Trinity College Kandy was awarded the victory in the 107th Hill Country ‘Battle of the Blues’ against St. Anthony’s College Katugastota at the Asgiriya International Cricket Stadium after the Anthonians refused to take to the field with Trinity just needing one run to score to claim an outright win in the traditional big match encounter.
With scores level, crowds barged onto the field much to the confusion of the on-field umpires and the spectators.
Players were then safely escorted out of the field momentarily. However, after St. Anthony’s College reportedly failed to take the field to resume the match with Trinity needing one run to score, umpires adjudged St. Anthony’s College Katugastota forfeited the game and awarded the victory to Trinity College.
Sri Lanka coloursman Adham Hilmy’s century in the first innings and Kanilka Anthony’s clinical 10-wicket match haul spearheaded Trinity to register the outright win in the traditional big match for the first time since 2012.
On Thursday (12), after winning the toss Trinity skipper Dimantha Mahavithana sent St. Anthony’s to bat first.
In the scorching heat, Trinity bowlers were on mark while the St. Anthony’s batters struggled to get going.
Despite opener Sisal Hemaka’s unbeaten 64, Anthonians were bundled out for 157 in 57.3 overs in the first innings. Kaushika Kumarasinghe hit 44 for the visitors but the rest of the batters faltered without major contribution to the total.
For Trinity, Kanilka Anthony picked up 4/54 while Dinitha Siriwardena and Chaniru Senarathna took two wickets apiece.
In their first innings Trinitians also struggled to cope with the heat. They needed their captain Dimantha Mahavithana and vice-captain Adham Hilmy to come good to have any hopes of securing an outright win in the big match after Niroshan Dickwella’s side claimed the honours 14 years ago.
The two seniors who represented Sri Lanka in the recently concluded youth World Cup did play their part when the team needed them. Skipper Mahavithana went on to score 54 while Hilmy played a sublime innings of 125 in 178 deliveries. Despite the two knocks, Trinity only posted 264 in their first innings securing a 107-run lead.
St. Anthony’s batters started brilliantly in their second innings but wickets started to tumble after the run out of Kavindu Navanjana for 36. Sanuka Kalpana made a patient 29 while Kaushika Kumarasinghe top scored with 59 to take the Anthonians beyond Trinity’s first innings total.
Despite the trio’s efforts, St. Anthony’s was dismissed for 170 in their second essay. For Trinity, Kanilka Anthony picked up 6/56 while Chaniru Senarathna picked up two scalps.
Skipper Dimantha Mahavithana and Pulisha Thimeth Thilakarathna went about with the 64-run chase with ease. With Trinity total on 63/1, a section of the crowd ran onto the field creating unsavory scenes at the famous Asgiriya stadium.
Subsequently, the teams left the field of play and according to the organisers, St. Anthony’s team refused to return to the grounds. This prompted umpires to award the game to Trinity College much to the jubilation of the home supporters at the Asgiriya stadium.
