Anthonians determined to put Trinity under pressure
Realistically speaking, the Anthonians will go into the 96th Big Match seeking to stall a Trinity victory. As for the latter, they will be out to achieve victory over their rivals after twenty five years.
The Lions were closing in on their prey two years ago at Asgiriya when certain off field incidents led to the Trinitians losing their focus. In 2011, Trinity took a lead of 94 on first innings but opted to bat out the remaining time. Trinity has scored something like twenty wins over the last season and this, but the big prize continues to elude them. One feels Trinity’s portfolio is not compute without a Big Match win.
Punishing left handed opener Niroshan Dikwella leads Trinity and his aggressive blade has set the stage for most of the imposing totals made by them. Trinity’s strength lies in the fall that even when the skipper has failed, the other batsmen have put their shoulders to the wheel and guided the team to the ‘promised land’.
A massive 212 against Mahinda was Dikwella’s best effort. In addition, he scored 112 versus St. Servatius, 84 against Royal besides many other good knocks. His battering-room approach has softened the opposing bowlers and made life comparatively less difficult for the others. Shades of the Master Blaster!
Vice Captain Janishka Premasinghe partners Dikwella in taking on the new ball. The Zahira match 54 and a couple of forties with the bat start out. However Premasinghe the off spinner, who more often than not opens the attack, has been quite amazing. Match bags of 12-102 (Kalutara MV) and 10-67 (Wesley) are outstanding. He kept the Royalists in check within 6-66 and tantalized Mahinda (5-25) and Isipathana (match bag of 8-34) needless to say, he will pose the biggest ‘Threat’ on the Asgiriya turf. Even if he does not have a off, the Trinitians have a battery of bowlers – fast and slow – to prise out the opposition.
Last year’s skipper Akila Jayasundara is still around and a very important log in the wheel. His top score was 131 against the Josephians when he partnered Wickremanayake in a massive sixth wicket stand of 266 with the ball, he mesmerized Nalanda (5-7) and also chipped in regularly. His speed of movement in the slips belies his slight bulk.
Hashan Wanniarachchi is the quiet achiever of the team. Knocks of 71 (S. Thomas) 67 (Kalutara MV) and a few forties proclaim his value. His off breaks are little used.
The stand out – player (Dickwella apart) has been middle and ball player Dinuk Wickremanayake. He scored 150 not out (St. Joseph's) 101 not out (S. Thomas') and 105 against Mahanama. Half centuries against St. Aloysius (86) and Nalanda (57) were also good efforts. His importance to the team lies in the face that he is a longhand player who holds the batting together.ron Chandragupta, a left hander who has scored quite heavily recently, the punishing Bagya Palihawadana and the more orthodox Rajitha Jayatunga Lakshita Dissanaike and Arjuna Jayasinghe and all good players. They will certainly cause a dilemma to the selectors .
Alwyn Fernando, who bowls in two styles left arm fast and spin – had a match bag of 11 for 72 against Sri Sumangala, besides several other wicket-taking efforts. Amrit Srimohan another left arm pacie, cut through the Mahinda batting Niki an excellent spell of 723.
In case all the above bowlers fail to deliver, there is the slim, left arm spinner Lakshan Jayasinghe. As operates late, according to the packing order, and this probably prevents him from taking fivers regularly. An accurate bowler, his best analysis was 5-7 against Kingswood.
For the record, Trinity achieved ten outright wins this seasons, the defeated schools being Isipathana, St. Aloysius, Kingswood, Wesley, Mahinda, St. Servatius, Sri Sumangala, Kalutara MV, St. Thomas’ and Zahira. They bagged the first innings lead against D.S., Mahanama, St. Peters, Nalanda, Dharmaraja and St. Joseph’s. The only blots were first innings losses to Dharmasoka and Ananda.
Kanishka Ranaraja, the Anthonian skipper, is well aware of the tough challenge facing them on the 9th and 10th on alien soil. Yet Ranaraja is not one to be fazed. His credentials are good. A superb striker of the ball, he made a hundred against Vidyartha, 96 against the Josephians and half centuries against St. Sylvester’s and Wesley. His efforts with the ball haven’t been outstanding but figures of 5/22 against Prince of Wales suggest that he shouldn’t be trifled with.
Manoj Sarachchandra, a player with a lot of experience is the all in the pack. 119 (Prince of Wales) 98 (Royal) 82 (Ananda) and 62 (St. Joseph’s) bespeak a batsman of some quality who can rise to the occasion. He made an obdurate 31 last year and his knock helped the Anthonians force a draw. He shares the wicket-keeping duties with Woods.
Yohan Woods has had his best season. He made 63 and 42 against Ananda and 54 versus Royal. He has been a steady accumulator and contributor.
Sachin Bulathsinhala is a consistent all rounder. Usually the first choice when the skipper turns to spin, he has a best of 6-35 (D.S.) plus many bags of three wickets. An unbeaten 78 (Royal) and 50 (Vidyartha) are his best efforts with the bat, one feel he has a big part to play in depriving the hungry Lions.
Sri Lanka Under 19 player Saranga Rajaguru is the most prized possession for the Anthonians. He made a top score of 53 against Mahanama and has a few forties, to boot as a leg spinner.
He has turned in some eye-catching performances. He had 11 for 101 against the Benedictines, 7-66 (Vidyartha) 6-59 (Prince of Wales) 4-48 (Wesley) and a match-bag of 8-168 against Royal. He could turn this match round with the ball and with the bat. His sparking knock in last years one day match will be fresh in Trinity memory,
Madusha Pussella and Viraj Deepal are two others on whom the Anthonians will pin their hopes. The latter, in particular, strikes the ball in thrilling fashion and provides a lot of entertainment.
The Anthonians are well-equipped with spinners. Buvaneka Wijetunga (leg spin), Nimeshan Gunasinghe and Romesh Mcwin (off spin) complete the list. Wijetunga had 534 (Thurstan) as his best performance, while Gunasinghe captured 5-28 against DSS.
The Anthonians had a good win by 6 wickets against Dharmaraja and a 128 run win over D.S. They led on the first innings against Joseph Vaz, Wesley, Mahanama, Vidyartha, Thurstan, Prince of Wales, St. Sebastians and St. Peter’s. However first innings losses against Royal, St. Sylvesters, Ananda, St. Benedict's and St. Joseph’s take something away from a pretty solid performance throughout the season. One suspects they have been peaking as the Big Match nears.
Trinity has rarely been under pressure this year and the Anthonians must be hoping to do so in the expectation that something will give. Whether or not it is wishful thinking, time will tell.
Trinity (From): Niroshan Dikwella (Capt.), Janishka Premasinghe, Akila Jayasundara, Heshan Wanniarachchi, Alwyn Fernando, Dinuk Wickremanayake, Ron Chandragupta, Rajitha Jayatunga, Lakshitha Dissanaike, Amrit Srimahan, Lakshan Jayasinghe, Bhagya Palihawardena, Arjuna Jayasinghe and Madushan Subendran.
St. Anthony’s (From): Kanishka Ranaraja (Capt.), Manoj Sarachchandra, Yohan Woods, Saranga Rajaguru, Romesh Mcwin, Madusha Pussella, Sachin Bulathsinhala, Nimesha Gunasinghe, Viraj Deepal, Buwaneka Wijetunga, Dilan Bandara, Sri Kannan, Dinuk Herath, Bhatiya Liyanage, Himesh Kodituwakku and Damithra Panditharatne.