No win, unless the unthinkable happens
St. Anthony's College Team
Pubudu Bandara, the Trinity captain will meet a foreman worthy of his steel in Theeksha Gunasinghe, the Antonian skipper, when the 102nd Big Match is played at Katugastota next Friday and Saturday.
Both left-handers, they orchestrate the run-chase for their teams. Bandara has nine half centuries but has not reached the three figure mark. The half centuries against Richmond, St. Joseph’s, St. Sebastian’s and St. Peter’s take pride of place. A powerful striker of the ball, especially off the front foot, Bandara should find conditions at Katugastota very much to his liking.
Theeksha Gunasinghe’s performances have been nothing short of sensational. He made hundreds against St. Joseph’s, S. de S. Jayasinghe and St. Peter’s Negombo. He has also scored five fifties. He has a penchant for attacking stroke – play, but has shown that he can dig in for the long haul. As a stumper, he has been a good allis to his spinners, especially.
Ashan Lokuketiya has been good behind the stumps. In front of them, he has made four fifties. Most of those have come when the team needed them.
Vice captain Ruvin Pieris has played very few matches due to injury. A lively fast medium bowler, Pieris took 6-40 (St. Sylvester’s) and 4-27 (Richmond). He is certainly no mug with the bat.
By some distance, Trinity’s outstanding performer has been off spinner Kavishka Senadhera. His achievement in scalping over 110 victims has to be acclaimed. He bagged five wickets or more on 12 occasions, with seven wickets in an innings against Dharamapala and Kingswood. Of late, he has made telling contributions with the bat.
His younger sibling Avishka has a 60 against St. Sebastian’s as his best. He bowls useful medium pace and opened the attack in the absence of Pieris.
Still tender in years, Abishek Anandakumar (2 Hundreds) has made some telling contributions with the bat. His innocuous-looking off-spin fetched him a best of 5-41 against the Peterites.
Left-hander Shane Gunatileka, who opens the batting, made two seventies and a sixty in as many games. Omar Raizan bats usefully (top score 50) and bowls his spin deliveries on the spot.
A second year player Chanuka Kumarasinghe came to the rescue of the team in the vital Thomian match. Newcomer Ranuda Somaratne made an impressive 88 against the Sebastianites. But could find himself out of the playing eleven.
Spare a thought for left-arm spinner Nagitha Wijesundera, who claimed 5-29 and 6-47 against the Matara Thomians. Not much has been heard of him after those heroics.
Reserve opener Agbo Amerasinghe was treading his way carefully with a couple of thirties, when njury forced him out.
What Kavishka Senadheera does for Trinity, Nimnaka Jayatilake, that little bundle of deceit, does for their rivals. The left-armer, who took 96 wickets last season, has gone past a hundred, this time. His three 10-wicket hauls came against St. Joseph’s, St. Benedict’s and St. Peter’s Negombo. His personal innings best is 7/17. Jayatilake will be the bowler Trinitians will have in their sights. The Antonians will be hoping the ace spinner will deliver.
Kalhara Senaratne has done very well in an all round capacity. His hundred against the Josephians was well made. His off-spin has proved productive. He is another key player into the Katugastota team.
Mohamed Kameel (three half continues) is an important cog in the wheel. Asitha Wanninayake, a newcomer, has gone about his business quietly and unobtrusively. He has a best of 74 as well as a five-wicket haul.
Tamashama Abeykoon, the vice captain, has been brilliant in the field. He has a personal best of 94. He stitched together quite a few valuable middle-order partnerships with his skipper. He is the man to send for when the chips are down.
Pacie Sasith Hirudika is a very brisk opening bowler. He has made early inroads often. But he has found that the spinners take over thereafter.
Navodya Vijaykumar a talented allrounder, has been indifferent in his performance. A pity, because he could have made the team a stronger one. Given his chance belatedly, Chaminda Wickremasinghe made a debut hundred. He has come to stay.
The Antonians scored their last win in 1992 when Umesh de Alvis led them. Trinity won their last game in 2012, when Niroshan Dickwella captained.
Teams
Trinity (from): Pubudu Bandara (Capt), Ruvin Pieris, Kavishka Senadheera, Ashan Lokuketiya, Avishka Senadheera, Abishek Anandakumar, Chanuka Kumarasinghe, Jeff Weerasinghe, Omer Raizan, Dinitha Siriwardena, Shane Gunathilleka, Ranuda Somaratne, Uvindu Wimaladharama, Agbo Amerasinghe, Nagitha Wijesundera, Kavindu Dias
Officials: Kavinda Jayasuriya (Coach), Dhammika Kulatunga (MIC)
St. Anthony’s (from): Theeksha Gunasinghe (Capt), Tamashana Abeykoon, Mohamed Kameel, Sasith Hirudika, Nimnaka Jayathilleka, Kalhara Senaratne, Navodya Vijaykumar, Chaminda Wickremasinghe, Asitha Wanninayake, Gihan Ebert, Lasith Werellagama, Gihan Achintha, Tharindu Lamahewage, Dayan Pankaja, Mohamed Rukshan, Pramaditha Panditharatne
Officials: Suneth Gunatilleka (Coach), Lenin Jayasinghe (MIC)