Trinity Should Upset Antonians

• Kandy’s Battle Of The Blues at Asgiriya

By Hafiz Marikar

Winning the toss will go a long way in deciding the outcome of the 94th Trinity-Antonian annual cricket encounter,  the biggest and the most looked forward to school cricketing event in Kandy. These two schools will meet on Friday the 12th and Saturday the 13th  at the Asgiriya Stadium.
This ‘big match’ of the two schools has thrilled and entertained hundreds of cricket lovers in the hills every year since 1914. The match was abandoned twice — in 1956 and 1957.  In the 93 encounters so far, Trinity  have won 22 games — the last time being in 1986 under Thushara Weerasuriya at Katugastota after 35 years. This was mainly due to a sporty declaration by the Antonian skipper Rienzi Peries.  St. Anthony’s  who made their mark in school cricket much later than Trinity have won 12 encounters in the series, the last being in 1992 under Umesh de Alwis at Katugastota.  Rest  of the games have ended in draws.
If the individual as well as collective achievements of the two teams this season are any indication a thrilling and exciting game could certainly be expected provided the weather remains fine.
Trinity has the edge this time with two ‘big’ wins. They beat the Thomians after 17 long years and the very next week Royal College. These two wins took their tally of wins to seven in 17 games upto last Friday.   Trinitians under the leadership of Sajjid Mohamed are expected to dominate the ‘big’ match.
The toss and the first session of play could however decide the outcome of the game. Coaches Sampath Pereira and his assistant S. Hirimuthugoda should brief their players to do well, and should bring to mind the wins against S. Thomas’ and Royal.  And the Antonian coach, Champika Siriwardene who took over from Lakshman Panditharathne after the latter got injured at the triangular match, must tell his team to play good cricket and play positively as they have the better side on paper.

Dashing all rounder

Leading the Trinitians this time is dashing all-rounder   Mohamed Sajjid — a fine  middle order batsman, who has scored consistently and also led the side well to win seven games this season.  He is a good leader and much is expected of him in the big match. He should be able to get the best out of his team.
Sajjid’s deputy is Kithmal Wimalaweera, a fourth year player, who is a top class opening batsman. He has done well with the bat and given the Trinitians the much needed support as opening bat.  He was selected to the Sri Lanka Youth pool.
They are also lucky to have the services of last year’s skipper, Rushan Jaleel, who pocketed 120 wickets and led the side well. He played for the Sri Lanka Youth Team  in the  World Cup, and is giving his best to the side.
The others who should do well for the Trinitians are Aamil Anas who has already taken over 50 wickets — a fine bowler and a stylish batsman. Shameera Wijesuriya scored  a century in the last big match and can be considered as a fine stroke maker.  Suresh Wickrema is also a good batsman,  Nirooshan Dickwella a correct bat and the stumper of the side.  Dinuk  Weeraratne is capable of giving a good account, Keheliya Athugoda is a hard hitter as Kavinda Jayasuriya and Janishka Premasinghe.
The bowlers who should shine are  spinner Suresh Wickrema,  Shameera Wijesuriya, Dushan Ranasinghe, Kavinda Jayasuriya, Heshan Wanniarahchi, and Janishka Premasinghe — all spinners. The pacies are Thushara Gunatissa and Gayan Bopitiya,  Some of the other players who are knocking on the doors are Tissa Sanjeewa, Chinthaka Gokula and stand by stumper Dinuk Weeratne.
Antonians   led by fifth year opening bat, Dulash Kumarasinghe  a stylish batsmen, is expected to lead the side from the front. He is a classy cricketer and should get the maximum from his  team mates.

The Principal Says…
It is going to be Trinity College Principal Brig. Udaya Ariyaratne’s first big match at Asgiriya turf wicket — he took over office last year and the last year’s game was played at Katugastota.

This year under his leadership Trinitians have done extremely well. He said that this season the side has done extremely well  winning seven matches — “we have the grounds, we have the facilities, we have indoor nets, we have the talent,  so therefore,  each member of the team has a task in hand.”  He said, his captain Sajiid did well in leading the side, and also players like Rushan, Kithmal, Akila, Aamil,  Suresh, Niroshan have done extremely well and he wants his boys to do well and play good  cricket.  “If you think the game is worth playing, play it well.”