TRINITY HOLDS THE EDGE OVER ANTHONIANS
Trinity College Kandy led by Raveen Sayer will take advantage when they meet their traditional rivals St Anthony’s Katugasota in their 99th Big match“Battle of the Blues” encounter which will be played at Katugastota on March 13 and 14.
Trinity/Anthonian cricket encounter will be the 99th in the series between the two great schools in the Hills. Trinity produced some outstanding cricketers who went on to represent the country. A few in the recent past are Ravi Ratnayake, Kumar Sangakkara, Nilantha Ratnayake, Niroshan Dickwella and Kaushlya Weeraratne. For Antonians Muttiah Muralitharan and Ruwan Kalpage are the two in any one’s mind.
The past four years can be called the golden era for sport. Trinity were crowned league title holders in 2011 under the captaincy of Akila Jayasundera and since then they have been invincible. Jayasundera’s successor, Niroshan Dickwella rallied his men to a very inimitable feat where Trinity were crowned triple champions winning the league, the limited overs tournament and the T20. In the same year, the 25 year old hoo-doo was broken as Trinity took home the big match victory. Trinity repeated their good performance this year under Sayer when they became the Division I league champions.
Trinity’s 2014/15 run has been quite impressive and they deserve the due right of being the legitimate leader in the league table. Trinity’s 10 outright wins consists of wins against President’s College, Moratuwa Vidyalaya, Anuradhapura Central, Dharmapala College, Nalanda College, St. Aloysius College, St. Joseph’s College, Bandaranayaka College, Wesley College and St. Servatious College. Trinity recorded first innings wins against Ananda College, Isipathana College and Mahinda College. Their only disappointments this season would be their outright loss to cricketing rivals St. Peter’s College, Royal and first innings loss to S. Thomas’ Mount Lavinia.
Trinitians attack is led by skipper Raveen Sayer who had already taken 82 wickets, well supported by leg spinner Duvindu Thilakarane taking over 65 wickets this season. Fast bowlers Lahiru Kumara and Pramodya Abeykoon too have chipped in with the wickets for the “Lions”attack.
In batting Arjuna Jayasinghe leads the way with over 750 runs this season. He was well supported by Dilan Jayalath, Kaveen Himiduma and Nushan Weterasinghe. Shanogeeth Shanmuganathan was an excellent all rounder contributing
Trinity/Anthonian cricket encounter will be the 99th in the series between the two great schools in the Hills.Trinity produced some outstanding cricketers who went on to represent the country
both with the bat and ball.
Former D S Senanayake, Bloomfield and Sri Lanka “A” team player Sampath Perera in charge of the Trinity outfit from 2007 has done yeoman service to bring Trinity cricket in to top three among the schools in the country. Trinity are sponsored by RateMAX which is a multinational TC/IP connecting company owned by one of their Old Boys Bilal Fassey (1987-1988) sponsoring them for the last few years.
Antonians one win under their belt are led by Buvanaka Wijetunga. He is well supported by Dilan Bandara, Damithra Panditharatne, Pulasthi Bandara, Kamal Uggalpaya and Mohamed Alfer. In the bowling department they depend heavily on Nimesh Wanasinghe and Udith Mahindarathne. One of their old boys Tharaka Gunaratne is the head coach of the Katugastota lads.
Trinity are leading the series with 23 wins to Antonians 12. Last Trinity win in 2012 was under the national cricketer Niroshan Dickwella. Last Antonians win in 1992 under Umesh De Alwis. Highest scorer was AC M Lafir 176 for the Katugastota school. Sudanga Fernando’s 10 for 38 for Trinity in 1999 is the best for the series in bowling.
Trinity: Raveen Sayer (Capt), Arjuna Jayasinghe (VC) Nushan Weerasinghe, Kaveen Hiniduma, Naveen Ekanayake, Madhawa Munaweera, Pramodya Abeykoon, Dilan Jayalath, Sanogeeth Shanmuganathan, Lahiru Kumara, Durindu Tillekeratne, Hasitha Boyagoda, Shavindu Amerasinghe, Sachira Gaminda, Thakshila Dodanwela, Dulanjana Siriwardena. Head Coach- Sampath Perera
St. Anthony’s – Buveneka Wijetunge (Capt), Dilan Bandara (V. Capt), ,, Pulasthi Bandara, Kamal Uggalapaya, Mohamed Alfer, Udith Mahindaratne, Kavindu Yapa Bandara, Dilan Jayaratne, Sumeera Jayasinghe, Nimesh Wanasinghe, Dilanka Wijeyartne, Chalana Salgado.
Trinity - Ravin Sayer (Capt), Arjuna Jayasinghe (V. Capt), Nushan Weerasinghe, Kaveen Hiniduma, Shanugeeth Shanmuganathan, Dilan Madusanka, Jasitha Boyagoda, Lahiru Kumara, Duvindu Thilakaratne, Naveen Ekanayake, Pramodya Abeykoon, Madawa Munaweera, Shavindu Amarasinghe, Dulanjana Siriwardena. Head Coach Tharaka Gunaratne