This year’s 103rd Trinity–Antonian cricket encounter known as The Hill Country Battle of the Blues which is one of the most looked Big Match in the hill country which is played since 1914 and the sixth oldest Big Match in Sri Lanka, which was scheduled to be played on May 15th and 16th at Katugastota, has been postponed. Out of the 102 games played, the Trinitians have won 23 with 11 ending in favour of the Antonians and 68 draws. Due to a disagreement between the two schools, regarding the age rule resulted in the cancellation of the match in 1956 and 1957. Also, in 2001 the match did not play as the Trinity stopped playing mid way during that season due to disciplinary reasons and also last year Corono halted the match. 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 36 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.
This encounter is playing for the John Halangoda Memorial Trophy. But a first innings win will not go into the records as a win to the relevant team. And the one day winners get the Sir Richard Aluwihare Trophy. The first encounter was played at the Bogambara Grounds in March 1914; where the Antonians won. Trinity won the next match, and a long-contested series has followed. 1918 to 1929, during the World War I, St. Anthony’s College premises (the present st. Sylvester’s College premisses including the practice pitches and the playing-field (Brracksnow called Police Grounds) 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.
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 record.
Some of the past records and notable performances: Jack Anderson (St. Anthony’s) in 1918 scored 111 runs which was the first century in the series; Antonian A.C.M. Lafir made 176, the highest individual score and then A.C.M. Lafir and Ronnie Stevens had an opening stand of 266 runs — Lafir 176 and Stevens 120. Lowest total – Trinity 37 in 1951, St. Anthony’s 44 in 1938. In bowling C. Dharmalingam Trinity in 1939 took a double hat- trick. Lalith Ramanayake scored the fastest 100, in 72 minutes in 1970. Antonian Merrill Dunuwille scored the first 100 at Katugastota after the laying of the turf wicket.
Recalling memories of the Trinity-Antonian game of 1986, which the Trinitians won by seven wickets to break a 35-year hoodoo. That year the Trinitians were led by T. P. Weerasuriya and the Antonians by Rienzie Perera. This great win for the Trinitians would not have been possible if not for the sporty and challenging declaration made by the Antonian skipper Rienzie Perera. He threw the game wide open and the Trinitians who accepted the challenge found the going easy during the last stages as the Antonians were a tired lot and ran short of bowlers after the start of the 20 mandatory overs. The winning run a boundary to the long-on fence was hit by burly left hander Romesh Jayawardene in the 14th mandatory over.
Trinity skipper failed to call correctly and St. Anthony’s elected to take first turn of a placid Katugastota wicket. The Katugastota boys topped the 50 mark for the loss of just one wicket but with the introduction of the spinners C. I. Fernando and Selvaratnam Ratnakumaran the Antonians found themselves in trouble and were dismissed for a paltry 126. The Trinitians fielded well with stumper Mevan Ballale performing well holding three good catches and also stumping skipper Reinzie Perera. The ever agile Ballale set an example to the rest of his teammates. This was one of the lowest score made by an Antonian side against Trinity for quite some time. The Antonians 126 came in 240 minutes after 67.4 overs.
The Asgiriya boys in reply were off to a sound start but with the score at 28, A. K. Premasinghe foolishly ran himself out. Wickets fell at regular intervals and Trinity ended the first day at 86 for 6. Rienzie Perera returned 4 for 34 in 15 overs, in which three of them were maidens.
Continuing from 86 for 6, Trinity found themselves in trouble as their overnight batsmen failed and the last four wickets fell for 12 runs within the space of 15 minutes. Trinity were bowled out for 98 in 161 minutes off 41 overs.
St. Anthony’s enjoying a first innings lead of 28 runs, were expected to make quick runs and consolidate their position, instead they batted without purpose and were 55 for 3 at lunch having batted for 105 minutes and faced 28 overs. At 2.35 p.m. St. Anthony’s declared with a score of 160 for 7. Sixteen-year-old Ruwan Kalpage chipped in with an unbeaten 24 which included four hits to the fence and a well-timed six which landed on the tiers accommodating the Antonian tent. Ratnakumaran who had a match bag of 6 for 100 was presented with the best bowler’s award.
The Trinitians set to make 190 to win in 90 minutes and 20 mandatory overs, were given a sound start by Mevan Ballale and S. K. Premasinghe who put on 93 runs in 100 minutes. Premasinghe was dismissed for 39. Ballale joined by Sujeewa Jayawardene took the score to 144 before Jayawardene was run out for 14. Chaminda Unnantenne joined Ballale who was batting at his best, tried to force the pace and was adjudged run out with his individual score at 81. Ballale’s match winning innings was studded with ten fours and a glorious six which landed on a roof erected behind the Old Antonians SC. Unannetenne normally an aggressive bat made 29 which had three fours and 2 sixes and Romesh Jayawardene 20 saw Trinity achieving their target without further loss. Trinity’s 191 for 3 came in 150 minutes off 35.1 overs. The happiest man on this day was Trinity coach J.A. Shaw Wilson, a product of Royal College who helped the Trinitians to break the 35-year-old hoodoo.
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