Kick starting the ever famous ‘March Madness’ of schools Big Match season as usual the Battle of the Brothers between Isipathana College and Thurstan College saw its 61st edition ending in an exciting draw at the Singhalese Sports Club (SSC) grounds on Sunday (25) with both teams sharing the honours with plenty of individual star performances with the bat, ball, and fielding. Both teams will next play the 44th limited over game for the W.A. De Silva Challenge Trophy on 17 March at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium and the 17th T20 encounter, the Priya Paranavitana Challenge Trophy on 9 March at Thurstan Grounds.

Vihas Thewmika, the skipper of Thurstan College led his boys from the front and earned the coveted Man of the Match award as well for his brilliant batting, bowling and fielding display in an all-round show of brilliance. Tharushka Ashel Perera of Isipathana College had a memorable game never to be forgotten after he scored his maiden big match century. Explosive batter Ruchith Rodrigo of Isipathana missed out on a well deserved century after being dismissed for 82 in the last ball of the 2nd day. Rodrigo’s thumping quick and fiery knock came off just 97 deliveries. Pathana skipper Sithuka Gunawardena had a good bowling spell with 4-wickets.

Isipathana opening pair Ruchith Rodrigo and Navindu Umeth broke the record set for the opening wicket after they scored 90 runs. The previous record was 89-runs set in 2005. The record highest partnership for any wicket in the Battle of the Brothers series stands at 139-runs set for the 2nd wicket in 2005 by Tharaka Waduge and Dilan Anuradha. 

Thurstan College won the toss and elected to field first. Isipathana declared their 1st innings at 250 for 9. Thurstan in reply did a tad better to post 253 for 8 before declaring. When the game ended on day-2 Isipathana were commanding at 113/1. Thurstan retained the Blackham Wijewardena Trophy after the match ended in a draw as they last won it in 2019. However Isipathana has been the most dominant team in the past 3-years and put their rivals under tremendous pressure.

Special Awards - 61st Battle of the Brothers

Principal of Thurstan College Pramuditha Wickramasinghe and Oshara Panditharathne, the Principal of Isipathana College headed the presentation party.  

Man of the Match – Vihas Thewmika (Thurstan) – 77-runs, 6-wickets, 2 catches 

Best Batsman – Tharushka Ashel Perera (Isipathana) 102 off 248

Best Bowler – Vihas Thewmika (Thurstan) 

Best Fielder – Rachintha de Silva (Thurstan) 

Best Striker – Ruchith Rodrigo  (Isipathana) for his 62 off 97

Best All-Rounder – Tharushka Ashel Perera (Isipathana) century and 2 wickets

Brief scores 

Isipathana 250/9 (88.4) d (T.A Perera 102, Chanul Dinoth 22, Vihas Thewmika 6/76, Thanuga Palihawadana 2/56) & 113/1 (31.4) (Ruchith Rodrigo 82, Navindu Umeth 24, Sethru Fernando 1/27)

Thurstan 253/8 d ( Vihas Thewmika 77, Harith Shalaka 42, Tanuja Rajapakse 37, Sithuka Gunawardane 4/88, Tharushka Ashel 2/43)

Result – Match drawn, Thurstan retained the trophy