Under 15 Final Joes at the mercy of Devapathiraja

Dihen Jayatilleke (captain-St. Joseph’s), Diyath Sanjitha (captain-Devapathiraja)

By M. Shamil Amit

Two unbeaten teams St Joseph’s College and Devapathiraja MMV Rathgama will battle out in the final of the Under 15 Division One cricket tournament to be played tomorrow (Sunday) at DSS ground in Wijerama Mawatha Colombo 7.
The two teams in the run-up to the final ended as the top competitors in their respective groups at the completion of the first round matches. From there on they continued their unbeaten run by winning all their matches. St Joseph’s led Dihen Jayatilleke defeated S. Thomas’ College in the second round encounter and then followed it with wins in the pre-quarter final against St Mary’s College, Chilaw, Wadduwa Central in the quarter final and then got the better of Mahinda College in the semifinal. Devapathiraja led by Diyath Sanjitha on the other hand overcame Sri Sumangala College, Panadura in the second round, Vidyartha College in the pre-quarter final, Dharmaraja College in the quarter final and last year’s finalist Royal College in the semifinal.

Devapathiraja juniors will move into the game spurred on by the fact that their Under-17 team had already won the title with a stunning win over Mahanama College in last week’s final.

On paper the Joes seem to have the edge as they won most of the crucial matches with ease including a convincing seven wicket against Mahinda in the semifinal. However they cannot afford to take the gritty Devapathiraja team lightly as they too will be moving into the game with a mission to make it a double.

The Teams:

St. Joseph’s College -  Dihen Jayatillake (Captain), Nathan de Zylva, Tharul Soyza, Romal Ruwin, Chethina Kavinda, Thisanga Perera, Gayasha Fernando, Mokitha Thathsilu, Nivain Alexander, Savindu Perera, Dinsara Anthony, Santhosh Jayaprakash, Lawa Jovonic, Nimthara Gunawardana, Dihane Thilakeratne, Roshadha Perera, Kevin Fernando, Sanjeewa Fernando (Master in charge), Dinal Dambarage (Head Coach), Sisira Praboda (Asst. Coach) 

Devapathiraja MMV - Diyath Sanjitha (Captain), Adeesha Gautham, Linuwara Sathvidu, Praboda Hasaral, Nikesh Thathsara, Imalsha Madusanka, Denuwan Jayalath, Pinidu Nethsara, Deneth Pehesara, Deneth Chathuranga, Sineth Mikeshara, Sineth Madusanka, Shashen de Silva, Harshan Dananjana, Bumith Deenuka, Sadev Nimsara, Dinuk de Silva, Charuka Gunathileke (Teacher in Charge), Ranjan Lasantha (Head Coach), Chamika Sandaruwan (Asst. Coach), Sandaru Theekshana (Asst. Coach)