St Servatius College front row from left: Priyantha Abeysekera (coach), PIW Jayasekera (head coach), Ruvini Rubesinghe (Prefect of Games), Diniru Abeywickremesinghe (Captain), HKLB Virajith (Principal), Vishwa Supun (Vice Captain), Indika Deerasinghe (Vice Principal), W Hansa Sandaruwan (master in charge), Charith Dayarathna (assistant coach). Middle row from left: Binal Nethmaka, Raveen Kavintha, Viran Chamuditha, Ahamad Sajid, Ivan Zholobitskyi, Chamarindu Nethsara, Risinu Kithmuka, Chalana Indusha, Sunny Perera, Heshan Madushanka, Samiru Gimhan. Back row from left: Nethmal Bandara, Praveen Madushanka, Shalindu Nadushan, Gevin Sasanka, Oshada Nawarathne, Sanju Dilshan, Chamod Mihiranga, Praneeth Mihiranga
No one could predict the outcome of the 124th edition of the Battle of the Blues which is the oldest cricket contest in the south where a majority of Sri Lanka players are produced when Servatius’ College meet St Thomas’ College on March 23, 24 and 25th at the Uyanwatta Stadium in Matara.
Both schools play in the two groups of the elite Division One Tier A of the schools cricket tournament and are at the bottom end of their respective groups and may face each other once again in the relegation matches.
Hence it could be assumed that they are evenly matched.
The match between the two schools situated on either side of the Nilwala River is said to have been first played in 1900 and is the second most played cricket encounter in the island after the other Battle of the Blues between Royal College Colombo and S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia that is into its 145th year.
The match between Dharmaraja College Kandy and Kingswood College Kandy is said to have been first played in 1893 giving it a history of 131 years.
The Matara Thomians having last won in 2007 lead the series with 32 wins to 27 by St Servatius’ and would be looking forward to increasing their lead while the Servatians last won in 1971 and would also go all out to break the 53 year old hoodoo.
St Thomas’ team led by Navija de Seram is strengthened by G Pesandu Sanjan (Vice Captain), VH Lakshitha Diksith, TK Senura Perera, KMT Pivithuru, A Abdul Majeed, WA Kumesh Nuwanjana, EA Dumindu Shakshara, HK Dinath Sanchith, MWP Pramuditha, SSS Methpahan, Ochintha Chamika, JP Shashindu, DH Kansilu Gimhan, DJG Bhanuka Insamal, Senura Abeysekera, KG Manuga Yonal, IJDP Dissanayaka, KG Thathsara Dewmith and Yomiru Saswin.
The Servatians are led by Sri Lanka under-19 cap Diniru Abeywickremesinghe and has Vishwa Supun as his deputy. The final XI will be selected from Binal Nethmaka, Raveen Kavintha, Viran Chamuditha, Ahamad Sajid, Ivan Zholobitskyi, Chamarindu Nethsara, Risinu Kithmuka, Chalana Indusha, Sunny Perera, Heshan Madushanka, Samiru Gimhan, Nethmal Bandara, Praveen Madushanka, Shalindu Nadushan, Gevin Sasanka, Oshada Nawarathne, Sanju Dilshan, Chamod Mihiranga and Praneeth Mihiranga
