– Head to Head Trinity 23 St. Anthonys 11 Drawn 61
The hill capital anxiously waits for the dawn of Friday the 13th as the two elite schools of the neighbourhood Trinity and St. Anthony’s will come together for the significant 99th occasion at the Katugastota Oval.
The books of history read the 98th year as the ‘Year of the Eagles’ where St. Anthony’s College took home the coveted trophy on a one run first innings win thanks to the the efforts of skipper Nimesha Gunasinghe after a lapse of almost 5 years. The 2011 was Trinity’s turn breaking the 25 year drought, registering an outright win.
Trinity ahead on paper
The newly crowned league leaders will go in to the 99th encounter as favorites on paper. With a 10 outright winning streak under their name, the Lions stand way ahead to their counterparts who have a few first innings wins. Trinity’s disappointment would no doubt be their outright losses against Royal, S. Thomas’ and St. Peters as their season concluded in a down streak.
Despite that, Trinity College had yet another glorious season equaling yet another school cricket record. Their outrights came 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. The Antonians playing in the B Division don’t consist of a portfolio to speak about but their destructive form in the big match encounters have always been unpredictable.
Trinity has a balanced Outfit
Small in stature, fourth year Lionsman Raveen Sayer’s Trinity 1st XI team was the team that lived to the expectations. Leading by example, Sayer has picked up an overall sum of 90 wickets this season that include five five wicket hauls, two match bags of 9 wickets and a career best of 8/51. Not limiting himself to the bowling department, Sayer has also made knocks of 67 and 71.
Coming to skipper Sayer’s assistance is all-rounder Duvindu Tilekeratna. Having started off his cricketing career as a standalone batsman, Duvindu discovered his spinning abilities this season. Picking up 62+ wickets this season, he fills the remaining bowling slot. Left armers Lahiru Kumara and Pramodya Abeyakoon will contribute as they have always been an integral part in the fast bowling department.
Arjuna Jayasinghe & Nushan Weerasinghe key for Trinity
Not much needs to be spoken about Arjuna Jayasinghe’s stats. 700+ runs, two tons (147,115) and another fighting 97 describes him the best. Playing his fourth and final year in the college jersey, Jaysinghe will be undoubtedly eyeing the rare three figure mark this weekend. With a top score of 80 runs and successive fifties opener Nushan Weerasinghe will opting to make a formidable start for the team to carry them through to a massive stand. He has been supported by his co-pilot opener Kaveen Hiniduma whose quick firing nature has come in handy at crucial moments.
Fresher Dilan Jayalath has shown some impressive performances with the bat and all these four would be key wickets that the Antonians will be looking to capture early in the innings.
All eyes on Skipper Buweneka of St. Anthony’s
If St. Anthony’s topped the rankings at any point, it was solely due to the efforts of skipper Buweneka Wijethunga. The big made skipper had stood as a wall shouldering the burden on many occasions. His best 71, came against Wesley and 63 and 55 were against Royal and St. Joseph’s. Wijethunga will be expected to come in the middle order to steer the innings to a formidable tally. A career best of 89 runs and a couple of fifties to his name, Dilan Bandara will be the next crucial breakthrough for the Eagles. The keys to success of the Antonian innings will solely depend on these two as St. Anthony’s pool in a young outfit this season.
Bowlers have to deliver
If the Antonian hopes need to live, their bowlers will need to shine. The 98th battle last year was solely a cat fight between the bowlers and the Trinity batsmen and at the end the bowlers ended up being the winners. If St. Anthony’s are to restrict the Trinity’s batting arsenal below 200 runs, their spinners Nimesh Wanasinghe and Uditha Mahindaratna will definitely have to deliver. The hard hitting Arjuna Jayasinghe and Kaveen Hiniduma will wait for the loose balls to take maximum advantage and thereby the Antoninan bowling department will require to be extra cautious on how they handle these two.
Exactly a year ago, Antonian skipper Nimesha Gunasinghe took St. Anthony’s to a celebrated feat of winning the first innings which had always been their counterpart’s feat. With that mindset, the Trinitians will go out of their way in countering the Antonians for a repeat performance of 2011. The Antonians, never predictable can be the spoiler to Trinity’s celebration.
The Squads.
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.
– Coach: Sampath Perera
– Master-in-charge: J. Jayasinghe
– Prefect of Games: Laksman Somasinghe
St. Anthonys: Buvankeka Wijethunga (Capt), Dilan Bandara (VC) Damitra Panditharatne, Pulasthi Bandara, Kanishka Ukgalpaya, Mohamed Aflar, Uditha Mahindaratne, Kavindu Yapa Bandara, Nimesh Wanasinghe, Janindu Hinsara, Dilanka Wijeratne, Lakjeeva Wijebandara, Dilan Kavinda, Prasad Premaratne, Sathees Wickremaarchchi.
– Coach: Tharaka Gunaratne
– Master-in-charge: G. Wickremanayake
– Prefect of Games : Fr. Araliya Jayasundera
