Trinity–Antonian Cricket Encounter

The Trinity–Antonian Cricket Encounter (known as The Hill Country Battle of the Blues) is the leading annual school cricket match (Big Match) of the hill country which is played between Trinity College, Kandy and St. Anthony's College, Kandy since 1914. It is considered to be one of the oldest annual school cricket encounters in Sri Lanka.[2] This encounter is being played for the John Halangoda Memorial Trophy and is awarded to the team who manages to win the match by means of an outright win or failing that, a first innings win. But a first innings win will not go into the records as a win to the relevant team.

Trinity-Antonian Cricket Encounter
Sport	Cricket
Timeline	1914 – present
Tournament format	Annual 2-day test match encounter
Participants	St. Anthony's College, Kandy Trinity College, Kandy
Current champion	St. Anthony's College, Kandy (2019 – 1st Innings win)
Most successful	Trinity College 23 Outright St. Anthony's College 11 Outright Draws 68[1]

Out of the 102 games played, the Trinitians have won 23 with 11 ending in favour of the Antonians. The last outright win for the Antonians was in 1992 and Trinity won last under Niroshan Dickwella in 2012 after the 1986 win under Thushara Weerasuriya. The victory came after 26 years. St. Anthony's College, Kandy are the current holders of the trophy after their 1st innings win in 2019 as they managed to restrict Trinity College to 173 after posting 298 for the loss of 8 wickets.

The winner of the limited overs encounter, usually played a week after the 2-day match, will be awarded the Sir Richard Aluwihare Trophy.

History

The first encounter was played at the Bogambara Grounds in March 1914; the Antonians won. Trinity won the next match, and a long-contested series has followed.[3]

1918 to 1929, during the World War I St. Anthony's College premises including the practice pitches and the playing-fields were occupied by the British Army. As a result, Antonian cricket deprived and they had lost to Trinity for 11 times consecutively. Without a playground of their own, The Antonians were no match for the Trinitians even with the like of legendary Jack Anderson in the team.[4]

The post-war period (1929–1947) was inauspicious for the Antonians, as they had a poor run in the field. Trinity during that time had C. Dharmalingam, a left-arm bowler who for two consecutive years nagged the Antonians with his left-arm spin. In 1938 he took 9 for 14 and in 1939 had the figures of 6 for 17 and 6 for 31 inclusive of a double hat-trick, a world record.

Then there was T. B. Werapitiya with scores of 100 in 1943 and 143 in 1944, the highest score made by a Trinitian. Meanwhile, the Antonians came back fighting in 1947, and nearly tumbled the Trinitians Asgiriya after getting back their premises, with facilities restored and having the services of a renowned cricket coach in Mr. John Halangoda. The strong Trinity batting line-up crumbled under the spin bowling of Dicky Dunuwille, the Antonian mystery bowler who was later responsible in changing the fortunes of Antonian cricket. Antonians however lost the match by 68 runs due to a spectacular fielding performance where seven close-in-catches were grabbed by Trinity's Clarence Senanayake to dismiss the Antonians.

The Antonians won the very next encounter (1948) at Katugastota Oval where Dicky Dunuwilla taking 6 for 10 once again mesmerized the Trinitians and the Antonians since then have not looked back. During the post-independence period (1947–1997) Trinity has registered only four wins against the Antonian tally of eight wins. Most Antonian victories (11) in the series have been registered during the period.

A disagreement between the two schools, regarding the age rule resulted in the cancellation of the match in 1956 and 1957.[5] Also, in 2001 the match did not play as the Trinity stopped playing mid way during that season due to disciplinary reasons.[6]

Notable persons who have played

Trinitians

• Kumar Sangakkara
• Ravi Ratnayeke
• Graeme Labrooy
• Kaushalya Weeraratne
• Lakshman Kadirgamar
• Lakshman Jayakody
• Richard Aluwihare
• Niroshan Dickwella

Antonians

• Muttiah Muralitharan
• Mahes Goonatilleke
• Piyal Wijetunge
• Ruwan Kalpage
• Damien Nadarajah
• Marlon Vonhagt
• A. H. Sheriffdeen
• A.C.M. Lafir
• Jack Anderson
• Sajith Fernando

