Trinity College, Kandy, won the toss and opted to bowl first against St Anthony’s College, Katugastota, in the 107th Hill Country Battle of the Blues, played at the picturesque Asgiriya International Cricket Stadium. At stumps, the Trinitians were 66/3, holding the upper hand after restricting the Antonian innings to 157 runs.
After being put in to bat, St Anthony’s College found themselves in immediate trouble against a disciplined Trinity bowling attack. They failed to establish a solid foundation early on as Chaniru Senarathne removed Sanuka Kalpana in the second over of the match. Soon after, national youth-capped player Sethmika Senevirathne delivered a brilliant inswinger that curved in and struck plumb in front of the wicket, dismissing Kavindu Udagedaraarachchi for a duck.
>>LIVE – Trinity College vs St. Anthony’s College – 107th Hill Country Battle of the Blues 2026
St Anthony’s slid further into trouble when Praveen Gamage misread an orthodox delivery from Senarathne and was bowled. With the Antonians struggling at 13/3, a crucial partnership developed between Sisal Attanayake and Dinul Wijesinghe, taking the total past the half-century mark just before the lunch break.
When the 46-run partnership was building steadily, the Trinity captain introduced Dinal Fernando into the attack. The move paid immediate dividends as Wijesinghe edged the ball around his legs, with wicketkeeper Adam Hilmy completing the catch.
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The Antonian skipper Kaushika Kumarasinghe, their most successful batsman of the season, then came to the crease and launched a counter-attack on the Lions, while opener Sisal Attanayake continued to anchor the innings from the other end. Attanayake, who had absorbed significant pressure, eventually brought up his half-century with a stylish cover drive.
After striking back-to-back sixes in the previous over, Antonian skipper Kumarasinghe attempted an uppish reverse sweep against Malika Vithanage but paid the price. Viduneth Dammage, fielding at cover, held on to a stunning diving catch to dismiss the dangerous Kumarasinghe for a quick 44, ending a 64-run partnership.
Fernando then claimed his second wicket when Sadew Amarakoon charged down the pitch for a wild swing and was caught at cover. Sanithu Gunathilaka followed for a duck after being caught at forward short leg, as the persistent spell from chinaman bowler Kanilka Anthony was finally rewarded just before the tea break.
After a brief partnership, Anthony induced a leading edge from Dasun Welianga, who was caught at second slip. Anthony then picked up two more wickets in the 57th over, bundling out the Antonian innings for just 157 runs.
Although Attanayake carried his bat with an unbeaten 64, the Antonian innings never truly gathered momentum. Wickets fell at regular intervals, preventing any substantial partnerships. The Trinity bowlers, exploiting the early morning moisture and later the turn on offer, wreaked havoc.
After posting an under-par total, the Antonian bowlers came out with renewed aggression. They struck early to reduce the Lions to 23/2, sparking hopes of a fightback. Pulisha Thilakaratne, attempting a big hit, was caught and bowled by Kaveesha Samarathunga for a duck. Soon after, left-arm fast bowler Dasun Welianga produced a superb delivery to hit the timber and dismiss Mahendra Abeysinghe.
Despite the Antonians’ fightback, Trinity skipper Dimantha Mahavithana remained composed, playing his natural game with a series of stylish strokes. He brought up his half-century with a crisp square cut when the total read 63/2.
When the partnership began taking the game away from the Antonians with a 42-run stand, skipper Kumarasinghe turned to Attanayake, hoping he would continue his impressive day, this time with the ball. Attanayake delivered immediately, producing a fine delivery to dismiss Dinal Fernando, caught behind.
Skipper Dimantha Mahavithana struck several elegant cover drives to the boundary and remained unbeaten on 52, guiding Trinity to 66/3 at stumps.
The 107th Battle of the Blues is finely poised heading into an intriguing second day, though the advantage currently lies with the Lions of Trinity College.
Brief Scoreboard
St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota (1st inning) – 157 all out (57.3 Overs)
Sisal Attanayake 64*, Kaushika Kumarasinghe 44, Dinul wijesinghe 15, Dasun Walianga 10
Kanilka Anthony 54/4, Dinal Fernando 09/2, Chaniru Senarathne 30/2, Malika Vithanage 04/1, Sethmike Senevirathne 34/1,
Trinity College, Kandy (1st inning) 66/3 (23 Overs)
Dimantha Mahavithana 52, Chaniru Senarathne 10,
Sisal Attanayake 2/1, Kaveesha Samarathunga 13/1, Dasun Walianga 25/1
Stumps
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanuka Kalpana | lbw b Chaniru Senarathna | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 |
| Sisal Hemaka | not out | 64 | 161 | 0 | 0 | 39.75 |
| Kavindu Navanjana | lbw b Sethmika Senevirathne | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Praveen Gamage | b Chaniru Senarathna | 4 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Dinul wijesinghe | c Adham Hilmy b Dinuka Tennakon | 15 | 65 | 0 | 0 | 23.08 |
| Kaushika Kumarasinghe | c Viduka Dhammage b Dimantha Mahavithana | 44 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 95.65 |
| Sadew Amarakoon | c Sethmika Senevirathne b Pubudu Bandara | 5 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Sanithu Gunathilaka | c Hasintha Jayasooriya b Kanilka Anthony | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Dasun Waliyanga | c Pulisha Thimeth Thilakarathna b Kanilka Anthony | 10 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 52.63 |
| Rayan Gregory | lbw b Kanilka Anthony | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Kaveesha Samarathunga | b Kanilka Anthony | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extras | 9 (b 0 , lb 1 , nb 1, w 2, pen 5) |
| Total | 157/10 (57.3 Overs, RR: 2.73) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sethmika Senevirathne | 15 | 2 | 34 | 1 | 2.27 | |
| Chaniru Senarathna | 13 | 4 | 30 | 2 | 2.31 | |
| Praveen Mithila Dineth | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.50 | |
| Pulisha Thimeth Thilakarathna | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.50 | |
| Kanilka Anthony | 15.3 | 1 | 54 | 4 | 3.53 | |
| Dinitha Siriwardena | 6 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 1.50 | |
| Viduka Dhammage | 2 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 8.50 | |
| Malith Rathnayake | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 2.50 | |
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimantha Mahavithana | not out | 52 | 79 | 5 | 0 | 65.82 |
| Pulisha Thimeth Thilakarathna | c & b | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Mahendra abeyasinghe | b | 3 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 21.43 |
| Chaniru Senarathna | c Dinul wijesinghe b Sisal Hemaka | 10 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Dinuka Tennakon | not out | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Extras | 0 (b 0 , lb 0 , nb 0, w 0, pen 0) |
| Total | 66/3 (23 Overs, RR: 2.87) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dasun Waliyanga | 7 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 3.57 | |
| Rayan Gregory | 6 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 1.67 | |
| Kaveesha Samarathunga | 4 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 3.25 | |
| Kaushika Kumarasinghe | 4 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 3.75 | |
| Sanuka Kalpana | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.00 | |
| Sisal Hemaka | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2.00 | |
