Trinity-St. Anthony’s washed off
View(s):
Sebastian opener Avishka Fernando
A sharp shower around 10 am put paid to any chances of play on the second day of the 99th Big Match between Trinity and St. Anthony’s at Katugastota.
What was inexplicable was why the umpires dilly-dallied and procrastinated. Play could well have been called off much earlier than 3 pm when the final decision was taken.
Old timers recall a match in the mid seventies when there was no play on the second day. Here only 135 minutes were possible one day one. In that time, the home team, electing to bat on winning the toss, progressed to 97 for 3 in nearly 32 overs.
Opener Kanishka Ukgalpola made light of the opposing attack, reaching fifty in 80 balls. He had eight hits to the ropes. His foot-work to Sayer in particular was good. This will go down as one of the shortest Big Matches between the two teams.
St. Anthony’s 97 for 3 in 31.5 overs (Kanishka Ukgalpola 50, Pulasthi Bandara 20, Damitra Panditharatne 11 n.o; Raveen Sayer 1 for 33, Lahiru Kumara 1 for 29, Davindu Tillekeratne 1 for 
– A.K.