Hill Capital Battle of the Blues kicks off today

St Anthony’s College: Lahiru Abeysinghe (Capt), Traveen Mathew, Mohommed Aaqil, Kavindu Shehan, Kaveesha Piyumal, Ravindu Kapukotuwa, Induwara Galapitage, Ryan Anthonizs, Thisara Ekanayake, Janith Rathnasiri, Charuka Ekanayake, Senura Abeysekara, Ravindu Kasthuriarachchi, Dasun Weliyanga and Dinura Ganegoda. Head Coach Suneth Gunathilaka and MIC Lenin Jayasinghe

Trinity College: Rahal Amarasinghe (Capt), Vibawith Ehelapola, Kusal Wijethunga, Theeraka Ranathunga, Manula Kularathne, Dinuka Thennakoon, Tharana Wimaladharma, Jayavi Liyanagama, Janith Warnakula, Supun Waduge, Dinusha Peiris, Lakvin Abeysinghe, Yewan Hulangamuwa, Wathila Udara, Viduka Dammage and Kaveen Gamage. Head Coach Naveen Ekanayake and MIC Bryan Senaratne

By Shamseer Jaleel

St. Anthony’s College will host Trinity College in their 104th Hill Capital Battle of the Blues on 21 and 22 April at Katugastota. This encounter is played for the John Halangoda Trophy with the Antonians playing at home holding a slight edge in this encounter over their opponents.

Trinity with 23 wins to Antonians 12 lead while 68 encounters ending in no decisions. The last Trinity win came under Niroshan Dickwella when they won in 2012 at the Asgiriya while Antonians last win in 1992 under Umesh de Alwis was at Katugastota.

Trinity is led by Rahal Amarasinghe, lads from Kandy played 18 matches this season winning seven of them. Their wins were against Royal (2), Dharmaraja, Gurukula, Ananda, Devapathiraja and Maliyadeva. They also had six first innings wins. One of the wins against Royal was for the first time at Reid Avenue in their 130 year old history.

Rahal who scored 625 runs this season led Trinity College to the All Island One day win and two days Joint Championship with Joes. This feat was repeated after 11 years of wait. Trinitians batting was led by Left hander, Kusal Wijetunga who had a magnificent season scoring 739 runs this season. He scored a well compiled 103 for Trinity at Reid Avenue which resulted in a famous win plus another 165 against Maris Stella College. Dinusha Peiris too had a magnificent season for Trinity scoring 721 runs with two centuries and equal number of half centuries.

In the bowling  Dinuka Tenekoon had 76 wickets inclusive of five or more wickets on six occasions while Tharana Wimaladharma too supported well with 70 wickets taking five or more on two occasions. Both these spinners were unplayable and put a web around many opponents this season either at home or playing away. Manula Kularatne and Theeraka Runathunge were selected for the Sri Lanka Under- 19 tour of UAE, both missed eight of the two-day matches for their alma mater. Manula scored over 500 runs and took 16 wickets while Theeraka classy left arm spinner took 24 wickets including  five or more wickets on two occasions. One of them was when Trinitians needed badly in the final against Joes he took  five for 59 which helped them to end as Joint Champions. He also scored a Hurricane knock of 134 for ACE Capital against NCC in Sri Lanka Cricket Division 1 encounter.

Meanwhile Antonians, led by Lahiru Abeysinghe, beat Jaffna Central, Thurstan, Wesley, Ananda and Dharmaraja while they had 4 first innings win as well this season. Skipper, Lahiru Abeysinghe scored 675 runs and took 24 wickets for the Katugastota lads. His highest being 77. Kavindu Shehan scored 601 runs this a blistering 118 against Rajans was his highest. Induruwa Galapitage (421) and Mohommed Aaqil (415) also supported their batting this season. Aaqil the talented opener had 4 half centuries this season with a best of a magnificent 76 against Royal at Reid Avenue. He was the Best Batsman in the last Big Match at Asgiriya where he scored an elegant knock of 86 which was the backbone of the Antonian innings.

Both Kaveesha Piyumal and Thisara Ekanayake were very unfortunate to miss out on the national Under 19 tour of UAE. Both destroyed many of their opponents with their spin which was unplayable most of the time. Kaveesha (62), Thisara (60) and Charuka Ekanayake (30) were the three chief wicket takers for the Katugastota outfit. Kaveesha took five or more wickets on three occasions while taking  one match bag of 10 wickets haul. Meanwhile Thisara took five or more wickets on six occasions and two  match bags of 10 wickets this season. Both Lahiru Abeysinghe and Treveen Mathew represented the national Under- 19 outfit.

Antonian 1981 cricket captain, Fazal Majeed will be the Chief Guest at this year's encounter. Antonians won that year's Big Match at Asgiriya which was the only win for them at Asgiriya.