatissa.
Obasha Totawatte has been the most successful batsman of Sri John’s with 442 runs two centuries with a best knock of 158 against Homagana Central College.
Dewranga has scored 230 runs and taken 36 wickets with best figures 5 for 7 against Hindu College. He has three five-wicket hauls. Anusara Fernando, Vochana Lakshan, Kanishka Kalhara and Thimalka Supasan are the other useful batsman of the side.
Kusith Madushan leads Ananda Sasthlralaya Kotte with MSC Fernando as the coach.
Nelith Nimdiya is the only centurion of the side having scored 103 against Ananda Sastralaya Matugama while Nithish Kamalasooriya and Janitha Rukshan also expected to play key roles in the batting.
Kamalasooriya is also a useful bowler having taken 7 for 35 against Sri Pangnananda College Kotugoda while Sadew Indeepa is their best bowler with more than 30 wickets and a best 6 for 5 against Karunaratne Buddhist School Welisara.
He also had four five-wicket hauls and will be their most favoured bowler.
Ananda Sastralaya has won two matches in the series in 2001 and 2002 while St John’s is yet to post a win.
St John’s College Nugegoda: Kanishka Kalhara, Thishan Damindu, Keshara Himesh, Akinsa Dilshan, Lakshitha Eranga, Thimalka Supasan, Thenuka Dullewa, Tharindu Mevan, Kavindu Dilshan, Vochana Lakshan, Imeth Sathsilu, Janith Theekshana, M. Mishaal, Dulara Paliskara, Sandun Dewmina, Piumal Dewranga, (captain), Anusara Fernando and Obhasha Thotawatta
Ananda Sastralaya: Positha Madanayake, Charuka Eshan, Kusith Madushan (Captain), Ishan Anushka, BC Jayamanna, RV Wijesinghe, NT Kamalasooriya, WLS Indeepa, MDSK Thilakarathne, SA Athif, KN Abilash, JR Warawita, HAN Nimdiya, Chathur Ama, WGNS Perera, MATU Yahampath, A. Hasanjana, C. Mithsara
