Trinity-Antonian should be anybody’s game

S. M. Jiffrey ABDEEN Kandy Sports correspondent

Trinity College cricket team: Seated (from left): Dushan Ranasinghe, Suresh Wickrema, Dilan Gangoda, Indrajeed de Zoysa (MIC), Rushan Jaleel (Captain), Mohammed Sajjid (Vice Captain), Akila Jayasundera, Kithmal Wimalaweera. Standing (from left): Niroshan Dickwella, Dinuk Weeraratne, Madhushan Basanayake, Chinthaka Gokula, Shameera Wijesuriya, Mohammed Shehan, Yasiru Ratnayake, Janishka Premasinghe, Kavinda Jayasuriya, Kheliya Atugoda, Thushan Gunatissa, Trevin Ratnayake. Pictures by S. M. Jiffry Abdeen, Kandy Sports Corr.

St. Anthony’s College cricket team: Seated (from left): Lakshaman Panditharatne (Junior Coach), Kasun Ekanayake, Rev. Fr. Araliya Jayasundera (Sports Co-ordinator), Sahan Pallihakkara (Captain), Rev. Fr. Titus Rodrigo (Principal), Jerome Siegertsz (Vice Captain), Palitha Abeyratne (MIC), Malinda Perera, Keerthi Abeywickrema (Physical Trainer), Champika Siriwardena (Senior Coach). Standing (from left): Viraj Senarath, Manoj Sarathchandra, Tharanga Bandara, Erande Seneviratne, Hiran Wickremasekera, Dulash Kumarasinghe, Milinda Ranasinghe, Supun Ranaraja, Kanishka Ranaraja, Susantha Bandara, Arun Bandara, Yohan Woods. Absent: Adil Reyal.

It is going to be anybody’s game when Trinity College takes on their traditional rivals St. Anthony’s College in the hill capital’s 94th ‘Battle of the Blues’ to be played at Katugastota on Friday and Saturday (March 13 and 14) with play commencing at 9.45 a.m. on the first day and 9.30 p.m. on the second.

Both teams have played positive cricket this season which has resulted in decisions being reached in many games which in the past had ended in draws. Both captains Rushan Jaleel (Trinity) and Sahan Pallihakkara (St. Anthony’s are determined to end the stalemate of 14 draws this encounter had witnessed since 1992 when Umesh de Alwis led the Antonians to victory.

The last Trinity victory came in 1986 under Thushara Weerasuriya after the Antonians made a bold declaration.

The tally in the series stands at Trinity 22 wins and the Antonians 13 wins and 58 matches have ended in draws.

Former All Ceylon opener Abdul Lafir holds the record for the highest score in the series when he slammed 176 in 154 balls and together with Ronnie Stevens (120) put on 266 for the first wicket which paved the way to an innings win.

First century

The first century of the series was scored by legendary batsman from St. Anthony’s Jack Anderson who scored 118 in 1918 four years after the series was started. Former President of the Cricket Board and State Minister late T. B. Werapitiya has been the most prolific scorer for Trinity scoring 100 in 1940, 96 in 1942 and 143 in 1944. He is the only cricketer to have scored two hundreds in the big match just missed the third by four runs.

There has been some outstanding bowling performances in the series with spinner Sudanga Fernando (Trinity) leading the way when he captured all ten wickets in 1994 at Asgiriya. But that mystery spinner C. Dharmalingam has been most successful with the ball when in 1939 performed the hat-trick in both innings 6 for 17 and 6 for 31 giving him a match bag of 12 for 48. His double hat-trick could be a world record. In 1938 in another tantalising spell captured 9 for 74 in the first innings. Trinity recorded easy victories in both these years.

Trinity College will be led by fourth year coloursman and off spinner Rushan Jaleel who has been one of the most successful captains produced by Trinity. Rushan Jaleel has so far captured 122 wickets and is on his way to emulate the feat of Muthiah Muralitharan who has captured 127 wickets. He is also the highest ever wicket taker for Trinity College lowering the record of 107 wickets set up by Sachith Pathirana in 2006. He has also scored 500 runs during the season.

Trinity has played 18 matches won 7 (President’s Rajagiriya, Kingswood, Dharmaraja, Sri Rahula, St. Annes, Kegalu Vidyalaya, Dharmapala), lost 3 (Isipatana, St. Peters and Royal).

three centuries

Mohammed Sajjid is the vice captain of the side and he has scored 600 runs and often has propped up the middle order batting with stubborn knocks.

Last year’s skipper Dilan Gangoda has been the most successful batsman scoring 1,050 runs including three centuries and is only the third Trinitian to pass the 1,000 runs mark in a season. He has 65 wickets behind the stumps making his one of the leading wicket keeper batsman in the schools this season.

Highly successful

Sixteen years old Akila Jayasundera one of the few leg spinners in the schools circuit has been highly successful with 98 wickets so far this season despite missing three matches due to injury, perhaps he has reserved the big celebration for the big occasion.

The other capable batsmen in the side are Shameera Wijesooriya (550 runs), Niroshan Dickwella (475 runs), Kithmal Wimalaweera (550 runs), Dinuk Weeraratne (450 runs), Akila Jayasundera (400 runs), Suresh Wickrema (330 runs), Kavinda Jayasuriya (250 runs), underlying the fact that there is plenty of depth in the Lions batting.

Trinity’s pace attack has been not very impressive this season with Chinthaka Galuka (24 wickets) and Mohammed Shehan (19 wickets) sharing the new ball with Kheliya Atugoda being the third pacie. But the bowling department has been dominated by the spinners with the two ‘J’s’ Jaleel and Jayasundera) capturing 221 wickets between them. Rushan Jaleel (123 wickets) and Akila Jayasundera (98 wickets) and off spinner Suresh Wickrema has captured 45 wickets. Then there is also two off spinners in Madushan Basnayake and Shameera Wijesooriya who did not get much opportunities to bowl during the season.

The team is coached by former D. S. Senanayake and NCC cricket coach Sampath Perera who has done an excellent job in moulding the side into a fighting outfit.

Sixth year coloursman

St. Anthony’s College will be led by sixth year coloursman Sahan Pallihakkara a fine all-rounder and though not getting much opportunities to show his prowess with the bat has scored over 450 runs and also captured 50 wickets with his off spinners.

The Antonians have played 17 matches, won 7 (Kingswood, St. Annes, Mahanama, Dharmasoka, Richmond, Vidyartha, St. Sylvesters) lost 3 (St. Peter’s, Royal, St. Thomas).

Fourth year coloursman Jerome Siegertsz is the vice captain of the side and he has scored over 460 runs also has 30 victims behind the stumps.

Four centuries

The most successful batsman in the side is fourth year coloursman Hiran Wickremasekera who has scored 1,075 runs including four centuries. Opener Dulash Kumarasinghe has scored 600 runs and allrounder Kasun Ekanayake 700 runs. Others who have been successful with the bat are Adil Reyal 780 runs, Malindu Perera 800 runs, Yohan Woods 300 runs, and Tharanga Bandara 150 runs.

Tharanga Bandara with 40 wickets will open the attack with Kanishka Ranaraja before the spinners take over. Left arm spinner Adil Reyal has captured 80 wickets followed by off spinner Kasum Ekanayake who has 78 wickets. Off spinner and skipper Sahan Palihakkara has 50 wickets. They will form the nucleus of the Antonian attack.

The team is being coached by Champika Siriwardena who has done a fine job in making this Antonian side a formidable outfit.