Matara’s World Cup maulers on show at 126th battle

St. Servatius College: Back row from left: Risinu Kithmuka, RLS Ramanayaka, Kenul  Hansana, MM Sadhik and Neshan Nirmala. Middle row from left: Madushanka Ratnayaka, Mihiranga Jayaweera, Tharul Weerarathna, Heshan Madushanka, Binal Nethmaka, Tharush Nethsara, Chalana Indusha, Lasira Lakdinu, Wimandith Senarathna, Mohamad Shihab, Thathsilu Bandara, Samiru Gimhan and Uthum Induwara. Front row from left: Imal Sandeepa (assistant coach), Viran Chamuditha (vice captain), Roshan Fernando (MIC), Ruwani Rubasinghe (POG), HKLS Virajith (principal), AI Deerasinghe (deputy principal), Chamarindu Nethsara (captain) and Nimanda Madusanka (head coach)

St. Thomas’ College: Back row from left: Tathsara Vimukthi, Sethuja Mandinu, Remika Resandul, Abdul Rasheed and Chanul Induvana. Middle row from left: WVC Minsitha, Kasun Kavinda, Firath Ahamad, Desith Dinara, Dinura Pavanji, Vihanga Sankalana, Punal Pamuditha, Kumesh Nuvanjana, Thathsara Dewmith, Binuka Methmila, Chamindu Gimhan, Raveen Sachintha and Yomiru Thathvin. Front row: IH Vitharana (assistant coach), Praveen Madushan (junior head coach), SYT Lakruwan (MIC), J.Jayawardhana (deputy principal), Abdul Majeed (captain), GPN Perera (principal), Manuga Guruge (vice captain), Dilip Kumara (POG), Asanga de Silva (MIC), Tharindu Weerasinghe (head coach), Isuru Lokuge (assistant coach)

By PD de Silva

With two Sri Lanka Under-19 players in the forefront, St Servatius College can fancy their chances when they meet St Thomas’ College in their 126th Battle of the Blues Ruhunu cricket encounter at the Uyanwatta Stadium in Matara today.
Chamarindu Nethsara who leads the Servatians this year and his deputy Viran Chamuditha were members of the Sri Lanka team which took part in the ICC Men’s Under 19 World Cup in Zimbabwe and Namibia in January this year. 
Chamuditha has the distinction of holding the record for the highest individual score by a batsmen in the history of the ICC Men’s Under 19 World Cup when he made 192 against Japan at the 2026 event.
The Servatian batting is strengthened by five batsmen who have scored over 300 runs this season. Chamuditha has scored 497 runs in the five games he played in the schools tournament while Heshan Madushanka (452), Risinu Kithmuka (440), Thathsilu Bandara (336) and Chamod Jayaweera (351) have also been among the runs.The Servatian bowling department has the services of Samiru Gimhan who has 34 wickets to his credit while RL Ramanayaka has accounted for 31 wickets.
The Thomian batting is strengthened by five batsmen who have over 300 runs to their credit with skipper Abdul Majeed (527), Thathsara Dewmin (422), Manuga Guruge (355), Punal Pramuditha (353) and Kumesh Nuwanjana (310) doing the honours.
Thathsara Dewmin with 29 wickets is their leading wicket taker and much is expected from him if the Thomians have to check the 
opposition batting.
The match between the two schools commenced in 1900 and St. Thomas’ lead the series winning 32 encounters, the last being in 2007 under the captaincy of Tharaka Dushantha while St. Servatius have been deprived of a win for the past 54 years. They last won in 1971 under the captaincy of Nimal Munaweera and will go all out this year to end the hoodoo.
There have been many illustrious cricketers who played for the two schools with Sanath Jayasuriya being the most illustrious of them having captained St. Servatius in 1988 and was a member of the Sri Lanka Under-19 team at the Youth World Cup that same year.