Royal, S. Thomas’, Ananda among leading Big Match playing schools drawn for relegation matches

by Reemus Fernando

Ananda, Royal and S. Thomas’ Colleges are among leading Big Match playing schools facing relegation scares as they are drawn alongside five other schools to play relegation matches to save their place in the premier Under 19 Division I cricket tournament.

According to the relegation fixtures announced by Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association Royal College Colombo are drawn against Wesley and S. Thomas’ are drawn against De Mazenod to play relegation matches in the Tier ‘A’ tournament.

Big Match rivals of Matara, St Servatius’ and St. Thomas’ and arch rivals of Kurunegala St Anne’s and Maliyadeva are the Tier ‘A’ teams competing to avoid demotion to Tier ‘B’.

In tier ‘B’ Ananda is the most prominent team playing to avoid relegation to Division II tournament. They will compete against Dharmapala. Zahira, Devapathiraja, St. Joseph Vaz’s, St. Sebastian’s Katuneriya, Dharmasoka Ambalangoda and Sylvester’s, Kandy are the other Tier ‘B’ teams fighting to avoid relegation to Division II Tournament.

Meanwhile, in the Tier ‘A’ tournament, Richmond, Mahanama, Prince of Wales and Trinity from Group ‘X’ and D.S. Senanayaka, St. Sebastian’s, St. Anthony’s, Katugastota and Nalanda from Group ‘Y’ are the top teams after the league tournament and they are drawn to play knockout matches for the Tier A title.

Lumbini, St Peter’s, Thurstan and St. Aloysius’ from Group ‘X’ and Isipatana, Nahinda, Dharmaraja and Moratu Vidyalaya from Group ‘Y’ of the Tier ‘B’ tournament will engage in the knockout tournament seeking promotion to Tier A.