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42nd Thurstan-Isipatana ?Big Match? Isipatans hold slight edge
Friday, 25 February 2005 - 1:51 AM SL Time
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This year's annual Big Match between the two adversaries will be staged on a low key in deference to the Tsunami disaster of December 26, 2004, and will take place at the streamlined SSC ground today and tomorrow.
Except for one match that was not played in the series, Thurstan College and Isipatana College have met in 41 annual matches, of which the former has won five and the latter four. Thurstan last won in 1992 under the leadership of Mackenzie Perera and Isipatana in 1999 under the captaincy of Krishantha Jayawardena.
This time both teams are well-matched with Isipatana having a slight edge over their rivals.
During the season, Isipatana College, led by Dilan Anuradha, had impressive wins against St. Peter`CDs College (an innings and 34 runs), President`CDs College (an innings and one run), Dharmapala MV, Pannipitiya (an innings and 7 runs) and St. Sebastian`CDs College, Moratuwa (a 7-wicket victory ),losing to D.S.Senanayake by 10 wickets and Nalanda College in a thriller.
Some of the promising cricketers in their side this season are Tharak Waduge, Gihan Dilruk, Isuru Vidana, Liyan de Silva, Chatuska Wickramaratn and Visudhi Kalauwithara.
The Thurstan side is packed with senior men, but were only able to win only one out of 12 matches with the rest been drawn. The side is led by Sithuka Gamage. They beat only Maris Stella by 10 wickets.
Lahiru Gamage is a future test prospect as he proved with his match-winning performances this season, taking 8 for 37(including an hat trick) against Maris Stella, which was his best feat.
The 'find' of the season is Hasitha Perera of Thurstan, who scored consistently to notch over 500 runs. He is another future national level propect with the willow.
Fans and well-wishers of both institutions hope a good game between the rival schools will be on the cards, played in the true spirit of cricket.
The two schools play their 25th Limited Overs match on March 6 at the picturesque P. Saravanamuttu Stadium. Isipatana has won 13 matches in this edition, with Thurstan pocketing 11.
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