Get Trinity skipper Pathirana early if Antonians want to win

By S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Corr.

CRICKET: St. Anthony's College, Katugastota should have the Edge when they take on their traditional rivals Trinity College in their 91st 'Battle of the Blues' to be played at the Asgiriya Cricket Stadium on March 9th and 10th with play commencing at 9.45 a.m. on both days.

Of the 90 battles which has been fought out, the 'Lions' are in the lead with 22 wins mainly their dominance during the pre-Independence era. St. Anthony's have won 12 matches with most of their wins coming after 1950. The Last Antonian victory came in 1992 under Umesh de Alwis while Trinitians won last in 1986 under Thushara Weerasuriya.

St. Anthony's College led by fourth year player Selwyn Jamion are a better side on paper hence they go out favourites despite their opponents having their home advantage. They have played 13 matches winning two (Royal College, Colombo and St. Benedicts College) losing one (Dharmaraja College) and drawn the rest. Selwyn Jamion is a fiery right arm medium pacer who will be spearheading the attack and has captured 35 wickets. He is also a very hard hitting bat who has scored over 300 runs. There is a lot of variety in their attack which will be spearheaded by skipper Selwyn Jamion and Peter Samarakoon (30 wkts). Their strong point is their spin attack with left arm spinner Adil Royal (35 wkts), another left arm spinner Sahan Pallihakkara (25 wkts), off spinner Kasun Ekanayake (30 wkts) and off spinner Harshana Medagoda (30 wkts).

Trinity College will be led by fourth year coloursman and Sri Lanka under 19 skipper Sachith Pathirana who has been performing well with the bat holding the fort often single handedly. Trinity team is a highly inexperienced side and it is their credit that they have even performed in this manner without the services of their skipper Sachith Pathirana in at least four matches. The Antonians will have to get Pathirana out early if they want to win this game.

Sachith Pathirana at 17 is one of the most outstanding products Trinity has ever produced. But very unfortunately he had to bear the mantle of leadership on a very weak side. He has been compelled to carry the pressure on his shoulders. In their match against Nugawela Central he scored 100 runs after the openers had returned to the pavilion with no score on the board and he also captured 11 wickets in the match.

Sachith Pathirana is a left-arm spinner often bowling the 'chinamon' and he has captured 77 wickets and scored 610 runs upto February 28th. Trinity has played 14 matches, won one (Wesley) and lost four (Royal, Kegalu Vidyalaya, St. Joseph's and S. Thomas College, Mount Lavinia) and drawn the rest.