Under-19 inter-school Division One Tier “A” semi-finals Trinity, Maliyadeva, St. Joseph’s, St. Benedict’s battle for final berths

By M. Shamil Amit
Four top cricket-playing schools, Trinity, Maliyadeva, St. Joseph’s, and St. Benedict’s, will battle it out in the two semifinals of the Under-19 inter-schools Division One Tier ‘A’, scheduled to be played at the Ace Capital CC ground in Colombo and the S. Thomas’ ground in Mt. Lavinia today and tomorrow to book the berths to the final.

Trinity vs. Maliyadeva

The two teams will confront each other at the Ace Capital CC ground and a keenly contested game is expected due to the fact they are evenly balanced.
Trinity, led by Rahal Amarasinghe, made it to the semis after finishing as the top team in their group. They have been in top form this season, having recorded back-to-back wins against Royal, the second of which was in the quarterfinal stage.

On the other hand, Maliyadeva, led by Amesh Tennekoon, has been the most improved side in the ongoing school’s tournament as they got the better of fancied teams before ending as the second-best team in their group and got the better of St. Sebastian’s Moratuwa in the quarterfinals to advance to the semis.

St. Joseph’s vs. St. Benedict’s

The two teams will clash at Mt. Lavinia, and this game too could see a closely contested tussle for supremacy. St. Joseph’s, led by Sri Lanka youth player Sadeesh Jayawardena, ended the league matches of the tournament as the second-best team in their group before overcoming Wesley in the quarterfinals to advance to the semis.
St. Benedict’s, led by Chamath Chathurya, has had a successful stint in the league encounters, ending up as the third-best team in their group and getting the better of Richmond in the quarterfinal encounter to make it to the semis.

The Teams:

Trinity: Rahal Amarasinghe (Captain), Vibhavith Ehelepola (Vice Captain), Theeraka Ranathunga, Supun Waduge, Manula Kularatne, Tharana Wimaladharma, Kusal Wijethunga, Dinusha Pieris, Dinuka Tennakoon, Jayavi Liyanagama, Janith Warnakula, Malith Rathnayake, Lakvin Abeysinghe, Vathila Udara, Yewan Hulangamuwa, Viduka Dhammage, Naveen Ekanayake (Head Coach),  Lakshitha Alahakoon (Asst. Coach), Bryan Senaratne (Master-in-charge).

Maliyadeva: Amesh Tennakoon (Captain), Gayana Weerasinghe (Vice Captain), Jayamin Muthukumarana, Pasindu Menaka, Ushan Bimsara, Charuka Herath, Cahamathkar Hettiarachchi, Malith Kumarathunga, Dimath Abeysinghe, Thaveesha Balasooriya, Harasara Silva, Themiya Bandara, Arjun Sathsara, Ruchira Werahera, Chandupa Abeysinghe, Vishen Sadew, Gishan De Silva, Punsitha Roneth, Janaka Senevirathna (Head Coach), Jaliya Madushanka (Asst Coach), Mahinda Uduwerella (Master-in-charge).

St. Joseph’s: Sadeesh Jayawardana (Captain), Lahiru Amarasekara (Vice Captain), Hirun Matheesha, Sahan Dabare, Abishek Jayaweera, Hiran Jayasundara, Muditha Lakshan,  Dinuk Serasinghe, Kaven Pathirana, Yenula Dewthusa, Rishma Amarasinghe, Maanasa Madubashana, Dunick Perera, Gagan Chamod, Naren Muralidaran, R. De Alwis, Sasanka Ranaweera, Senod Soysa, Ashan Vilukshan, Asiri Caldera (Master in charge), Dilan Ramanayake (Head Coach), Dinal Dhambarage (Asst. Coach), Torin Pitigala (Asst. Coach).

St. Benedict’s: Chamath Chathurya (Captain), Dilan Thabrew, Viduneth Wilson, Sheron Kannangara, Shenel Samarathunga, Sharujan Shanmuganathan, Kojitha Himsara, Vihara Aththnayaka, Mewan Dissanaike, Arshan Joseph, Yohan Edirisinghe, Nilakshana Jayakody, Haren Olagama, Nadun Fernando, Onesh Michael, S. Akshar, Aveesha Weerarathna, Dumindu Yehen, Sheran Dissanaike, Kevin Jason, Pemlal Fernando (Head coach), Madushan Kularathna (Asst. Coach), Rev. Br. Dilshan Vimukthi (Master-in-charge).