98th Trinity-St. Anthony's on March 14 and 15

by Upananda Jayasundera, Kandy Sports Special Cor.

KANDY BIG MATCH: Kandy's 'Battle of the Blues' between Trinity College and St. Anthony's College, Katugastota will be played for the 98th time on March 14th and 15th at the Asgiriya Cricket Stadium.

Trinity College is well in front in the series with 23 wins to the 12 wins obtained by St. Anthony's. The balance 62 matches have ended in draws.

Niroshan Dickwella won the last big encounter for Trinity in 2012 while for the Antonians their last win came under the captaincy of Umesh de Alwis in 1992.

A fourth-year player Nimesh Gunasinghe will captain St. Anthony's this year. He is the nephew of former Sri Lanka allrounder Ruwan Kalpage. Nimesh Gunasinghe has scored over 675 runs this season with a highest score of 76 against Nalanda. A third year player Buwaneke Wijetunge is the vice-captain of the side and he has scored 350 runs. He is a left-hand batsman.

Ugalpaya - century against Nalanda

Among the other batsmen who have been among the runs this season for St. Anthony's are third player Damithra Panditharatne who has gathered 450 runs during the season with a highest score of 76 against Wesley.

Dilan Bandara - a third year player has scored 350, then there is Kanishka Ugalpaya id another promising batsman is scored year player who scored a century against Nalanda.

An opening batsman who shows much promise has been opening batsman Pulasthi Bandara.

Among the bowler who have been among the wickets is second year player Uditha Mahindaratne who has captured 35 wickets during the season. Another second year player who shows much promise is Kavindu Yapa.

Among the freshers who are fighting for places in the team are: Nirodha Dananjaya, Dilan Kavinda - a right-arm pace bowler, Nimesha Wanasinghe and Chalana Salgado.

Lot of cricket for Trinity

Trinity have played a lot of cricket this season and have been involved playing 17 matches recording 6 outright wins - against St. Aloysius, Galle, Dharmapala, Gampaha Bandaranayake M.V., Nalanda and Dharmasoka, Ambalangoda. Trinity won on first innings against Mahinda, St. Peter's, St. Joseph's, Mahanama and Isipathana. Trinity lost on first innings to Wesley, Ananda and S. Thomas', Mount Lavinia and Royal.

Batsman who has been in fine form with the bat Ron Chandraguptha - a fourth year player leads Trinity this year. He has scored over 820 runs this season including a century against President's College, Kotte.

A very effective left-arm paceman is Amrith Srimahan. Then there is third year player Lakshman Jayasinghe who played for Sri Lanka under 18 team at the World Cup and Arjuna Jayasinghe who made 600 runs with a highest score of 95 against Ananda. There is also Kavindu Hiniduma who has scored over 700 runs including a knock of 120 against Isipathana.

In boding, A lot can be relied on Ravin Sayer - a second year player who has taken 102 wickets this season with his right-arm off-spin bowling. For batting, there is also Nushan Weerasinghe who has scored over 550 runs which includes a century knock of 136 against Mahinda College, Galle. Chathura Jayasundera who has among the runs this season Madhawa Munaweera - a second year player who has been among the runs. There are two other second year players - Shangith Shanmuganathan and Pramodaya Abeykoon too fighting for places.

Teams

St. Anthony's College, Katugastota (from): Nimesh Gunasinghe (Capt), B. Wijetunge (Vice-Capt.), D. Panditharatne, D. Bandara, Kanishka Ugalpaya, P. Bandara, U. Mahindaratne, Kavindu Yapa, Nirodha Dananjaya, Dilan Kavinda, Nimesha Wanasinghe, Chalana Salgado.

Trinity College: Ron Chandraguptha (Capt.), Amrith Srimahan, Lakshan Jayasinghe, Arjuna Jayasinghe, Charith Sudakara, Kavindu Hiniduma, Ravin Sayer, Nushan Weerasinghe, Chathura Jayasundera, Madhawa Munaweera, Shangith Shanmuganathan, Pramodya Abeykoon, Lahiru Kumara, Nawin Ekanayake, Duwindu Thillakaratne, Shawindu Amarasinghe.