The tranquil air in the hill capital of Kandy is set to be shattered this week, not by the usual bustle of the city, but by the roars of the 107th “Hill Country Battle of the Blues” annual cricket encounter, which will be played between Trinity College, Kandy, and St Anthony’s College, Kandy, from 12th to 14th March at the Asgiriya International Cricket Stadium, Kandy.
First played in 1914, the Trinity-Antho match is the sixth-oldest “Big Match” in Sri Lanka, steeped in tradition and nostalgia. This legendary encounter stands for more than just a game of cricket but as a cultural phenomenon, a festival of friendship, and a fierce battle for supremacy. As the Lions from Trinity prepare to lock horns against the Antonian Eagles, the atmosphere is electric with anticipation.
During the rich history that has spanned over a century, both schools have produced some fine talents who have been able to take their talents to the global stage. Trinity College has gifted players like Ranjan Madugalle, Kumar Sangakkara, Ravi Ratnayeke, Graeme Labrooy, Nilantha Ratnayake, Matheesha Pathirana, Sachith Pathirana, Kaushalya Weeraratne, Niroshan Dickwella, and Lahiru Kumara to international cricket. On the contrary, St Anthony’s College had produced players of the calibre of Muthiah Muralitharan, Ruwan Kalpage, Mahes Goonatilleke, Bernard Perera, Marlon Von Hagt, Piyal Wijetunga, A. C. M. Lafir, Sajith Fernando, Chamindu Wickramasinghe and Traveen Mathew.
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After 106 dazzling encounters, the current tally stands at 23 victories for Trinity and 11 wins for St Anthony’s, while the other 72 matches ended in draws. During the past three decades, Trinity has dominated this big match, but their last victory came in 2012 under the captaincy of the national-capped wicket-keeper batsman, Niroshan Dickwella. The Antonians posted their last outright victory way back in 1992 under the leadership of Umesh de Alwis.
Later the encounter was rebranded as the “John Halangoda Memorial Trophy” in memory of an outstanding Trinitian who subsequently turned out to be a great cricket coach at St Anthony’s College.
During this epic battle all eyes will be on Dimantha Mahavithana, Aadham Hilmy and Sithmika Senevirathne, the Trinity trio who represented the recently concluded Youth World Cup, staged in Zimbabwe and Namibia. Dimantha, the skipper of the Trinity Lions, scored a brilliant 115 runs against Japan along with a fighting knock of 37 runs against Afghanistan U19, where Sri Lanka Youths edged out the neighbouring nation. Also, the wicketkeeper-batter Adham Hilmy is a talented middle-order batter who is renowned for changing the complexion of the game within no time.
But the all-rounder Chaniru Senarathne will be the trump card for them, as he has scored 414 runs in this season with a brilliant couple of centuries and multiple 5-wicket hauls. Apart from them, Pulisha Thilakarathne, Mahendra Abeysinghe, Dinal Fernando, and Malika Vithanage are the other batsmen to watch in this hill country battle.
Kanilka Anthony had spearheaded the Trinity bowling unit throughout the 2-day tournament by taking 52 wickets, including three 5-wicket hauls. Also much is expected from Sethmika Senevirathne, the fierce pace bowler who took a 5-wicket haul against the Nepal U19 side. Chaniru Senarathne, Dinal Fernando, Santhosh Kritheekshan, and Dawood Hilmy will also be eager to flatten the St Anthony’s batting unit.
Despite the numbers, St Anthony’s College will definitely go out to display clinical performance and to end their three-decade-long victory drought. A week ago they put up a massive score of 409/7 against St Peter’s College by fuelling their big match hopes. During the course the skipper, who has 533 runs under his belt during the ongoing season, scored a stylish 168 runs, visualising his threat on Trinity bowlers. Sisal Hemaka has asserted 471 runs, including his unbeaten 150-run knock against Gurukula College, Kelaniya. Preveen Gamage is the other consistent batter of the side, scoring 487 runs with six half-centuries. Apart from them, Sanuka Kalpana, Sadew Amarakoon, Dinul Wijesinghe and Okitha Fernando had a good outing during this season and will be a threat to Trinity College.
The Antonian bowling unit will be led by Ryan Gregory, who is the top wicket-taker during this season with 27 scalps, including a five-wicket haul. The second highest wicket taker, Sanithu Gunathilaka, also will add some spice to the pitch. The skippers Kaushika Kumarasinghe, Sisal Hemaka, Praveen Gamage and Dasun Welianga will also be eager for some more wickets on the grand stage.
This year the weather will hold, and we are in for a gripping contest. Trinity holds the edge in experience and recent history, but St Anthony’s has the hunger of the underdog.
Trinity College: Dimantha Mahavithana (Captain), Aadham Hilmy (Vice Captain), Chanuru Senarathne (Vice Captain), Sithmika Senevirathne, Pulisha Thilakarathne, Mahendra Abeysinghe, Dinal Fernando, Viduneth Dhammage, Ranul Gunarathne, PraveenRukunayake, Kanilka Anthony, Umal Wijwsooriya, Ashwin Herath, Sajana Weerasekara, Dawwod Hilmy, Nethil Senanayake, Imesh Dissanayake, Gopalraj Santhosh Kritheekshan, Keshan Yogaraj and Malika Vithanage, Bryan Senarathne (MIC), Naveen Ekanayake (Head Coach), Thisaru Dilshan (Assistant Coach), Tayeshan Sulakshana (Assistant Coach), Bandula Pushpakumara (Trainer)
St. Anthony’s College: Kaushika Kumarasinghe (Captain), Dasun Welianga (Vice Captain), Ryan Gregory, Sanuka Kalpana, Sisal Hemaka Attanayake, Okitha Fernando, Praveen Gamage, Sanithu Gunathilake, Sadew Amarakoon, Dinul Wijesinghe, Chamalka Gunathilake, Kavindu Navanjana, Imeth Rajapaksha, Sanjana Sacheendra, Kaveesha Samarathunga, Hasada Seythunge, Yenula Hewawitharana, Hansana Gamagedara, Asela Perera (Head Coach), Priyantha Kumara (Trainer),
