Katugastota Anthonians not up to the mark

Possessing as many as eight players who turned out last season, the Katugastota Anthonians should be in the fore-front of school cricket in Kandy. However, their performances in the six matches played so far have been a bit mixed. Champika Siriwardene, who played for St. Anthony's from 1989 to 1991 in the heady, spin-heavy days of Kalpage, Wijetunga and Muralitharan, pronounces that he's "not happy" with his charges' efforts. In a word, consistency is what they lack.

The lanky, hard-hitting opening bat Gimhan Dissanaike leads the team. He has made four hundreds in his school career against Kingswood, St. Sylvester's, St Joseph's and Dharmaraja. What's common to all these hundreds is the fact that they were second innings ones. The skipper would dearly love to make that sequence a thing of the past. Dissanaike who kept wickets earlier has now turned to some medium pace. He sets the tempo for the innings when he gets giving at the top of the order.

Sahan Palihakkara, last year's successful under 17 skipper, is the deputy. A left arm spinner, he has taken around fifteen wickets in the six matches played so far. He can bowl long spells and, economically, too. The best performer has been Adil Reyal, a left hander and left arm spinner. He showed his mettle with a fifty against the Thomians. In addition, he has been the chief wicket-taker, as a fielder, his very agile and quick over the ground.

Malindu Perera, a senior player, is a left handed opener who is probably a bit too defense-oriented. At times, his patience has been invaluable. Stumper Jerome Siegertsz has shown a lot of ability in front of the stumps. He made a very good hundred against the Sylvestrians. Subramariam Sumindan had a hundred against Royal last year. He bats well and has to be prised out.

All rounder Kasun Ekanayake is a bits and pieces sort of Cricketer, who bowls his off breaks quite tidily and makes useful contributions with the bat. Eranda Hewapathirana has been struck by injury in the past and this has stifted his development. Hesan Ranasinghe a rookie medium paceman has shown an ability to bowl at a brisk pace. He is one of the more impressive newcomers. Middle order bat Hashantha Niyandagala is a compact player who strokes the ball well off the back foot. Left arm spinner Milinda Ranasinghe turned out for the team in some limited over games last year.

Eranda Seneviratne, Aravinda Premaratne (off spin) Fabian Leonard, Tharanga Bandara (medium pace) and Ayesh Galagoda, the reserve stumper cum batsman complete the squad. The Antonians were involved in a no decision against Wesley, had first innings leads over St Sylvester's and Mahanama, conceded leads to St. Thomas' and Kingswood and were beaten by Thurstan.

The Katugastota ground is being developed and, in consequence, the Antonians are forced to play their home matches elsewhere. In fact, both games against Trinity will be played at Asgiriya. It is not all gloom for the Anthonians. The coach feels that when the side comes out in January, they will be able to turn things round.