Antonians pile up 288 in 103rd Battle of the Blues-Central Hills

Mohamed Aaqil played a solid knock of 86 

By Shamzeer Jaleel in Kandy

St. Anthony’s College ended day one in a strong position in their 103rd Annual Big Match (Battle of the Blues) in the Hills which commenced at the Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy yesterday.

After a delayed start due to wet outfield, the match started with a delay of 75 minutes. Trinity skipper Akram Muthalib won the toss and invited Antonians to take the first lease of the wicket.

It was Mohamed Aaqils gem of an innings laid the foundation for a big Antonian score while in the middle order Chandimal and Lahiru played two hurricane knocks. Aaqil scoring more than 500 runs this season came to top gear against their last encounter against Ananda with a fine 70. He avoided an Antonian collapse while the other two, Lahiru and Chandimal scored wins at a brisk rate.

Chandimal Herath (61) and Lahiru Abeysinghe both scored two quick fire half centuries after the strong foundation laid by Aaqil.

St. Anthony’s 288 for 9 in 75 overs

Mohamed Aaqil 86, Lahiru Abeysinghe 73, Chandimal Herath 61

Theeraka Runathunge 3 for 68, Tharana Wimaladharma 3 for 67

Trinity 21 for 0 in 7 overs