Trinity strong enough to beat Anthonians

Mariks from Kandy
As the inter-schools cricket season gathers momentum with most of the batsmen having reached peak form and bowlers trying hard to dislodge them quickly the much looked forward 92nd Kandy’s Battle of the Blues encounter between Trinity and St. Anthony’s will take place on Friday and Saturday at the Asgiriya Stadium.

Trinitians who have experienced players in their side with all the facilities will go all out to dictate terms to the Anthonians, who are capable of addressing them in the same manner.

These two enterprising schools have played the game on 91 occasions since 1914, and the Trinitians have won 22 games against 12. Trinity’s last win was under Tushara Weerasooriya in 1986, where the Anthonian skipper Rienzie Peries opened out the game and Trinity ended winners after several years. Anthonians last win was under the leadership of Umesh de Alwis in 1992.

Leading the Trinitians side is the dashing wicketkeeper batsman Dilan Gangoda, who has over 40 victims behind the stumps and scored over 500 runs. He has done his job well this season and much is expected from him in this big match.

Under his leadership, they have played thirteen games, out of which they lost to St. Peter’s and S. Thomas’.

Arinda Bulunuwewa, the deputy skipper is playing in his fifth year, he is a good bowler who can spin and also bowl medium pace.

The cricketer, to show his powers at this game will be non other than former Sri Lanka under 19 skipper Sachith Pathirana the most experienced senior player of the side, he was the leader of the last year’s team. He has played only a handful of games for his school this season, due to national duty. So, much is expected from him both with bat and ball.

Rukshan Jaleel is also a fine batsman, and should be among the runs together with Rajitha Bandara, Kithmal Wimalaweera, Mohamed Sajid, Romesh Perera Suresh Wickrema and Hasitha Illangaratne. All are good stroke makers, and should give a good display with the bat.

The Trinity bowlers who should worry the Anthonians are Sachith Pathirana, Arinda Bulunuwewa, Rukshan Jaleel, Romesh Perera, Wasila Munasinghe Akila Jayasundara, Chamath Umadantha and Suresh Wickrema.

Trinity’s fielding has let them down on more than one occasion. Bearing in mind the age old adage that ‘catches’ win matches, coach Darrel Wimalaratne has done a grand job to mould the Lions.

Anthonians posses a fine all-round side, but they have failed to click as a team. Gimhan Dissanayake leads the side. This is his fifth year, and he has scored nearly 600 runs with a 104 against Sylvestrians. Gimhan has vast experience in the field and should use all his experience to lead his side from the front.

In eleven outings under Gimhan they lost to the Josephians and Thurstan, and drew the rest of the games.

His deputy Sahan Pallihakkara is also a fifth year player and has made 400 runs and with his left arm bowling pocketing 35 wickets.

Anthonians batting line-up is rich with skipper Gimhana Dissanayake, Sahan Pallihakkara, Jerome Siegertsz, Hiran Wickremasekara, Eranda Hewapathirana, Adil Reyal, Kaksun Ekanayake and Fabian Leonard.

Their bowling lies on the shoulders of Tharanaga Bandara, Heshan Ranasinghe, Febian Leonard, Sahan Pallihakkara, Eranda Hewapathirana, Hiran Wickremesekara, Adil Reyal and Kasun Ekanayake.

Their coach Chanmpika Siriwardene is satisfied with their performance and expects a good display.