All eyes on Trinity star Sachith Pathirana
by S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Corr.
CRICKET: Trinity College are poised to take honours when they
take on their traditional rivals St. Anthony's College in Kandy's 92nd
"Battle of the Blues" which will be played at Katugastota next Friday
and Saturday (March 14th and 15th). Play commences each day at 9.45 a.m.
Of the 91 matches played so far, the Trinitians are in the lead,
winning 22 matches and Antonians 12. Trinity will be led by fourth year
player Dilan Ganegoda who as a right hand bat has amassed over 500 runs
with a top score of 100 against Sri Rahula and also has 38 victims
behind the stumps.
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Trinity College Seated from left: Rushan Jaleel, Romesh Perera,
Wasika Munasinghe, Dilan Gangoda (Captain), Sachith Pathirana,
Arinda Bulunawewa, Rajitha Bandara, Mr. Darrel Wimalaratne
(coach) Standing: Trevine Ratnayake, Akila Jayasundera, Dushan
Ranasinghe, Thejitha Polgolla, Mohamed Shehan, Hasitha
Illangaratne, Kavinda Jayasuriya, Kheliya Atugoda, Suresh
Wickrema, Mohammed Sajjid, Kithmal Wimalaweera. Pictures by
Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Corr. |
The vice-captain of the side is Arinda Bulunawewa a fifth year player
who is left arm spinner cum medium pacer and stubborn bat. He missed
some of the matches played during earlier on the season. Trinity has
played 13 matches won 1 and lost 2 (St. Peter's and St. Thomas Mt.
lavinia) and drawn the rest.
But one cricketer who should be a key man towards Trinity victory
will be former Sri Lanka under 19 cricket captain all-rounder Sachith
Pathirana who is an automatic choice to the Sri Lanka junior team.
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St. Anthony’s....Seated from left: Eranda Hewapathirana, Gimhan
Dissanayake (captain), Sahan Pallihakkara (vice captain), Jerome
Siegertsz, Standing Arvinda Premaratne, Jeewa Liyanage, Dulash
Kumaratunga, Lakshan Hettiarachchi, Heshan Ranasinghe, Kasun
Ekanayake, Milinda Ranasinghe, Tharanga Bandara, Fabian Leonard,
Ayesh Galagoda, Manoj Sarathchandra. |
His call for junior national duty has denied the services of this
talented all-rounder to the Trinitians which has reflected in some of
their performances. Sachith Pathirana was one of the leading contenders
for the Player of the Series in the recently concluded Youth World Cup
2008 in Malaysia.
Apart from this trio others who should be among the runs are Wasika
Munasinghe 550 runs (100 vs Kegalu Vidyalaya), Rushan Jaleel (450 runs),
Rajitha Bandara (300 runs), Kithmal Wimalaweera (400 runs), Mohammed
Sajjid (250 runs), Romesh Perera, Hasitha Illangaratne and Suresh
Wickrema. The bowling will be opened by fiery Hasitha Illangaratne (25
wkts) and Rajitha Bandara (15 wkts), Trinity's forte will be their spin
attack led by arm spinner Sachith Pathirana, followed by off spinners
Rushan Jaleel (25 wkts), Romesh Perera (25 wkts), Wasika Munasinghe and
leg spinners Arinda Bulunawewa, Akila Jayasundera, Chamath Umadantha,
and Suresh Wickrama.
St. Anthony's College will be led by fifth year player and colourman
Gimhan Dissanayake who has scored 550 runs including 104 vs St.
Sylvesters. Last year he did a little batter scoring 757 runs.
Sahan Pallihakkara is the deputy skipper of the side. A fifth year
player who has scored 350 runs and an effect left arm spinner who has
captured 35 wickets. One of mainstays of the side.
Apart from Gimhan Dissanayake and Sahan Pallihakkara, the others who
should swell the total are Jerome Siegertsz, Hiran Wickremasekera,
Eranda Hewapathirana, Adil Reyal, Kasun Ekanayake, Febian Leonard, Manoj
Saratchchandra.
The pace attack is the hands of Tharanga Bandara and Heshan
Ranasinghe followed by Febian Leonard at first change. Left arm spinner
Sahan Pallihakkara is their main spinner with 35 wickets and the other
spinners in the side are Eranda Hewapathirana, Hiran Wickremasekera,
Adil Royal (left arm spin), Kasun Ekanayake, Jerome Siegertsz is the
stumper of the side.
The team is coached by Old Antonian Champika Siriwardena who had to
tackle a very young side during the season with at least three seniors
being not available during the season. |
