A quick fire 46 off 45 balls by Lahiru Kumara brought in victory for Trinity as the hosts were successful enough in chasing the mammoth 236 run target to retain the Richard Aluvihare Trophy.
Needing 8 runs off 12 deliveries, tail ender bastman Lahiru Kumara wanted to settle business fast as he slogged two consecutive boundaries over mid-on to secure victory. Earlier in the day, St. Anthony’s piled a mammoth 236 runs for 5 wickets for their 50 overs.
It was a pleasing sight to witness the Lions taking on the Eagles in coloured clothing as the traditional encounter was washed off disappointingly due to rain. A bright sunny atmosphere prevailed at Asgiriya as the hosts Trinity College took the field first allowing the Eagles to bat. The Asgiriya turf has always been a favorable one for the bowlers but this time around, the pitch favored the men with the sticks.
Trinity stuck early to dismiss Pulasti Bandara in the second over without a single ball faced due to a mishap in the running. Retaining bastsman Kanishka Uggalpaya together with Mohamed Alfar went on to build a comprehensive partnership as Uggalpaya added runs quite comfortably picking the gaps. The Antonian wickets fell at regular intervals leaving Kanishka Uggalpaya with fresh men off the bench to carry his act along. Alfar was dismissed for 36 off the bowling of Shanogeeth Shanmuganathan while Damita Panditaratna was run out for 18. Dilan Bandara and Uggalpaya went on to make 89 runs for the fourth wicket where Bandara just missed out on his half ton as he was caught at mid-on off the bowling of Raveen Sayer when the score stood at 202. Bandara scored 47.
Skipper Buweneka Wijethunga coming in during the 40th over wanted to hype the run rate up but lasted only two balls as he got out cheaply scoring two runs. All throughout the innings it was Kanishka Ugglapaya who steered the Antonians as he went on score a hard fought century off 142 balls. The bowling department for Trinity were not quite upto mark, though the conceding rate was below par, wickets didn’t seem to fall. The last ten overs however saw some aggressive bowling deviating pressure back to the Antonians as the Antonians ended up scoring 236 runs at the end of 50 overs for the loss of 6 wickets.
With a huge target of 237 runs to chase, Trinity were playing in a pressurized situation. The Lions got off to a steady start but the strategic bowling changes lef the hosts in tragedy. The Antonian bowling department led by Udita Mahindaratna and Nimesh Wanasinghe were premier in removing the Trinity top order as four crucial wickets fell before the score reached 71 runs. The lone survivor, Nushan Weerasinghe played more than 75% of the first 25 overs as he had no legit partner to build partnerships as all of his adjoining partners fell below double figures. At 136/6, Trinity were in a difficult position as the Antonians had momentum on their side. As skipper Raveen Sayer stepped in to bat, he and his partner Nushan Weerasinghe steadied the innings bringing the asking rate within reachable distance.
Nushan Weerasinghe was very unlucky as he was dismissed at 96 runs, just four short of his ton by Udita Mahindaratna when Trinity were 155 runs. The tail-ender batsmen Lahiru Kumara and Sayer took the fight from there on as it narrowed to 31 runs off 30 balls at the end. Trinity requiring 31 runs and the Antonians needing three wickets for victory, it was anyone’s game yet.
As the batting duo hit the pedal on the gas, the required runs were well within achievable distance as Trinity required 17 off 18. The Antonians struck again to take away Raveen Sayer when the score read 230 but it did not seem to trouble the non- striker.
The next over as he got the strike, needing 7 runs to victory, he slogged two boundaries through the long on area to bring Trinity home for victory at the Asgiriya Stadium. As the crowds flocked to raise Kumara off the grounds, this victory got them another one day title equals St. Anthony’s tally of 17 wins as both teams now stand in equal grounds.
The player of the match was skipper Raveen Sayer for his 2 wickets and 39 runs.
Chief Scores:
St. Anthony’s College 236/6 in 50 overs – Kanishka Uggalpaya 102, Dilan Bandara 47 Mhamed Alfar 36, Raveen Sayer 2/46, Hasitha Boyagoda 1/39
Trinity College 238/8 in 48.3 overs – Nushan Weerasinghe 96, Lahiru Kumara 47, Raveen Sayer 39, Nimesha Wanasinghe 2/33, Udita Mahindaratna 2/33
