104th Battle of the Blues Hill Capital Antonians hold slight edge

By Shamseer Jaleel

St. Anthony’s College will host Trinity College in their 104th Battle of the Blues Hill Capital on April 21 and 22 at Katugastota.   

This encounter is played for the John Halangoda Trophy.   

Taking into consideration the strength in both teams, which are high quality and equally balanced, playing at Katugastota the home team will have a slight edge in this encounter.   

Trinity have 23 wins to their name, while the Antonians have 12 with 68 encounters ending in no decisions.   

The last Trinity win came under Niroshan Dickwella when they won in 2012 at Asgiriya while Antonians last win was in 1992 under Umesh de Alwis at Katugastota.   

Trinity, led by Rahal Amarasinghe, have played 18 matches this season winning seven.   

Their wins were against Royal College Colombo (twice), Dharmaraja College, Gurukula MV, Ananda College, Devapathiraja MV and Maliyadeva College.   

They also had six first innings wins, with one their wins against Royal College the first time they had won at Reid Avenue in their 130-year history.   

Amarasinghe scored 625 runs inclusive of five half centuries this season.   

He led Trinity College to the All Island One Day title and the final of the Two Day tournament where they finished joint winners with St. Joseph’s College   

This feat was repeated after 11 years.  

The Trinitian batting is led by left-hander Kusal Wijetunga, who had a magnificent season scoring 739 runs. 

Wijetunga was the vice-captain of all Junior sides from Under 13 to Under 17 was in the top 10-run scorers in the recent two-day format matches.   

He scored a magnificent 103 for Trinity at Reid Avenue which resulted in a famous win.  

He also scored another hurricane innings against Maris Stella College away at Welisara with a knock of his life by scoring 165. Dinusha Peiris too had a magnificent season for Trinity scoring 721 runs with two centuries and equal number of half centuries.   

In the bowling, it was Dinuka Tennekoon, who had 76 wickets inclusive of six five-fors while Tharana Wimaladharma too supported well with 67 wickets taking 5 or more on two occasions.   

Both Manula Kularatne and Theeraka Runathunge were selected for the Sri Lanka Under 19 tour of UAE, and both missed eight of the two-day matches for their alma mater.   

Kularatne scored over 500 runs and took 16 wickets while Runathunge took 22 wickets including five or more wickets on two occasions.   

One of them was badly needed in the final against the Joes, taking 5 for 59 which helped them to end as Joint Champions. He also scored a Hurricane knock of 134 for Ace Capital against NCC in SLC Division 1 encounter.   

The Antonians meanwhile are led by Lahiru Abeysinghe, and this season they beat Jaffna Central, Thurstan College, Wesley College, Ananda College and Dharmaraja College while they had four first innings win as well this season.   

Skipper Abeysinghe scored 675 runs and took 24 wickets for the Katugastota lads with a highest of 77.   

Kavindu Shehan scored 601 runs, inclusive of a blistering 118 against the Rajans.  

Induruwa Galapitage (421) and Mohommed Aaqil (415) also supported their batting this season.   

Aaqil, the talented opener, had four 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 a very good 86 in that 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 unplayable most of the time.   

Piyumal (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.   Meanwhile, Thisara took five or more wickets on six occasions and two match bag of 10 wickets this season.   

Both Abeysinghe and Treveen Mathew represented the national Under 19 outfit.   

Antonians 1981 skipper, Fazal Majeed will be the Chief Guest. He is the only successful skipper to beat Trinity at Asgiriya.   

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, Prefect of Games: Nalaka Sanjeewa, Master in Charge: 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, Prefect of Games: Uthiya Wijesinghe, Master in Charge: Bryan Senaratne 

Trinity Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisighe