Draw on the cards

TCK Under-19 cricket team

SACK Under-19 cricket team

By Shamseer Jaleel

Unbeaten Trinity College will meet St. Anthony’s College in their 103rd Battle of the Blues of the Hill Capital at the Asgiriya International Stadium on 13 and 14 March. 

Kavinda Jayasuriya  Trinity head Coach

SACK Head Coach  Suneth Gunatilake

Both teams hold formidable outfits with the Trinitians holding a slight edge with eight wins this season plus remaining unbeaten to date while the Antonians have seven wins this season but losing out on two occasions. But a probable draw is on the cards as hardly any differences between the two teams.

Trinity is led by national youth player, Ruvin Pieirs, who took 40 wickets this season. He was well supported by spinner Uvindu Wimaladharma (53) and genuine all-rounder Abishek Anandakumar (70) in the bowling.

In batting Abishek Anandakumar leads them with 640 runs supported by other batsmen Shane Goonathilake (540) and Ranuda Somaratne (525).

Trinity has got eight wins beating Matara Servetus, Joseph Vaz, St Sebastians, Richmond, Zahira, Lumbini, Nalanda and Ananda. They won the Sanga-Mahela Trophy for the second year in tandem against Nalanda. They are currently in the quarter final stages in the Singer Cup 2 day and one day encounters.

Trinity is coached by Kavinda Jayasuriya who played from 2007 to 2011 for Trinity is Level II qualified from Australia. He took over from Sampath Perera and within a short span of time he has turned Trinity Cricket into a winning outfit. This is his fifth year with his alma mater. He took the Trinity outfit in 2015 under Raveen Sayer to the Best Team All Island and then two years later in 2017 under Hasitha Boyagoda they became Runners-Up.

Antonians are led by Mohamed Kamil, scored more than Asitha Wanninayake (418) and Anjala Bandara (392) too were among the runs this season. In bowling Nimnaka Jayathilke the pocket rocket is the deadliest in the school arena with a lot of venom in his bowling. He is the main threat for Trinity. Gihan Ebert (57) and Sasith Hirudhika (42) too were among the wickets this season. Antonians are coached by Suneth Gunathilake.   Antonians got seven wins under them with Dharmaraja, Kingswood, Moratuwa Vidyalaya, St. Anne’s, Dharmashoka, Dharmapala and Maliyadeva coming at the receiving end. While winning seven of them they lost their form against St. Joseph’s Colombo and Royal Colombo, losing both the encounters. Currently Antonians are in the quarter final stages in both the two day and one day encounter in the Singer Cup competition.

Antonians last won in 1992 when Umesh de Alwis while the Trinitians last win was in 2012, under Niroshan Dickwella. So the last seven years all matches were drawn. Trinitians lead the series with 23 wins to Antonians 12 with 67 ending in no decisions.

 St. Anthony’s

Team: Mohamed Kamil (capt), Sasith Hirudika Tennekoon (vice capt), Nimnaka Jayathilake, Chamindu Wcikramasinghe, Gihan Ebert, Asitha Wanninayake, Lasith Weralagama, Pankaja Edirisinghe, Sachin Prabath, Tharindu Lamahewage, Chandiimal Herath, N Udayakumara, D P Ramaiha, Lahiru Abeysinghe, Bimsara Jayasekera and Anjala Bandara

Head Coach: Suneth Gunathilake

MIC: Lenin Jayasinghe

Physio/Trainer: Priyantha Kumara

Trinity

Team: Ruvin Peiris (capt), Abhishek Anandakumar, Shane Goonathilake, Umair Razan, Uvindu wimaladarma, Dinitha Siriwardane, Thevin Amarasinghe, Matheesha Pathirana, Deemantha Bandara, Pasan Ganegoda, Ranuda Somarathne, Jeff Weerasinghe, Akbo Amarasinghe, Akram Muthalib and Pawan Pathiraja 

Head Coach: Kavinda Jayasuriya

Assistant Coach: Lahiru Sandakelum and Naveen Ekanayake

MIC: Dhammika Kulatunge

Trainer:S. Wcikremanayake

Physio: Lasantha Bandara