96th Kandy's Big Battle...:

Trinity with 10 outright wins this season holds advantage over St. Anthony's

by S. M. Jiffrey ABDEEN - Kandy Sports Cor.

TRINITY VS ST. ANTHONYS: Trinity College with 10 outright victories should have the edge, but, St. Anthony's College have the potential to hold them when these two traditional rivals clash in Kandy's 96th Big Battle will be played at the Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy on Friday and Saturday (March 9 and 10).

Both teams are unbeaten to-date and where the number of victories is concerned, the Trinitians are far ahead as they have scored ten of them up to last weekend against two by the Antonians. But this is certainly not going to decide the result of the match and the result will depend how the two teams perform in the match. There have also been a number of occasions where the 'underdogs' performed better.

A look at the records states that of the 95 matches played to-date, the Trinitians are ahead with 22 wins against 12 by the Antonians while 62 matches have ended in draws.

St. Anthony's College cricket team Pix: S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen – Kandy Sports Corr.

Trinity College cricket team

Trinity scored their last win in 1986 under Thushara Weerasuriya and six years later in 1992, the Antonians achieved theirs under Umesh de Alwis. The last 18 battles have ended in draws with one match not played in 2001 as the Trinity stopped playing mid way during that season due to disciplinary reasons.

Lafir top score 176

The highest individual score in the series is held by Antonians opener A. C. M. Lafir who slammed 176 in 1954 and he put on 266 for the first wicket with Ronnie Stevens who made 104. Ralston Burke also came closer to it in scoring 165 in 1965.

Late Charlie Joseph scored 95 not out in 1959 and 127 in 1960. Late T. B. Werapitiya of Trinity College scored 100 in 1940, 96 in 1941 and 143 in 1944. The highest individual score for Trinity is by Kaushalya Weeraratne who made 148 in 1999.

The best bowling performance in an innings is by spinner Sudanga Fernando of Trinity College who performed the rare feat of capturing all ten wickets in the innings when he took 10 for 38 in 1997 at the Asgiriya Stadium.

.Janishka Premasinghe is another 'lionsman' in the side and playing in his fourth year. He has captured 92 wickets with his off-spinners and has also scored 450 runs. Last year's skipper Akila Jayasinghe is the third from the team to win the cricket 'lion'. He has scored 700 runs and also captured 60 wickets with his leg-spinners. He has not bowled much as the other spinners have made the early breakthrough. All-rounder Heshan Wanniarachchi, also playing in his fourth year, has scored over 600 runs and also captured 25 wickets.

Dinuk - 3 centuries

But the most successful batsman in the side is sixteen-year-old Dinuk Wickremanayake.

Playing in his first full season, has scored over 800 runs including three centuries made under crucial circumstances when the chips were dow, with a top score of 150 not out against St. Joseph's College.

In Amrith Srimahan, Alwin Fernando and Madhushan Subendran the 'lions' have a three pronged pace-attack, but their strong point is their spin attack led by off-spinner Janishka Premasinghe and Akila Jayasinghe who bowls leg-spin.

The spin attack is well stocked with left-arm spinner Alwin who could switch from pace to spin, off-spinner Heshan Wanniarachchi, off-spinner Arjuna Jayasinghe, left-arm spinner Lakshan Jayasinghe.

Ranaraja - leads Antonian's

St. Anthony's College will be led by fourth year allrounder Kanishka Ranaraja, a very good allrounder who has scored over 800 runs including a century. He has also captured 40 wickets with his medium pacers.

Like their opponents, the Antonians too are unbeaten and have won two matches while 14 matches have ended in draws.

Vice-captain of the side is opening bat and fourth year player Manoj Sarathchandra who has made 750 runs including three centuries despite missing six matches. He is also the 'stumper' of the side with 40 victims.

In junior national player Saranga Rajaguru, the Antonians have a good allrounder and his leg-spinners have brought him a haul of 70 wickets and his aggressive batting over 600 runs, but with better temperament he has the potential to make big scores.

The other capable batsmen in the side are opener Yohan Woods (600 runs), Sachin Bulathsinghala (450 runs), Nimesha Gunasinghe (350 runs), Madhushan Pussella (400 runs), Dinuk Herath and Romesh Mackwin.

Kanishka Ranaraja and Dinuk Herath will open the attack with Tharaka Jayasinghe as the third seamer. But the forte of the 'Eagles' will be their spin-attack led by leg-spinner Saranga Rajaguru followed by two sixteen year-old, off-spinners Sachin Bulathsinghala (45 wkts) and Nimesha Gunasinghe (30 wkts), leg-spinner Buwaneka Wijetunga (25 wkts, off-spinner Romesh Mackwin (25 wkts) and left-arm spinner Bathiya Liyanage.

Trinity College: (From) Niroshan Dickwella (Captain), Janishka Premasinghe (Vice Captain), Akila Jayasundera, Heshan Wanniarachchi, Dinuk Wickremanayake, Alwin Fernando, Ron Chandragupta, Rajitha Jayatunga, Bhagya Palihawadana, Arjuna Jayasinghe, Lakshitha Dassanayake, Amrith Srimahan, Madhushan Subendran, Lakshan Jayasinghe, Avishka Dissanayaka, Pubudu Samarasinghe, Dimal Koswatte.

St. Anthony's College: (from) Kanishka Ranaraja (captain), Manoj Sarathchandra (Vice Captain), Saranga Rajaguru, Yohan Woods, Dinuk Herath, Nimesha Gunasinghe, Sachin Bulathsinghala, Madhushan Pussella, Bhathiya Liyanage, Buweneka Wijetunga, Romesh Macwin, Charles Pracean, Pubudu Wijewardena, Tharaka Jayasinghe, Chamal Gunasekera, Lakshan Walagampaya, Dilan Bandara and Damithra Panditharatne.