Though the series tally stands without much difference at 5:4, the unbeaten Thurstan, oozing with formidable talent, and the recently invigorated Isipatana are poles apart at least on paper. The two teams meet each other in their 44th annual big match at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground today.

Thurstan Seated from left:

Charith Wickramaratne, Dinesh Weerasinghe (Coach), G.R.M. Bandara (Asst. Principal), Umesh Karunaratne (Vice Captain), Buddhi Samarawickrama (Captain), Mahinda Jayasekara (Principal), Nihal Fernando (Master in Charge), Hasitha Perera Standing from left: Ravindu Wijeratne, Sumudhu Wickramaarachchi, Ravindu Chamalka, Geeth Kumara, Shalaka Rangajeewa, Ishan Perera, Rishi Ukwatta, Shehan Kamaileen, Charith Madhawa, Tiral Jeramiah, Charith Gayan

Having recorded five outright victories, with several batsmen who have aggregated over 500 runs this season to brace the batting line-up, and with two bowling kingpins to make their bowling department formidable, Thurstan are well equipped to thwart any obstacle that would stand in their way to achieve a positive victory which had not come in their favour in fifteen years.

Meanwhile, Isipatana after suffering three defeats at the hands of St. Joseph's, St. Sebastian's and D.S. Senanayake Colleges will have to look back at the positives gained in the match against Zahira which they won outright and the closely contested encounter against St. Peter's to hold their opponents from winning the Blackham Wijewardena Trophy.

Isipatana Seated from left:

S.A.G. Sarathchandra (PoG), Visuddhi Kaluwitharana (Captain), Punyadasa Kuruppu (Principal), Sachith Jayasinghe (Vice Captain), L.L. Sisira Kumara (Master in Charge), K.H. Nandasena (Coach) Standing from left: first row: Chirantha de Silva, Amira Rabel, Wadiba Perera, Maneesha Ayomal, Lalin Fernando, Nalaka Eranda, Kalhara Senevirathna, Shiral Kumara Second row Vimukthi Deshapriya, Tharindu Gunawardana, Sameera Ratnayaka, Danuka Fernando, Maneendra Dharmadasa, Kanishka Amarasingha

Buddhi Samarawickrama who was a part in the record breaking highest big match partnership ever, 173 for the fifth wicket with Shehan Perera (107 n.o.) last year, has at least three batsmen who have aggregated over 500 runs this season. Skipper Samarawickrama having accumulated over 500 runs with four half tons, last year captain Charith Wickramaratne and hard hitting opening bat Hasitha Perera, both aggregating over 500 runs and all rounder Umesh Karunaratne who was in and out of the team due to his engagements with the national junior pool will be the key batsmen for Thurstan while there is depth of batting coming from left handed top order bat Geeth Kumara and lower order bat Shalaka Rangajeeva.

Isipatana skipper Visuddhi Kaluwitharana will heavily depend on the hard hitting middle order bat Gamindu Kanishka and left hander Chirantha de Silva who were the only batsmen to aggregate over 300 runs this season for them. Incidentally, the duo have scored four half centuries together out of the five the whole team have scored this season which is in big contrast to Thurstan's 20 half centuries and two centuries this season.

The other Isipatana batsman to have scored a half century this season is top order batman Maneesha Ayomal. Kaluwitharana who became only the fourth Isipatana batsman to score a century (2005) in their 43-year-old big match series, is required to come to his old form with his handful of reputed batsmen to counter the formidable bowling department of Thurstan, that has two bowlers who have bagged nearly 90 wickets between them.

Off spinner Umesh Karunaratne who is one of the best all rounders in the country will pose the biggest threat to Isipatana. Karunaratne who has bagged over 50 wickets could be expected to play a major role in today's game along with Shalaka Rangajeewa who spearheads Thurstan pace attack. If the SSC wicket assists his spin today Karunaratne would not be too far from breaking the big match record for most wickets, which stands unshaken for a decade. The holder of the record is Nuwan Zoysa who picked up 10 wickets (5/45, 5/51) for Isipatana in 1996 to equal A.M. Fawzie.

Isipatana's leg spinner Vimukthi Deshapriya is expected to bowl a longer spell as he has been the only consistent bowlers in their outfit. Third year player bagged over 20 wickets this season. Deshapriya and vice captain Sachith Jayasinghe, who bowls off spin, will be the main spinners in their team.

Meanwhile, Isipatana's unpredictable speedster Wadiba Perera could make anything possible for them when he gets going. It was just few days back where he impressed with five wickets for 62 runs to restrict formidable Peterites for 152 runs. Perera also had a fine spell against St. Aloysius' College. In fact he was the only Isipatana bowler to counter their onslaught. Perera picked up six wickets for 51 runs against them and don't be surprised if he comes out of the blue to take control of today's match.

The series

The Thurstan-Isipatana big match series which was inaugurated at Municipality Ground in 1964 has seen 42 episodes unfold at different venues that vary from Colts, SSC to P. Sarawanamuttu Stadium. The latter has held the most number of encounters (25).

While Isipatana has won four matches, Thurstan has recorded five victories that include a famous three consecutive victories from 1990 to 1992.

Thirty three matches have ended without a decision and the match was not played in 1971 due to the insurgency that year when Diyanesh Rajaratnam and Mervyn T. Peiris were the captains of Thurstan and Isipatana respectively.

Records to be broken

Best Bowling

7 for 28 by Jayaweera Karunaratna of Thurstan in 1992
7 for 79 by K.L.S.K. Sirisena of Isipatana in 1967

Highest Match Bag

10 wickets (5/45 and 5/51) by Nuwan Zoysa of Isipatana in 1996

Highest Innings Total

308 for 9 declared by Isipatana in 2005
301 for 8 declared by Thurstan in 1990

Lowest Innings Total

Isipatana 56 all out in 1968
Thurstan 83 all out in 1973

Best Partnership

173 runs for the 5th wicket between Buddhi Samarawickrama (67) and Shehan Perera (107) in 2006