Katugastota Antonians achieve overdue promotion
Antonian cricketers are back on top
Condemned to play in the second division of the schools cricket tournament by a quirk of fate, the Antonians earned promotion to the first division by reaching the final of the division two tournament. The rules stipulate that the teams entering the final will play in the first division in the next season. The Katugastota lads left nothing to chance and did it the hard way by beating Piliyandala Central by seven wickets in the first semi final.
Their previous coach Sampath Perera, despite his many successes, failed in his quest in the 2017/18 season when his team was beaten in the semi final by St. Anne’s. Earning promotion was one of the targets set the new coach Suneth Gayan by the Principal Fr. Henry Wijeratne. The hard working, unassuming mentor did just that.
The schools tournament was made a mickery when schools such as St. Anthony’s and, to a lesser extent, Royal, two schools which have a proud cricketing tradition and have produced many national players – were made to languish in division two for a couple of years. The absurdity of the situation was highlighted when a division one team was bowled out for just seven runs by the Thomians.
The Antonians rubbed it in when they thrashed the formidable Josephians by an innings and 18 runs. St. Sebastian’s avoided a similar ignominy, being saved by the bell, as it were. In last week-ends Big Match against Trinity, a strong division one side, the Antonians climbed all over them to earn a handsome 125 run lead before the match was called off prematurely.
Skipper Theeksha Gunasinghe can rightly lay claim to some of the credit. He scored nearly a thousand runs that included 142 against the Josephians. His handling of the team was also good. Vice captain Tamashana Abeykoon was a tower of strength to his leader. Mohamed Rameel, Kalhara Senaratne and, even Navodya Vijaykumar, who unfortunately fell by the way side, provided runs in vanjing quantities.
In the Big Match, they unleashed an opening combination that was a delight to watch. Chamindu Wickremasinghe and Asitha Wanninayake started with a bang by waging an assault on the Trinity bowlers by putting on 88 in good time. Wickremasinghe made a capital 128 and Wanninayake an elegant 54.
Pacie Sasith Hirudika showed that he could send down some red hot deliveries by bowling a telling spell on the second morning. Off spinner Senaratne also bowled tight spells, while young Wanninayake contributed to an effective spin theresome.
When all’s said and done, it is the ability of the bowlers to claim twenty wickets that wins teams their matches. In this respect, little Nimnaka Jayatilleka, the leftarm spinner stood tall by claiming around 115 wickets. Even Trinity were kept guessing as his seemingly guileless deliveries bit and turned. He had 5-57.
The Golden Fleece has been captured. The Antonians would do well to remember that entering division one is only a starting point. They have to ensure that the team will do well in the new environment. They have many players who will be eligible to play next year of course, the X factor, Jayatilleka, will be around for two more years.
Success has many fathers, but it would be churlish not to mention the following. The Principal for Henry Wijeratne and Fr. Neranjan Wijeratne for their inspiring presence. The Master in Charge Lenin Jayasinghe, one of the better ones around. The cricket wing of the College and the ardent Old Boys, both here and abroad, deserve thanks for ensuring that the much needed cash kept rolling in “Lux de Coelo”.