The 63rd cricket encounter between St. Sylvester’s College and Vidyartha College also known as the Battle of the Babes will be played at the Pallekele International Stadium on March 31 and April 1. The winners will be awarded the Rev. Fr. Don George trophy, out of the games played St. Sylvester’s have won 15 games, last win was in 2022.
Vidyartha have 3 wins, last win was in 1967 under R.M. Lafir.The one-day game between these two schools is on a halt due to ground problem,once this is solved the date will be fixed, this one day is played for the MEW Mediwake Trophy. Both teams possess a good set of players. Vidyartha last won in 1967 under RM Lafir.
The talk in Kandy is can Vidyartha break the 54-year-old hoodoo? The two teams first met in 1955 at the Police Barracks matting wicket which turned out to be a thrilling encounter. Vidyartha batting first totalled 106 with Vernon Nanayakara and Upasena de Silva taking three wickets each for 25 and 13 respectively. In reply the Sylvestrians were dismissed for 79 with S. Iddamalgoda making 33. Vidyartha in their second turn were bundled out for 83 with skipper Tony Direckze taking 4 for 32 and V. Croos 3 for 7.
The Sylvestrians had to score 110 runs for victory in an hour. At the end of the match they were short by five runs with three wickets in hand; The following year Vidyartha led by Tikiri Banda . Wijesinghe (a top class ruggerite) secured the first win of the series beating St. Sylvester’s by an innings.
St. Sylvester’s made 124 with Wijesinghe bowling pace taking 4 wickets for 37 and K. Bowatte 4 for 38. S.D.Rajapakse made 28 and H.S. de Croos 23. Vidyartha in their turn went on to score 255 with some superb batting coming from Wijesinghe 55, N. Navaratne 53, F.M. Farook 61, L.B. Aluwihare 23 and M. Keppitipola 21. Ferry Alexander Hidallarachchi, S. Stephen, I.M.
Anwer and D.J. Suwaris took two wickets each. Sylvestrians in their second innings were bundled out for 90. Once again it was Wijesinghe and Bowatte who did the damage taking two wickets each with G.B. Diyawa also chipping in with two.
KCC register fifth win in under 23 tourney
Kandy Cricket Club wins their fifth game in six outings in the Sri Lanka cricket invitation under 23 - 50 over’s league game, this time they beat Ratnapura CC by five wickets at the Pallekelle International Stadium on Sunday. Kandy CC won the toss and invited the Ratnapura CC to bat first and dismissed them for 121 runs in 39 over’s and in reply made 123 for 5 in 28.4 over’s
Ratnapura CC 121 in 39 over’s Mohamed Rishard 22, Pasindu Jayakody 31, Sajith Chathuranga 22, Imesh Kumara 3 for 43, Nimesha Silva 3 for 6, Dinuka Tenakoon 2 for 19.
Kandy CC 123 for 5 in 28.4 overs Malith Lakshan 23, Kavishka Medagedera 35 not out, Ruchira Adikarai 3 for 31.
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