Thurstan College was founded in 1950 and it was due to the efforts of the first principal Mr. Earle Schokman that the sport was introduced to the school in 1953.
Ever since its establishment the sport of cricket has been the focus of sporting activity within the College and the school hailing from Colombo 4 has gone on to produce former national players such as Amitha De Costa, Niroshan Bandaratilleke, Hemantha Boteju and former Sri Lanka Schools player Diyanesh Rajaratnam.
The biggest event in the schools cricketing calendar is the annual ‘Big Match’ which is played against their traditional rivals Isipathana College. This encounter began in the year 1964 and was elevated to the status of a Big Match in 1968. It is currently played for the Blackham Wijewardana trophy.
The current team is coached by Mr. Saman Hewavitharana who is ably assisted by the assistant coach Mr. Suneth Gunethilleka. Mr Hewavitharana stated that his team has the perfect balance between youth and experience and successfully coached his team to six first innings victories in the 2013/14 season against schools such as Royal College, Prince of Wales College and Maris Stella College. ‘I believe the players have the necessary skill and commitment to achieve great things in the future and as far as this season is concerned we would like to end it on a high with a win against Isipathana College at the Big Match’ he reiterated.
Strong Leadership
The team is led by the stylish and experienced batsman Kavindu Kulasekara who is a member of the Sri Lanka 19 and under 19 World cup squad for the Youth World Cup. He is a consistent player who scored a total of 800 runs in the 2012/13 season and total of more than 500 runs in the ongoing season. His greatest memory as captain was when he scored a blistering 138 runs against Royal College, Colombo.
Minhaj Jalill is the vice captain of the team and he has played a major role in the success of the team during the 2013/14 season. He has scored a total of 3 hundreds and 5 fifties including a wonderful knock of 109 against Wesley. In addition to the strength he has given the teams batting line up he has also contributed with the ball by taking a total of 23 wickets. Jalill who emerged as the runner up in the ‘most popular school boy cricketer of the year’ competition for the year 2013 stated ‘We have four matches left for the season and together with my team I hope that we can win at least two matches outright so we can bring even greater glory and credit to our alma mater’
‘Run getters’
Minhaj Jalill opens the batting for the Thurstanites alongside the talented Sajith Gunatilleke who has also amassed a total of over 500 runs for the season. The duo is a lethal combination that has the potential to take on any bowling attack in the Sri Lankan schools cricket arena.
Thimira Jayasinghe is yet another player who has had a wonderful season for his side with the bat. He has scored a total of 499 runs which comprises two wonderful half centuries against Richmond College and Maris Stella College.
Charana Nanayakkara, Raveesha Lokuge and Sahan Dassanayake make up the strong middle order and they have all scored in excess of 200 runs apiece.
‘Wicket takers’
The bowling attack is led by the right arm fast bowler Achinhta Kalpana. He took a total of 24 wickets in the 2012/13 season and continued to be amongst the wickets with a total of 25 wickets in the 2013/2014 season.
He is supported by a trio of spinners namely Ayesh Weerathne, Arjun Gunewardena and Senal Wijesinghe who have taken a total in excess of 50 wickets together.
Squad
Kavindu Kulasekara
Minhaj Jalill
Thimira Jayasinghe
Achintha Kalpana
Raveesha Lokuge
Arjun Gunawardena
Senal Wijesinghe
Charana Nanayakkara
Sajith Gunatilleke
Avishka Peiris
Sahan Dassanayake
Kasun Abeyratne (Wicket Keeper)
Ayesh Weerathne
Thilan Goonerathna
Eranga Jayasinghe
Kasun Tharaka
Arjuna Radava
Chinthaka Udaya
Isuru Fernando
The Papare.com takes this opportunity to wish the Thurstanites the best of luck for the remainder of their season as well as their Big Match against Isipathana College.
