Sri Lanka Schools: Even contest expected at Kegalle (12 March 1999)

12 March 1999

Sri Lanka Schools: Even contest expected at Kegalle

S M Jiffrey Abdeen

The 23rd Big Match between St. Mary's College and Kegalu Vidyalaya will be played this Friday and Saturday, March 12 and 13 at the Kegalle Esplanade.

This 'Battle of the Golds' in Kegalle though essentially a football town treats this match as the biggest sporting event of the year.

Of the 22 battles which have been played, the Marians have remained unbeaten today, winning four and losing none. Thus the Kegalu Vidyalaya have a 37-year-old 'jinx' to roast. But a result will be only a remote possibility this year as both teams are well-balanced and even contest is in store. St. Mary's College last won in 1997.

St. Mary's College will be led by sixth year coloursman Piyananda Ariyadasa who was the hero of the big match victory in 1997.

The Marians have remained unbeaten this season winning two of the 12 matches they have played.

Kegalu Vidyalaya will be led by fourth year coloursman Tilan Indika who is one of the best all-rounders in schools having captured 90 wickets and scored over 600 runs. His deputy will be Prasanna Ranaweera who has displayed good form with the bat scoring over 500 runs.

Kegalu vidyalaya have played 12 matches this season, winning four, losing one and drawing the rest. They will strive hard to notch up their first win in the series this year.

St. Mary's College (from): Piyananda Ariyadasa (captain), Niroshan Samaratunga (vice captain), Danushka Liyanagunawardena, Gayan Samaraweera, Tharanga Paranavitharne, Ranga Jinadasa, Sumedha Senanayake, Sanjaya Adikari, Daminda Samaratunga, T. Ranganath, Manjula Jayawardena, Arjuna Bandara, Chaminda Hettiarachchi, Wimantha Gunawardna, Ruwanitha Ganhewage, Chinthaka Jayawickrema, Aruna Devapriya, (MIC: S. Udayakumara).

Kegalu Vidyalaya (from): Tilan Indika (Captain), Prasanna Ranaweera (Vice Captain), Akila Jayaratne, Subodha Karunaratne, Sumedha Tillakaratne, Asanka Wijesooriya, Janaka Nandasena, Sanjeewa Athurupana, Asanka Metthananda, Raskika Subasinghe, Ushan Premaratne, Eranga Sooriyabandara, Nuwan Gunaratne, Nisal Wijesooriya, Anushka Wimalasiri. (MIC: N. W. Jayawardena).

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)