Antonians well knit

S M Jiffrey ABDEEN- Kandy sports correspondent

St Anthony's College, Kandy, one of the oldest cricket playing schools in the country which produced the world's best off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan got themselves ready for the current schools cricket season with a five day residential coaching camp at Katugastota.

The team is coached by former St Anthony's College cricketer, hard hitting bat Champika Siriwardena. He is assisted by another Antonian cricketer Indika Fernando with Lakshman Panditharatne handling the juniors.

This coaching camp was conducted by National spin coach Piyal Wijetunge together with fielding coach Manoj Abeywickrema, Amila Pinnaduwa, Prasad Ranawaka and others.

Antonian team is led by fifth year coloursman Hiran Wickremasekera. A brilliant opening bat who has scored over a thousand runs in 2008 and followed this performance in 2009. In fact he has carried the Antonian batting in his shoulders during the past two seasons.

He has carried this form this season too notching up two centuries so far and has scored nearly 431 runs. He is one batsman to watch this season.

Apart from Hiran Wickremasekera the other who should perform well with the bat are Manoj Sarathchandra who was a consistent performer last season, though still only 16.

There is also Pulasthi de Silva, Yohan Woods, Tharaka Jayasinghe, Saranga Kanishka Ranaraja, Rajaguru, Kavinda Pullukuttiarachchi, Aruna Bandara, Arvinda Premaratne.

Their bowling attack will be largely dependent on Sri Lanka under 19 leg spinner Saranga Rajaguru who will be playing in his first year.

Their pace attack will comprise Tharaka Jayasinghe and Kanishka Bandara. The other spinners in the side are Aruna Bandara, Arvinda Premaratne, Thushan Hettige. Manoj Sarathchandra is the stumper of the side.

The Antonians have so far played 7 matches, winning 2 outright and drawing the rest.

The Antonians look forward to a successful season this year.