Past records

Notable performances

Name	School	Record	Year
Jack Anderson	SACK	Scored 111 runs-First Century of the Series	1918
A.C.M. Laffir	SACK	Highest Individual score of 176 runs	1954
A.C.M. Laffir and Ronnie Stevens	SACK	Record Opening Stand of 266 runs A.C.M. Laffir (176) & Ronnie Stevens (120)	1954
N/A	TCK	Lowest Total 37 runs	1951
N/A	SACK	Lowest Total 44 runs	1938
C. Dharmalingam	TCK	Double Hat-trick[7]	1939
Lalith Ramanayake	TCK	Fastest century scored 100 runs in just 72 minutes	1970
Meril Dunuwille	SACK	First century at SACK grounds	1970

Centuries Name[4] School Score Year Jack Anderson SACK 111 1918 M.D.D. Jayawardene TCK 120 1922 L.C. de Mel TCK 111 1923 T.B. Werapitiya TCK 100 1943 T.B. Werapitiya TCK 143 1944 Ronald Stevens SACK 102 1952 Ronald Stevens SACK 126 1954 A.C.M. Lafir SACK 176 1954 S.W. Seneviratne SACK 100* 1958 Charlie Joseph[6] SACK 127 1960 Jayantissa Ratwatte TCK 103 1960 Franklyn Burke SACK 145 1962 Wasantha Seneviratne SACK 110 1964 M.T.M. Zarook TCK 110 1964 Ralston Burke SACK 165 1965 Randy Sims SACK 100 1969 Meril Dunuwille SACK 106 1970 Lalith Ramanayake TCK 110 1970 Niroshan de Silva TCK 100 1971 Premalal de Silva SACK 148 1973 Bernard Perera SACK 155* 1976 N. Dambawinna TCK 130 1978 Marlon Vonhagt SACK 123 1983 M Angelo Wickremasinghe SACK 144 1984 Nuwan Kalpage SACK 100* 1990 Kaushalya Weeraratne[6] TCK 148 1999 Shameera Wijesooriya[8] TCK 114* 2009 Kanishka Uggalpaya SACK 107 2016 Chamindu Wickramasinghe SACK 128 2019

Captains Year SACK TCK 2019 Theeksha Gunasinghe Pubudu Bandara 2018[9] Janidu Himsara Hasitha Boyagoda 2017[10] Mohammed Alfar Shanogeeth Shanmunganathan 2016[11] Kanishka Uggalpaya Raveen Sayer 2015[12] Buwaneka Wijethunga Raveen Sayer 2014[13] Nimesha Gunasinghe Ron Chandraguptha 2013[14] Sachin Bulathsinghala Dinuk Wickramanayaka 2012 Kanishka Ranaraja[15] Niroshan Dickwella[16] 2011[17] Hiran Wickremasekera Akkila Jayasundera 2010[18] Dulash Kumarasinghe Mohamed Sajid 2009[19] Sahan Pallihakkara Rushan Jaleel 2008[20] K. Dissanayake Dilan Gangoda 2007[21] Selvyn Jamian [22] Sachith Pathirana 2006[23] Shameer Munas Charitha Dumbarage 2005[24] Pramodth Fernando Maduranga Munaweera 2004[25] Mohamed Rizlan Clifford Fernando 2003[26] Nipuna Ratnayake [22] Clifford Fernando 2002[27] Prasad Ranawaka Randil Gamage 2000[28] N. M Nizam Kaushalya Weeraratne 1999[29] Suranga Pinnaduwa 1998[30] Mahes Pallihakkara Sudanga Fernando 1997[31] Tharaka Gunaratne Kumar Sangakkara 1992[19] Umesh de Alwis Kalum Edirisinghe 1991[32] Nuwan Kalpage YM Goonatilake 1990 Suresh de Alwis Suren Jayasinghe 1989 Suresh de Alwis Dudeepa Ratwatte 1988 Ruwan Kalpage Channa Fernando 1987 Damien Nadarajah Denham Madena 1986[17] Rienzie Perera Thushara Weerasuriya 1985 Angelo Wickramasuriya Anuruddha Athureliya 1984 Marlon Von Hagt Dirk D'Silva 1983 Marlon Von Hagt Jeremy Muthumani 1982 Anura Dunuwille Suresh Perera & Prinith Yainne 1981 Faizal Majeed STB (Tikiri) Ellepola 1980 Angelo Liyanage Ravi Ratnayake 1978 Russel De La Motte Andre Tissera 1970[33] Merry Gunarathne Nihal Ranjith Marambe 1966 Nadaraj Nagendra Harindra Dunuwille 1959[34] Charlie Joseph Nimal Maralande 1951[35] Bernard Weerakoon Eustace Rulach

