The outbreak of the novel corona virus has killed cricket big matches in Kandy which has affected the most looked forward cricketing event known as the hill country “Battle of the Blues”. All this is due to corona, things did not go as planned and the 103rd big match encounter between Trinity College and St.Anthony’s College series is affected, it seems this year there will be no game. This is one of the most looked forward cricket encounter in Kandy, which is the second oldest big match in Kandy and the sixth oldest Big Match in the country.
The winners of this game are presented the John Halangoda memorial trophy. Which was introduced in the year 2005 in memory of the former Trinity College cricketer and coach who later became the coach of St. Anthony’s College and guided them to a win at the 1948 game.
In the series Trinity College leads the overall tally with 23 wins while St. Anthony’s College has won 11. Trinity’s last win came under the captaincy of Niroshan Dickwella in 2012 where they broke a 25-year hoodoo to win by an innings and one run. The Antonians are still to win an encounter in this century their last win was in 1992 under the captaincy of Umesh de Alwis. It is the Trinitians who have dominated the series in the early years to such an extent that they won the ‘Big’ match a record eleven times in a row from 1918 to 1928. St. Anthony's College are the current holders of the trophy with their first innings win in 2019 as they managed to restrict Trinity College to 173 after posting 298 for the loss of 8 wickets.
The Trinity versus Antonian cricket encounter was started in 1914. The first game was played at Bogambara (the present Bogambara stadium) in March 1914. St. Anthony’s College led by C. Senevirathne emerged winners beating C. E. de Silva’s Trinity XI by 42 runs. The hero of that victory was C. H. Wittachy and in the following year under R. Ondaatje, Antonians won the second encounter. The third encounter too was won by the Antonians. From 1918 to 1928, Trinity won from 1918 to 1928. During the war years, when the Antonians were housed at the present St. Sylvester’s College premises were occupied by the British Army, they were at a disadvantage and lost all eleven matches in a row.
However in the limited over’s game, the cowboy game as it is popularly called, the Antonians have got the better of the Trinitians and lead in the series which started in 1980. Some of the Antonian players who have done their Alma Mater proud in the series remains heroes. Jack Anderson, the batting machine during his time scored the first century at Asgiriya against Trinity. The wiles of Dickey Dunuwille a spin bowler who dominated the cricket scene in 1947-1948 and was instrumental in the 1948 win against Trinity and the turnabout in the fortunes of Antonian cricket. The Antonians performed well since 1948. A. C. M. Lafir 176 and Ronald Stevens scored two centuries in 1952 and 1954. The pair holds the highest opening stand 276 in (1954) in the series. S. W. Seneviratne 100 not out (1958) Charlie Joseph 127 in (1960), F. Burke 145 in (1962), Vasantha Seneviratne 110 in (1964), Ralston Burke 165 in (1965), Randy Sims 101 in (1969), Meryl Dunuwille 106 in (1970), Premlal De Silva 148 in (1973), Bernard Perera 155 not out in (1976), the Doranagama Brothers and the De Alwis Brothers have all stamped their mark in the series.
The Trinitians dominated the series prior to 1948. The bowling of Percy Maralande 7 for 47 in (1919), M. D. D. Jayawardena 120 in (1922), A. N. B. Fraser 5 for 13 in (1923), L. C. de Mel 111 in (1923), R. B. Ettipola 7 for 44 in (1925), Herman Shockman 9 for 80 in (1922), C. Thalgodapitiya 6 for 10 in (1928), C. Dharmalingam the mystery bowler 9 for 74 in (1938) and 6 for 17 and 6 for 31 with a double hat-trick performed against the Antonians in (1939) is a record in a big match. T. B. Werapitiya 100 in (1943) and 143 in (1944) is the highest for a Trinitians in the series and Beno de Silva and Eustace Rulach who bowled out the Antonians for 37 in (1951) is the lowest score in the series.
Trinity College is one of the oldest cricket playing schools in the country. They stated cricket in 1893, before the Second World War, Trinity not only produced several top class cricketers, but also produced several invincible teams.
Some of the products who have done well for the country after Test status are Kumar Sangakkara (rated as a top class batsman), the present MCC chairman and Ravi Ratnayake who was one time vice captain of the Sri Lanka team. Some of the other players who played for Trintiy College were C. E. Simtharachchi, Richard Aluwihare, Harry Inman, Philip Bultejens, O. I. Izzadeen, Rex Breckendrige, C. Dharmalingam, T. B Werapiriya, T. B. Marambe, Percy Madugalle, M. P. Karara, R. Halangoda, R. B. Ettipola, H. Delwitta, Frank Sirimane, Senarath Pilapitiya, Nimal Maralande, Malsiri Kurukulasuriya, Harindra Dunuwille, Hemendra Ranaweera, M. T M. Zaruk, Ajith Abeyrathne, Roger Abeyrathne, Uvais Odayar, NIhal Marambe, Akkila Jayasundera, Mohamed Sajid, Denamn Mahadena, Thushara Weerasuriya, Suren jayasinghe and Dudeepa Ratwate are few to name.
The Antonian’s too are in the cricket scene for over 150 years. St. Anthony’s have produced several champion teams and also outstanding players. One of the greatest is the world record holder Muttiah Muralitharan, famous batsmen Jack Anderson, A. C. M. Lafir, Wijepala Premaratne (who had the honour of being adjudged the first schoolboy cricketer of the year 1956), Chalie Joseph, Harry Jayasundara, L. V. Jayaweera, Dickie Dunuwillle, A.C.M. Lafir, Burke borthers, Ronie Stevens, S.W Senavirthne, Bernard Weerakoon Meryl Dunuwille, Ranjith and Saliya Doranagama, Ranjith Samarasekara, Gamini Debahapuwa, Mahes Goonatilleke, Lakshman Panditharthne, Sunil Fernando, Piyal Wijetunge, Ruwan Kalpage, Damien Nadarajah, Nuwan Kalpage, Marlon Vonhagt, Angelo Wickremasihe, Sajith Fernando and Premala Fernando are few to name.
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