Battle of the Babes Big Match on March 29, 30

By Shamseer Jaleel   
The 64th Battle of the Babes between traditional rivals St. Sylvester’s College and Vidyartha College will be played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on March 29 and 30.   
This encounter will be played for the Rev. Fr. Don George Trophy. St. Sylvester’s lead the tally with 15 wins to Vidyartha’s three wins while 45 encounters ended in a no-decision.   
The last Sylvestrian win was recorded in 2022 while Vidyartha has been waiting for a win since 1967.   
Danupa Kodikara (397), Bashitha Keshan (377), and Dhevan Moses (298) are the leading three batters for Vidyartha while in the bowling Shevan Moses (41), Kodikara (30) and Shaluka Rabukpitiya (27) are the leading bowlers. 

 
Vidyartha won four matches and scored one first innings win this season plus ending as the group champions in the Division 2 Tier ‘A’ Tournament. Champika Siriwardena is the Head Coach of the unit.   
Meanwhile, for St. Sylvester’s, their leading three batsmen are Kashyapa Dissanayake (312), Arusha Mendis (275) and Chandupa Waduge (246) while Nimesh Silva (41), Arusha Mendis (27) and Akila Wickramasinghe (26) are the three top bowlers.   
They beat Dharmapala College, Pannipitiya and scored first innings wins over Devapathiraja College and Morat Maha Vidyalaya.   
Jaliya Weerasinghe is the Head Coach of the St. Sylvester’s outfit.   
The teams   
Vidyartha: Avishka Gunarathna (Captain), Sahan Chandrasiri, Bhashitha Nandanathissa, Dineth Bulankulama, Chamalka Bandara, Shaluka Rabukpitiya, Danupa Kodikara, Oubudu Tharaka, Shevan Kanishka, Kalana Jayaneth, Kavindu Hettiarachchi, Yasmitha Dissanayake, Anuhas Ranaweera, Chenul Hansaja, Oshada Jayarathna, Akalanka Dinujaya, Yasas Widwantha, Nishmika Kaveeshan, Sachintha Manugoda and Ishan Dodangolla.   
St. Sylvester’s: Akila Wickramasingha (Captain), Isuru Gunasekara (Vice-Captain), Chandupa Waduge, Yoshitha Isuranga, Arusha Mendis, Diyon Fernando, Kashyapa Dissanayake, Vageesha Hansala, Ashen Dissanayeka, Punsith Bandara, Nimesha Silva, Piumaka Karunarathna, Vidusara Ganegoda, Amith Kumara and Chandimal Wijewardhana.