|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 7 March 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Sports |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
88th Kandy 'Battle of the Blues' : Antonians will find it tough against Trinitians by S. M. JIFFREY ABDEEN - Kandy Sports Correspondent The Eagles from St. Anthony's College, Kandy, celebrating their 150th anniversary of the founding of the school will have a difficult task in their hands to contain the 'lions' from Trinity College when these two schools clash in their 88th encounter of the Kandy's 'Battle of the Blues' which will be played at Katugastota on March 13th and 14th (Saturday/Sunday) with play commencing at 9.45 a.m on both days. Trinity last won in 1986 under Thushara Weerasuriya and the Antonians in 1992 under Umesh de Alwis. The highest individual score in the series is credited to A. C. M. Lafir who scored 176 for St. Anthony's in 1954 - in their centenary year. The best bowling figures recorded by a Trinitian was all ten wickets in an innings in 1995 by Sudhanga Fernando followed by 9 for 74 by C. Dharmalingam in 1938 and the next year took 6 for 17 and 6 for 31 and probably created a world record by taking a hat-trick in both innings. The Antonians have also produced the highest number of Schoolboy Cricketers of the Year. Wijepala Premaratne (1956), Charlie Joseph (1959 and 1960), Franklyn Burke (1962), Bernard Perera (1976), Muthiah Muralitharan (1991) and Sajith Fernando (1992). The Antonians in their Sesquicentennial Year will be led by fourth year coloursman Mohammed Rizlan who is an aggressive bat and a treat to watch when set. Last year he scored 924 runs but this year probably the strains of captaincy and a tour abroad with the Junior National has resulted in him scoring 525 runs. He is also the stumper of the side having 25 victims to his credit. Second year coloursman Dhanushka Withanage is the vice captain of the side. A solid right hand opening bat who has scored 666 runs this season and is also a more than useful off spinner. Fifth year player Mohammed Rikas is the most successful batsman of the side scoring 854 runs and is the only centurion of the side this season. Second year player Pramod Fernando could lay the claims as the best allrounder of the side scoring 421 runs and also has taken 35 wickets. Selwyn Jamion too has done well in his first year scoring 311 runs and taking 20 wickets. The Antonians have an inexperienced side and have played 16 matches, winning one on first innings and losing one match outright and lost 10 matches on first innings while 3 matches ended in no decisions. Their match against Vidyartha ended in a first innings tie. Trinity will be led by fourth year coloursman Clifford Fernando, an accomplished batsman who has scored 435 runs this season including 100 not out against Sri Sumangala College. He has also captured 25 wickets with his medium pacers. An astute leader and one of the most successful captains of Trinity in recent years. Fifth year coloursman Chamira Punchihewa is the vice captain of the side. A steady bat who has scored nearly 400 runs this season with a top score of 79 against Royal. He has also 30 victims as the stumper of the side. The most successful bat of the side is opener Ishan Ratnayake who won his lion last season and has scored 620 runs this season with a top score of 81. Fourth year coloursman Hasantha Mendis, an essentially a bowler entrusted with the task of opening the side's attack, has bowled very little this season. But he has diverted his talent to batting and has scored 584 runs including a match winning 67 against Mahinda College on a wicket which made the ball spin like a top. Asiri Udamulla has scored 500 runs with a top score of 85. Madhuranga Munaweera has made 400 runs has also captured 50 wickets. Asiri Ariyaratne has scored 385 runs, often rescuing the side with his stubborn batting, opening bowler Mufthi Muneer has captured 55 wickets, but appears to have lost his sting in the last three matches. Left-arm spinner Sachith Pathirana missed a number of matches as he was away from the island on junior national duty in India and later in Malaysia where he successfully led the under 14 team as a player with a lot of promise. He took 5 for 39 against Kingswood and then in the last match against Mahinda he bowled Trinity to victory with a match bag of 8 for 45 including 6 for 21 in the second innings. Trinity has played 16 matches, winning two outright (St. Aloysius, Galle and Mahinda), won on first innings 7, lost on first innings 4, and figured in 3 'No decisions'. St. Anthony's College (from): Mohammed Rizlan (Captain), Danushka Withanage (Vice Captain), Pramod Fernando, Mohammed Rikaz, Sameera Weerabahu, Chamara Perera, Mohammed Shakeel, Roshan Albecket, Kasun Madiwela, Selwyn Jamion, Harsha Medagoda, Mohammed Shameer, Eranda Senaviratne, Gimhana Dissanayake, Vinoj Abeywickrema, Dinusha Wijewardena, Prassanga Illangakoon, Sahab Pallihakkara, Prasad Wickremapala, Varuna de Silva. Trinity College (from): Clifford Fernando (Captain), Chamira Punchihewa, (Vice Captain), Hasantha Mendis, Ishan Ratnayake, Madhuranga Munaweera, Mufthi Muneer, Sisitha Jayasinghe, Sachith Pathirana, Asiri Udamulla, Asiri Ariyaratne, Charith Dumbarange, Shevan Wickremanayake, Arinda Bulunuwewa, Sachithra Rajakaruna, Dimithri Amaranayake, Santosh Ratnayake, Dinusha Senaviratne, Shehan Kalubowila, A. Sazeer. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