See also

• Royal–Thomian

References

1. Razak, Rukshan (11 March 2012). "The Island". Island.lk. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
2. Marikar, Hafiz (2011-05-18). "Looking back to Trinity's last win". Dailynews.lk. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
3. "A peep into the past of the Trinity – Antonian series". Static.espncricinfo.com. 1997-03-13. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
4. "Keen tussle expected". Nation.lk. 2008-03-09. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
5. Wijesena, Wickrema (2009-03-03). "Trinity-Antonian 'Big Match' 50 years ago". Island.lk. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
6. Jiffrey, S. M. (2012-03-04). "Trinity with 10 outright wins this season holds advantage over St. Anthony's". Sundayobserver.lk. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
7. Abdeen, S. M. Jiffrey (2009-03-12). "Trinity-Antonian should be anybody's game". Dailynews.lk. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
8. http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/03/21/spo02.asp
9. http://www.dailynews.lk/2018/03/16/sports/145700/trinity-antonian-should-be-close-game
10. http://www.thepapare.com/trinity-vs-st-anthonys-100th-hill-country-battle-of-the-blues-2017-preview-dfcc/
11. http://www.thepapare.com/99th-hill-country-battle-can-st-anthonys-spoil-a-trinity-victory/
12. http://www.thepapare.com/99th-hill-country-battle-triumphant-trinity-seeks-vengeance-over-the-antonians/
13. http://www.thepapare.com/trinity-looking-for-a-famous-win-over-st-anthony-s/
14. http://www.dailynews.lk/2013/03/07/spo11.asp
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16. "'Big Match' Fever Runs High In Kandy | The Sunday Leader". Thesundayleader.lk. 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
17. "Sri Lanka Sports News | Online edition of Daily News – Lakehouse Newspapers". Dailynews.lk. 2011-05-18. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
18. "Sri Lanka Sports News | Online edition of Daily News – Lakehouse Newspapers". Dailynews.lk. 2010-03-13. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
19. "Trinity – St. Anthony's 93rd Battle Of The "Blues" | The Sunday Leader". Thesundayleader.lk. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
20. "Sports". Nation.lk. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
21. "The Sunday Leader Online". Thesundayleader.lk. 2007-03-31. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
22. "History of Anthonian Cricket" (PDF). SACKOBA Qatar. Retrieved 2014-05-25.
23. "The Island – Sports". Island.lk. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
24. "Sports". Sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
25. "sports01". Island.lk. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
26. "Daily Mirror Online : Sports". Archives.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
27. shyam (2002-03-03). "::: The Sunday Times : Sports". Sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
28. "The Sunday Times Sports Section". Sundaytimes.lk. 2000-03-12. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
29. "The Sunday Times Sports Section". Sundaytimes.lk. 1999-03-07. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
30. "Sri Lanka News Round-up (14 Mar 1998) | Page 2". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
31. "Close contest expected in Trinity-Antonian". Static.espncricinfo.com. 1997-03-12. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
32. "Sri Lanka Sports News". Sundayobserver.lk. 2008-03-16. Archived from the original on 2008-03-19. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
33. "Dangerous 'Lions' arrives at 'Eagles' NEST : Mirror Sports". Sports.dailymirror.lk. 2011-03-11. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
34. "The Island-Sports". Island.lk. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
35. "Sri Lanka Schools: The Trinity-Antonian glimpses of the past (12 March 1999) | Page 2". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 2012-09-07.

External links

• Down the memory lane-Antonians.org
• Trinity College website