ThePapere Sri Lankan Sports News

Dinesh Walpita Vs Bhanuka Rajapakse

The two skippers will not only battle it out with both bat and ball but will also compete with each other in terms of wits and tactics. Both players have played four Royal Thomians but Walpita has one win to his credit. Bhanuka is easily the most devastating batsman in Royals line up where as  Walpita is the strike fast bowler for S. Thomas. If S. Thomas have to come out on tops Walpita’s bowling will have to play a key role especially when it comes to getting rid of the dangerous Bhanuka. I will certainly go with Bhanuka as he has a wealth of experience with the U-19 national team and also the fact that he had blasted a quick fire 87 at last years encounter as well as being the Best Bowler at the 129^th Royal Thomian. 

Kithuruwan Withanage Vs Nuwan Dharshana

The Most Interesting Battle within a battle. This will be the key aspect of this Royal Thomian. Much is expected from these two giants of both sides who are easily the most reliable Batsmen in their respective line ups. Nuwan has blasted more than 1000 runs this season and Kithuruwan scored a 1000 runs last season. Kithu is playing his 3^rd year whereas Dharshana is playing his maiden Bigmatch. In terms of talent and skill their isn’t much difference to write about, however in terms of experience Kithuruwan is way ahead. My gut feeling tells me to go with Nuwan as he has had a rich season so far and the Best Batsmen in the Thomain line up always performs 9 times out of 10 in a Royal Thomian.

Maneesha Tantrigoda Vs Neomal Wickramasekara

The Battle of the tweakers. These two players will have an important role to play in leading the spin department of both sides. Both have performed exceptionally well. Maneesha is the Highest wicket taker ever in a single season in the History of Royal Cricket. But the injury on his spinning finger has hampered his bowling. Maneesha is in his fourth year and Neomal is playing his first BigMatch. Maneesha toiled for 47 overs in the second Innings at last years encounter but went wicketless. This plus the hunger to perform in his final year places him above Neomal and thus maneesha easily wins the battle.

Sachin Peiris Vs Mudushan

The Peiris’s of S. Thomas have always haunted the Royalists. There is a never ending list of Peiris’s who have excelled when it mattered. Sachin knock last year was the pivotal point in the drawn game last year and the guts he showed portrayed the Thomian Grit immensely. Madushan is a specialist keeper and hasn’t had a great season with the bat. Sachin too hasn’t lived up to his potential but will want to emulate or even better his last years performance. Sachin emerges the winner in this battle. 

Imran Khan Vs Nilaksha Fernando

The Name says it all. Although he has no links to the Pakistani Legend, this ambitious Fast Bowler had a dream start to his First Eleven career by capturing a wicket in his first ever delivery that he bowled and that too a scorching Yorker. Nilaksha is also fairly quick and has troubled quite a number of batsmen this season. The fight for supremacy between these two players is a close contest. Both are in their first BigMatch and may have some jitters. Imran wins the fight due to the attitude and the ability to strike at crucial intervals.

Chamod Pathirana Vs Imal Liyanage/Varuna Dissanayake

Apart from Bhanuka, Royal don’t have a proper fast bowling allrounder to count on. Therefore for comparison two Batsmen of Royal against Chamod. Chamod is a gritty batsmen and a fabulous bowler who could trouble the Royal Top order with his seamers. Imal I believe will be the batsman to watch at this encounter. This 15 year old is a star in the making and has an amazing future ahead. This street smart non pampered kid has blasted 4 hundreds(3 consecutive hundreds in the second eleven) this season. Varuna on the other hand has the ability to rotate the strike well and could play the sheet anchor role effectively. Varuna is quite capable of playing the long inning and the two styles between Imal and Varuna are quite contrasting. Chamod’s ability to bowl makes him a better player on paper but this is a contest that is rated as a stale mate in my opinion.

Ramith Rambukwella Vs Brian

The two openers will have a part to play if their respective teams are to perform well. Brian is a late entrant into the team due to the unfortunate injury to their regular opener.Brian is sometimes an overattacking batsman and may have to play sensibly at the Bigmatch. Ramith is both literally and metaphorically the tower of batting for Royal. He is the leading rungetter this season. Ramith has the uncanny ability to switch gears from a moderate mode to an attacking mode when he wishes. He easily wins the battle between the openers.