Trinity still top of the hill
The first half of the season having ended, and with exams holding sway, the time is opportune to take a look at school’s cricket over the past three months. Trinity College continues to be the team to beat. Though not as dominant and overpowering as the Jayasundera- and Dikwella-led teams, Ron Chandragupta’s lads remain a tough nut to crack. The start was not propitious as they had Moratu Vidyalaya by the throat, only for unkind weather to intervene and prevent an obvious outright victory.
The D.S. Senanayake College match was a humbling experience. Trinity were well on course for a first innings win but were stymied by an amazing last wicket stand of 88. Trinity played true to their potential against Mahinda College at Galle, running up a total in excess of 300 runs and having the hosts staring at defeat when the game ended.
St. Anthony’s Nimesha Gunasinghe is in fine form this season. - Pic by Amila Gamage
A close first innings win against St. Peter’s College was next, but there were warning signs in the manner the Peterites attacked the bowlers second time round. Chandragupta has yet to top fifty but the runs will surely come. Nushan Weerasinghe is the only player to have made a hundred. Kaveen Hiniduma has produced consistency while Arjuna Jayasinghe has a couple of substantial knocks. Ravin Sayer has done his bit as an allrounder.Lakshan Jayasinghe, the lynchpin of the attack, poses a constant threat. Trinity will dearly miss him when the Under-19 World Cup comes round. Amrith Sri Mahan had a devastating 5 for against Moratu Vidyalaya but has not done much since. No balls continue to plague him. Sudaraka has also been among the wickets.
Nimesha Gunasinghe’s St. Anthony’s College team has just one first innings win in seven games. Two no decisions could well have gone their way. They started on the wrong foot with a ten-wicket loss to Mahanama College. Their bowlers were battered by the S. Thomas’ College and Nalanda College, yet, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel.
Gunasinghe has done almost his all, scoring fifties and taking plenty of wickets. Damitra Panditharatne has batted aggressively and well of late, Kanishka Ukgalpaya and Pulasthi Bandara have been in the news.
Short of pace, the Antonians rely on the spinners. Left-armer Uditha Mahindartne has picked up a few wickets while Kavinda Udapola promises to be a great contributor.
Led by an outstanding allrounder in Deneth Lanka, Dharmaraja College has played the most games, which is eight. Four first innings wins look good, but a ten-wicket loss to Dharmasoka College was shattering. Lanka made a hundred and 80, while he bagged 7 for 118 against Royal College. Chandimal Silva had two big fifties, while Weragoda had one. The latter has, perhaps, underperformed.
Left-armer Venuka Galahitiya has been a consistent wicket-taker. Sapumal Tennekoon had a five for the bowling could be a bit thin. Stumper Ramesh Ranasinghe has made runs though not in sufficient quantity.
Sumedha Dissanaike, who leads St. Sylvester’s College, has not produced the runs and wickets his talent deserves. Hansamal Perera (five fifties and a 39 in seven matches) has been superb. The team could be in dire straits were he to fail. Nimesha Mendis (twelve for forty three against the Antonians) is the danger man. Leggie Tyron Sivakumar has a five-wicket bag. Allrounder Indunil Samarananda has to step up to the plate, an outright defeat and five first innings losses surely have set them back.
The batsmen have tended to get starts and not gone on to big things. More runs are needed now from the skipper Supun Bandara. Madusanka Bandara (49 and 53) has helped out. Prabath Jayawickrema and Lakmal Monarawila, seniors both, must put their shoulders to the wheel a little more. Left-arm man Asanka Bandara, with a couple of five-wicket hauls, looks the pick of the bowlers.
Kingswood College scored an outright win over 50 patriots but their first innings defeat of Maliyadeva College is probably more significant. Chanaka Ratnayake, a fourth year player leads the team, and the attack, for Vidyartha College. He has made some runs, too. Allrounder Isuru Weerasinghe (top score of 52 vs. Dharmaraja) needs to do more with bat and ball. Madhawa Samaratunge (two 50s) and skipper Kasun Navaratne (55 and 51) have been in the runs. Krishan Jayasuriya seems to be coming along well. Vidyartha has had three no decisions in six games. They escaped defeat against Dharmaraja and were very badly placed against Royal Panadura.