Antonians emerge joint champions
St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota Under-15 cricketers did well to end as joint champions along with Nalanda College in their Under-15 Division 1 Cricket Tournament which concluded recently.
The final encounter could not be completed due to heavy rain in Colombo which resulted the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA) to declare both schools as joint champs. The Antonian outfit was led by Okitha Fernando, a superb all-rounder and was coached by Susantha Basnayake, who had done a magnificent job with the youngsters taking them to an era where the Katugastota lads dominated school cricket for a long time in the 80s and 90s producing some top class cricketers.
St. Anthony's skipper Okitha Fernando
Sadew Amarakoon and Yohan Senanayake both scored a century each in the season with very good support coming in from, skipper Okitha Fernando, Minon Kemitha, Sanuka Kalpana, Kaushika Kumarasinghe and Ryan Gregory with half century each which laid the foundation for their bowlers to attack.
In the bowling once again their skipper, leg-spinner, Okitha, Kaveesha Samaratunge and Kaushika Kumarasinghe leading the bowling attack. They were well supported by Ryan Gregory, Tishan Fernando. The two wicketkeepers in the squad were Hasada Sethunge and Dinul Wijesinghe were useful batters.
Antonians beat St. Anne’s, scored first innings wins over Vidyartha, Maliyadeva, Dharmaraja, Wattala Antonians, Maliyadeva, Gurukula National School and S. Thomas’, Mt Lavinia. They drew against Royal Polonnaruwa and Matale Thomians.
Antonians sports moving in to positive side after Father Henry Wijerstne took over and much needed financial support reaching the youngsters through their Cricket Wing headed by Angelo Wickremasooriya and his able committee.