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by S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Correspondent

Trinity College's first double centurion in school cricket eighteen year old Ishan Ratnayake who scored an epic 211 against Kingswood College last weekend was honoured at the weekly assembly of the school when the Principal Prof. W. R. Breckenridge spoke in glowing terms while the staff and students applauded.

Prof. W. R. Breckenridge who has taken a keen interest in sports was present during the match and when he appointed Antonian H. M. Kuthalib as the coach in 2002 he had made the right choice after the cricket team was suspended for the season in February 2001 by the school for not complying with the instructions of the Principal. Muthalib a former Antonian captain with over 15 years experience in coaching at his alma mater where he produced a number of outstanding cricketers is a stern disciplinarian.

After the suspension of the cricket team in 2001, Muthalib had to virtually start from scratch and he has done a wonderful job in producing Trinity's first double centurion in nearly 100 years of cricket and this was scored at a test venue and not in a makeshift small ground. For Muthalib this is the second double centurion he has produced as in the late seventies Mohan Ratnakumar scored 204 for St. Anthony's College.

Left hand opening bat Ishan Ratnayake who carved his name in the record books has now become the highest individual scorer in school cricket for the Trinitians. His marathon innings lasted 466 minutes and faced 340 balls while hitting 20 fours and 2 sixes.

He was helped to a great extent by little 13 year old Sachith Pathirana (43) from the under 13 team and this pair put on 113 for the second wicket. Said Ishan Ratnayake if Sachith Pathirana could stay for 150 minutes and score runs why should I not build up a longer innings and this inspired me a lot. Ishan Ratnayake later put on 127 for the third wicket with skipper Clifford Fernando (55) and this had goaded him for greater deeds.

Kandy has seen very few double centuries and it was late Jack Anderson who scored first in his knock of 291 for St. Anthony's against St. Thomas College. Others are Senaka Dissanayake's 201 for Dharmaraja against Kingswood. Russel Hamer scored 240 for Wesley against Kingswood at Randles Hill - a pint sized ground in the sixties.

Thushara Kodikara scored 217 not out for Vidyartha against St. Sylvesters. Tyronne Le Mercier scored 235 not out for St. Peter's against St. Anthony's. Mohan Ratnakumar scored 204 for the Antonians against St. Peters.

These are some of the double centuries scored in school cricket in the hill capital, in recent times.

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