The 3rd annual cricket encounter between Wesley College, Colombo and St. Benedict’s College, Colombo played for the James Cartman Cup will be played on the 17th and 18th March at the P. Sara Oval International Cricket Stadium, Colombo.
The two teams first met on the cricket field 127 years ago when they took on each other in 1896. Their second annual two-day cricket encounter was played last year but both matches have ended in draws, therefore both Wesley and St. Benedict’s are chasing their maiden win in this year’s battle.
Linal Subasinghe will lead the Wesley College while Chamath Chathurya has been handed the responsibility of leading St. Benedict’s College. The skipper Subasinghe has been in top form for Wesley College, scoring over 450 runs with 6 half-centuries in this season.
Sanithu Amarasinghe, Chamath Gomez, Lakshan Sudarshana and Uvin Perera will perform as all-rounders while Shakesh Minon, Ravindu Sigera, Sanithu Amarasinghe are expected to do the bulk of bowling duties for Wesley College.
Wesley College Squad
Linal Subasinghe (C), Disul Yapa (VC), Sanithu Amarasinghe, Chamath Gomez, Uvin Perera, Ashan Isira, Anuga Pahansara, Rashmika Amarasinghe, Rukshan Tharanga (wk), Ravindu Sigera, Jethan Vayaman, Shakesh Minon, Nilupul Liyanage, Geeth Korala, Kinnara Sooriyarachchi, Praneeth Nimshan, Yakesh Belesin, Shriram Jeewan, Brendon Fernando, Deneth Sigera
Keerthi Gunaratne (Head Coach), Wasantha Kasthuriarachchi (MIC Cricket), Shanuka Jeewantha (Assistant Coach), Kavindana Perera (Assistant Coach)
St. Benedict’s skipper Chathurya has been their best bowler of the season so far as he managed to claim 40 wickets. Sharujan Shanmuganathan who has scored over 900 runs with 2 centuries and 4 half-centuries will be a vital cog in the Bens batting lineup.
St. Benedict’s College Squad
Chamath Chathurya (C), Sharujan Shanmuganathan (VC), Dilan Thabrev, Viduneth Wilson, Sheron Kannangara, Shenal Samarathunga, Kojitha Himsara, Vihara Attanayake, Mevan Dissanayake, Arshan Jospeh, Yohan Edirisinghe, Nilakshana Jayakody, Haren Olagama, Nadun Fernando, Onesh Mitchell, S. Akshar, Aveesha Weerarathne, Dumindu Yehan, Sheran Disanayake, Kevin Jasen.
Pemlal Fernando (Head Coach), Rev. Fr. Dilshan Vimukthi (MIC Cricket), Madushanka Kularathne (Assistant Coach)
The Limited Overs Encounter
Wesley College and St. Benedict’s College will also face off in the annual limited overs encounter played for the Rev. Fr. Luke Gregory memorial trophy. The limited overs encounter will be held on the 25th March at SSC Grounds, Colombo.
The one-day Luke Shield encounter which was to be held in 2021, could not be held due to the lockdown in Colombo. However, both schools hosted the inaugural encounter in April 2022 at the P. Sara Oval, which St. Benedict’s managed to win
