99th Big match; Trinity hold the edge

By Shamseer Jaleel

Trinity College, Kandy and St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota will battle it out at the 99th encounter with the “Lions” holding a clear edge this time when both sides play on 11 and 12 March at the Asgiriya International Stadium.

Trinity, led by Sri Lanka youth cricketer Raveen Sayer, is one of the strongest outfits registering 10 wins this season. They beat Royal, Ananda, DS Senanayke, Dharmaraja, St. Aloysius, Wattala Antonians, De Mazenod, St. Servetus, Bandaranayake MV and Dharmapala. Two of their batsmen have already reached the magical 1000-run mark this season (Dilan Jayalath and Nushan Weerasinghe).

All-rounder, Shanogeeth Shanmuganathan, another attacking player at 986 runs, will be looking forward for his magical feat at this important encounter. They also have some solid bats such as Hasitha Boyagoda, Shavindu Amarasinghe and skipper Raveen Sayer to support the front liners in batting. Their bowling line up has two masters in the spin attack. Skipper Raveen Sayer (98) and Duvindu Thilakarante (99) are both looking forward for their century mark in wicket taking. They also have Sri Lankan youth pace bowler Lahiru Kumara and Rashmika Dilshan too could be deadly with their bowling attack.

Kanishka Ukgalpaya will lead the Antonians. He scored a brilliant unbeaten 167 this season. They also have wicket keeper-batsman Mohamed Alfer being a useful player along with Theeksha Gunasinghe and all-rounder Kavindu Yapa Bandara and Dion Stouter who could pile up the scores as well. Their bowlers will have a tough task containing the strong Trinity batting line up. Fast bowlers Sandaruwan Dharmaratne, Kavindu Yapa Bandara and Dion Stouter will lead the bowling attack for the Katugastota lads. They beat Devananda, S. de S. Jayasinghe, St. Xavier’s and Sri Sumangala. They lost to S. Thomas Mount Lavinia, Royal College, St. Joseph’s and Kalutara Vidyalaya.

Trinity are leading the series with 23 wins to Antonians’ 12. Last Trinity win was in 2012 under Nirsohan Dickwella. Antonians last won in 1992 under Umesh De Alwis. The highest scorer in the series is Antonian player A. C. M. Lafir with 176, while the best bowling by Trinitian Sudanga Fernando in 1999 when he took 10 for 38.