If you trod between the streets of the Hill-Capital, you would not miss out hearing some big match trivia.
The excitement in fever pitch, with somewhere someone gearing up for the big battle of the hills. At the word ‘Big Match’ our minds recollects many things. The two words Big-Match and ThePapare over the last few years have become synonymous and go in hand at any instance.
History books have plenty of documentation about the hill capital being the final bastion to fall to predictors where a fierce fight continued over the years with ‘hills’ being the most difficult for invaders to conquer. The Ceylonese warriors unyielding in their stand; the tradition of ‘fierce fight’ in the hill capital it seems, continues.
As far back as 1914 heralded the inception of one of the greatest battles in the up-country creating a milestone in the history of sport in the country. The encounter saw light in 1914 with the involvement of the two elite institutions Trinity College Kandy and St. Anthony’s College Katugastota. Embedded with rich class and tradition the boulevards of Kandy will light up in the colours of these two institutions as they make their preparations for the conquest ahead of them.
Incepted in 1914 in memory of one of the great stalwarts in the cricketing history of Trinity John Halangoda the encounter has come a long way to where it stands at present. A fixture which will be celebrating a century of game in two years speaks volumes of what it has achieved in the past years. The last year was written in favor of Trinity, the victory which came after a long lasting hoodoo of 26 years, making this year a grudge battle for the opposition. With last year’s win, the Lions lead the tally 23 wins in comparison to the Eagles who have 13 wins under their belt. The Eagles are yet to record a victory after their win in 1992.
Recap of the 96th Battle
The Lions who went in to the 96th battle were marked favorites out of the two having 10 outright victories under their helm. Nobody doubted Dickwella’s team and the pavilions of Asgiriya were filled with fans of both institutions who were definite of a result one way or the another. Having amassed a stand of 302 runs in their 1st essay, Trinity were able to restrict the visitors to 192 runs despite the untiring efforts of the Antonian skipper Kanishka Ranaraja who top scored with 42 runs.
A follow on was enforced and the determined Antonians were resolute to stick on. Things went smoothly and the fans had buckled up for a draw in this encounter as well when the Trinity paceman Amrith Sri Mahan who hit the pedal on the gas and went on to clamber-down the Antonian batting lineup together with Janishka Premasinghe. It was Premasinghe who performed the final rites bringing victory home by an innings; a victory which had been awaited for over two decades. An innings win in the history of the encounter was recorded only in the 1950’s.
Trinity College edges over their counterparts
Having created history last year, the Trinity camp will be expecting to repeat the same feat they achieved once again at the Antonian home this year. Building on the success achieved by his predecessors, Akila Jayasundara and Niroshan Dickwella, skipper Dinuk Wickremanayaka will be eyeing to lay his hands on the valuable Halangoda Trophy this year. Trinity’ s approach to their traditional fixture has been impressive at all instances since their approach always has been well organized and focused on one singular goal to achieve their ultimate objective.
However, the Trinity side has been having a comparatively lower graded season this year when compared to the past two seasons. Two outright victories and eight first innings speak of Trinity’s winning stance this year. Three of their encounters ended up in a no result while they have lost four.
Skipper Dinuk Wickremanayaka at this moment of time will be readying his troops for battle this Friday. Lionsman and fourth year player Wickremanayaka has led this evenly poised team impeccably. Having a century and six fifties upon his name, he has shown features of a great Trinity skipper. Wickremanayaka’s greatest aggregate this season would be his stand of 93 runs against arch rivals St. Thomas’ Mt. Lavinia where he exposed himself as a true captain.
The Antonians will be up against a solid batting department led by some Bhagya Palihawadana together with Lakshitha Dassanayaka who have been able to give the Lions a head start most of the instances. Deputy Skipper and all-rounder Rajitha Jayatunge has been the solid wall on what almost all of Trinity’s batting and has been one of the side’s game-changer this season with a three figure score and four fifties beside his name.
Upcoming batsman and senior man Ron Chandragupta will be Trinity’s strength in the batting lineup. Relieving the 96th Battle memories, it was Chandragupta who carried on with Akila Jaysundara when the team was down to five wickets. His contribution this season has come in crucial match winning situations. His stand this season that consist of scores in the seventies were the decisive innings in the Trinity score card.
Bowling has always been a key factor in the Trinity lineup with the spinners dominating most of the bowling overs. This year’s Trinity spin attack will be led by the mystery man Lakshan Jaysinghe. Having secured over 80 wickets this season, he ranks himself in the top bowlers draw and would definitely rattle out the opposition. With him will be Charith Sudaraka and Raveen Sayer who would be handling the spin attack for the Lions. The two paceman, coloursman Amrith Sri Mahan and Mudhsan Subendran will be team’s pick for pace. Sri Mahan showed an impressive performance in the Asgiriya wicket last year’s game and sure will be eyeing the stumps at all costs.
Antonians; The Unpredictable
The Lions may be able to out-power the Eagles wild call but the question which runs through the minds of all on how the Eagles would respond to the Lion’s roar. Having the home advantage, the Antonians will be making all preparations to avoid a Trinity victory this weekend. Having suffered the sourness of defeat, skipper Sachin Bulathsinghala will be making sure that he and his team stay on top out of the two teams at the end of the game.
Off-spin whiz Bulathsinghala, the only equivalent for Trinity’s Lakshan Jayasinge has steered the Eagles through the season despite the obstacles that the team faced. Despite not having any outright victories, Sachin’s team is well-geared and will look to avenge last year’s defeat. Playing the role of an all-rounder Sachin has proven himself in both batting and bowling with his 8 wicket haul against Dharmaraja and his highest score of 94 against the Peterites can be put down as some of his heroics for the season.
Bulathsinghala’s deputy Nimesha Gunasinghe who started his season with a three figure knock against S Thomas Mt Lavinia smashed another 100 later on in the season and will be the person who would be entrusted with the ability of establishing the Antonian supremacy in the Battle. Despite not being able to perform in the latter part of the season, this lad possesses the potential of acquiring those big scores. It would be on his success that his other team mates such as Viraj Deepal and Charles Praveen will be able to build on. The Antonian batting line has not been able to rise to the required potential but when it comes to the Big Match, it is only a matter of few hours for a batsman to become legendary. We have witnessed such moments and the 97th would definitely consist few of them.
Both teams will be battling it out in the bowling department and Antonian bowlers will have play major roles as the game progresses. The Antonian attack led by skipper Sachin Bulathsinghala will be up against the comparatively better bowling department of the lions which will require impressive spells from the spinners which include Bhuwenaka Wijethunga and Uditha Mahindaratna together with the skipper. The pacemen who have not been the stand out of the team will require some extra boost this weekend if they have ideas of going in for the kill.
Conclusion
It all goes down to the wire as the Hill-Country livens up for one of the most awaited events of the year, the 97th Battle. Having secured a historical win last year, skipper Dinuk Wickremanayaka will be all out to leap out and reach victory in this encounter. On the books and in big picture Trinity College Kandy hold upper hand in this encounter but the Antonians who would have saved up their biggest punches for the big match will no doubt fight hard to pull off a surprise.
ThePapare.com wishes both teams well.
