Trinity-Anthonian: landmarks and memories

By Aubrey Kuruppu

The inaugural match was played in 1914 and ended in a win for the Katugastota School by 42 runs. Trinity returned the compliment the next year. Trinity won eleven consecutive matches between 1918 and 1928. The legendary Anthonian Jack Anderson (111) scored the first century by an Anthonian at Asgiriya in the 1918 match. However Percy Maralande (5-54) and C. Wettewe (5-12) combined to bowl out their opponents and win the Match.

Percy Maralande (the Anthonians had good reason to hate him!) made 93 and had a match. bag of 7-47 as Trinity won by an innings and 27 runs in 1919. 1923 and Trinity led by V.C. (Pug) Shockman won by an innings. Anthonian Benwell became the only player to get a fifty against Trinity that season.

The Anthonian ground staged a big match for the first time in 1938. C. Dhamalingam 9-74 in the Anthonian second innings helped his team win by 6 wickets. The Anthonian Nemesis Dharmalingam (6-17) and (6-8) took a hat-trick in each innings. As his team triumphed by an innings and 120 runs.

T.B. Werapitiya scored 96, 100 and 143 in three big matches (1942-1944). St. Anthony's, Coached by the famous John Halangoda, beat Trinity by 51 runs after 19 years.

1954 was the century year for the Anthonians and their openers A.C. M. Lafir and Ronnie Stephens put on 266 runs. Trinity made 220 and 104 in reply to the mountainous total of 399-8 declared. The Anthonians ran out easy winners by an innings and 175 runs. Trinity was defeated at Asgiriya for the first time in a big match in 1981.

Trinity led by J.P. Weerasuriya defeated the Anthonians by seven wickets in 1986 at Katugastota. This was the result of an over-generous declaration by their opponents.

The writer is indebted to the walking Wisdom of Trinity –Anthonian Cricket, Mr. Ford Gunatilake for much of this information.