Tough task for ‘Lions’
View(s):By Aubrey Kuruppu
he heady success of the Trinity team over the last two or three years has made them the blue eyed boys of school cricket. Champions of the last two seasons, the lions have a tough task filling the gaps left by the exit of five players who more or less ran the show. Skipper Dinuk Wickremanayake is not fazed. He sees it as a challenge and, moreover, one that he is determined to overcome. The presence of seven players from last year’s side gives him confidence. He also feels that all the bases have been covered.
The skipper’s credentials are impeccable. Around 850 runs, three hundreds and several character-filled innings later, he is the monarch off all he surveys. His contributions with the bat will go a long way towards deciding the outcome of their matches. Rajitha Jayatunga, the vice captain underperformed last season. An elegant right hander and useful off spinner, he will have to fill the boots of the very successful Premasinghe. Ron Chandragupta, a solid left hander, enjoyed a fair degree of success. As a bowler, he’s a rarity – a left arm ‘Chinaman bowler.’ Lakshita Dassanaike has twin roles as the experienced opener, Trinity will look to him for starts. He is also the stumper of the side. Bhagya Palihawardena is an aggressive player who has yet to come good. Arjuna Jayasinghe had many good knocks in junior cricket and it is up to him to perform on the big stage.
The Trinity bowling is, basically, a three-man outfit. Amrit Srimahan, the left-arm pacie, was in his element against Mahinda, grabbing the first six wickets off just seven balls. He also had a five-for in the big match. Worringly for Trinity that wicket-taking streak has deserted him in the three matches played so far.
Pencil-slim left-armer Lakshan Jayasinghe is the bowler to watch out for. Though not a big turner of the ball, his length and line are very good. He is at the batsmen all the while, and can both attack and defend. Jayasinghe had a match-bag of nine wickets in the Nalanda game.
Madushan Subendran, who bowls at a brisk pace, played some games last season and has duly been promoted. A newcomer, tall, lanky Chanith Sudaraka bowls a more loopy kind of left-arm leg spin. Together with Jayasinghe, they bowl around sixty percent of the overs. Skipper Wickramanayake purveys some useful, run-denying off-breaks. Avishka Dissanaike’s leg-spin could also come in handy.
Trinity won the 2012 Big Match in the nick of time that too, rapier 24 long years. Rest assured this year is not going to be the calm after the storm. The Lions are hungry for more and are set to devour everything they encounter. Wickremanayake’s mettle is sure to be tested.
To date, Trinity has played three games, for a first innings win and two first innings losses (DSS and Nalanda). The first game against St. Peter’s should have produced an outright win, but the Trinitians were stalled by a combination of bad light and drizzle. Successful Sampath Perera is primed for another maximum effort. Vinod Vishnuvarthan is worthy of mention for his diligence and enthusiasm as the master in charge.
| Trinity College Cricket Squad – 2013 | ||
| Player | Batting style | Bowling style |
| Dinuk Wickremanayake (Capt) | Right hand | Right-arm off-spin |
| Ron Chandragupta | Left hand | Left-arm chinaman |
| Lakshita Dassanaike | Right hand | Wicketkeeper |
| Amrit Sri Mahan | Right hand | Left-arm medium pace |
| Lakshan Jayasinghe | Right hand | Left-arm spin |
| Bhagya Palihawadena | Right hand | |
| Madushan Subendran | Right hand | Right-arm medium pace |
| Arjuna Jayasinge | Left hand | Right-arm off-spin |
| Kaveen Hiniduma | Left hand | Wicketkeeper |
| Raveen Sayer | Right hand | Right-arm off-spin |
| Pramoda Abeyakoon | Left hand | Left-arm medium pace |
| Charith Sudaraka | Right hand | Left-arm leg-spin |
| Avishka Dissanaike | Right hand | Right-arm leg-spin |
| Pubudu Samarasinghe | Left hand | Right-arm off-spin |
| Lahiru Sudeshkumara | Right hand | Right-arm medium pace |
| Nushan Weerasinghe | Right hand | Right-arm off-spin |
| Chathura Jayasundra | Left hand | Right-arm medium pace |
| Bimal Coswatte | Left hand | Right-arm medium pace |
| Officials: Sampath Perera (Coach), Ruwan Meepagalage (Asst. Coach) Vinod Vishnuvarthan (MIC), S. Somasinge (POG). |
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