Hill country 'Battle of the Blues' 96th version unfurls today

S.M. Jiffrey ABDEEN - Kandy Sports Correspondent

Will this one go the Trinity's way or will the Antonians create an upset is the mind bogglers for the cricket fans when Trinity College takes St. Anthony's College in their 97th 'Battle of the Blues' which will be played at the Asgiriya Stadium this Friday and Saturday with play commencing at 9.45 a.m.

Former Trinity College and SSC cricketer Harindra Dunuwille who won his Cricket Lion in 1965 and captained the school in 1966 will be the chief guest. Harindra Dunuwille was a brilliant cricketer, a very aggressive batsman and a top leg spinner who later represented the Combined Schools and also played for the Ceylon Cricket Association in the Gopalan Trophy match against Madras. He was also one time President of Kandy District CA and a member of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka, he was one time MP for Kandy District and Mayor of Kandy.

A total of 95 matches has been played in the series which began in 1905. The Trinitians by virtue of 11 wins in a row from 1918 to 1928 are still in the lead with 22 wins against 12 by the Antonians. The rest of the matches have ended in draws.

The last time a decision was reached in this encounter was in 1992 when Umesh de Alwis led the Antonians to an innings win. The Trinitians last won in 1986 under Thushara Weerasuriya. Thus both teams will strive hard to end this stalemate of 19 draws. This match was also not played in 1956, 1957 and 2001.

The best batting effort has been by Antonian and former all ceylon cricketer A.C.M. Lafir who slammed 176 in 1954 and in the process was associated in an opening stand of 266 with Ronnie Stevens who made 103. For the Trinitians Kaushalya Weeraratne made 148 in 1999.

The best bowling feat has been by Trinity College Spinner Sudanga Fernando who captured 10 for 38 in 1997 and this was the only occasion in the hill capital in which all ten wickets had been captured in an innings in a big match.

Then there is the double hat-trick by that spinner C. Dharmalingam who captured 6 for 31 and 6 for 17 in 1939 and performed the hat-trick in both innings. He also captured 9 for 74 in 1938. In both years the Trinitians won.

Trinity College led by their cricket lion and wicket-keeper opening batsman Hiroshan Dickwella is enjoying one of its best ever season having won 10 of their 20 matches and nine of them by an innings. Their outright wins have been over St. Aloysius College, St. Servatius College, Kingswood College, Isipathana College, Wesley College, Sri Sumangala College, Mahinda College, Kalutara Vidyalaya, St. Thomas College and Zahira College.

Niroshan Dickwella has led the team from the front having scored 1105 runs including a top score of 212 and has 60 victims behind the stumps. He performed this despite the fact missing four matches following the tour of India with the Junior National team.

The Vice Captain of the side is off spinner and cricket lion Janish Premasinghe who has captured 102 wickets and also scored 554 runs. He is only the third Trinitian to capture over a hundred wickets during a season after Sachith Pathirana and Akila Jayasundera.

Sixth year player and all rounder and cricket lion Akila Jayasundera is the key player in the side having captained the side last year and was adjudged the Best Captain in schools in 2011 has taken 51 wickets with his leg spinners and scored over 600 runs. He has not done much bowling this season as others were taking the wickets. His presence in the team is a big inspiration to the team-mates as he is a good reader of the game. He captured 100 wickets in a season in 2010.

The others who have performed well with the bat are the 'find' of the season Dinuk Wickremanayake 820 runs (3 centuries) Ron Chandragupta (282 runs), Bhaghya Pallihawadana (250 runs), Arjuna Jayasinghe (235 runs), Heshan Wanniarachchi (350 runs missed 8 matches), Lakshitha Dasanayake (257 runs).

The pace attack will be in the hands of dual purpose bowler left arm Alwin Fernando (59 wkts and Amrith Subendran (45 wkts), and Madhushan Subendran. But it will be their much dreaded spin attack comprising off spinner Janishka Premasinghe (102 wkts), leg spinner Akila Jayasundera (51 wkts), left arm spinner Lakshan Jayasinghe (56 wkts), off spinner Heshan Wanniarachchi (25 wkts) and left arm spinner Alwin Fernando (59 wkts) who will be bowling both spin and pace.

The team is coached by Sampath Perera who has guided the side to new realms with the Trinitians registering 34 outright victories during his four year stewardship. The master in charge is Vinod Wishnawarthan a good motivator and stern disciplinarian.

The Antonians will be led by fourth year coloursman Kanishka Ranaraja who essentially a medium pacer but has preformed well with the bat scoring 825 runs including a century against Vidyartha College. He has also captured 35 wickets with his medium paces.

The Vice Captain of the side is fourth year player Manoj Sarathchandra who has scored over 700 runs including three centuries despite missing about six matches. He is also the stumper of the side.

The Antonians have played 16 matches won 2 outright and drawn the rest. Their wins have been over Dharmaraja College and D.S. Senanayake College.

But their main hope lies in the hands of all rounder and junior National cricketer Saranga Rajaguru who has captured 70 wickets with his leg spinners and also scored over 600 runs.

Bolstering the side's batting will be Yohan Woods, Nimesha Gunasinghe, Sachin Bulathsinghala, Madhushan Pusswella, Romesh Macwin, Charles Praveen.

Kanishka Ranaraja will share the new ball with Dinuk Herath (35 wkts), with Charles Praveen being the third pacie. Their strong point is their spin attack led by Saranga Rajaguru with the support of off spinner Sachin Bulathsinghala (45 wickets), off spinner Nimesha Gunasinghe (30 wkts), Buwaneka Wijetunga (25 wkts), and off spinner Romesh Macwin.

The team is coached by Sujeewa Gunaratne who took over the side this year with Keerthi Aluwihare as the master in charge.

The weather up in the hills is keeping fine, a decision is likely to be reached in this match.