Wesley – St. Benedict’s look for first trophy win

By M. Shamil Amit

The Under 19 inter-school cricket encounter between Wesley College and St. Benedict’s College has a legacy of 125 years, but they will for the first time contest for the James Cartman Trophy and Rev. Bro. Luke Gregory Trophy this year.

The James Cartman Trophy will be awarded to the winner of the two-day match to be played at Campbell Park today and tomorrow, with the Rev. Bro. Luke Gregory to be given to the winner of the limited over match to be played on April 2. 

Schools’ cricket, after taking a back seat due to the pandemic, came alive last month and according to formbook, both teams look evenly matched. 

Wesley led by fifth year coloursman Sahil Dias enjoyed early success when they defeated S. Thomas’ outright after a lapse of 50.

He will bank on senior players Anudith Wickramasinghe, Semila Liyanage, Tishan Senanayake and Rakith Fernando with support from Chamath Gomas, Ashan Isira and Linal Subasinghe.

St. Benedict’s led by fourth year coloursman Pasan Suwahas, who is in top form having cracked a top knock of 150 against S. Thomas’ College, has an outright win against St. Anne’s College Kurunegala.

Much will be expected from skipper Pasan and he has a host of players from whom he can depend in the likes Shanujan Shanmuganathan the other centurion of the side, Ashen de Soyza, Yohan Soyza, Sachin Senanaayake, Chamath Chathurya and Aneesha Madumalka.