Trinity College, Kandy, fielding one of the strongest combinations in schools this season having already recorded seven successive outright victories, the last being a thrilling win over Wesley College are bound for greater heights.
Led by all rounder and cricket lion Akila Jayasundera they have carried everything before them this season having beaten Vidyartha College. Kingswood College, St. Sylvester’s College, Nalanda College, Thurstan College St. Peter’s and Wesley College.
What is remarkable about their victories is the positive approach and often beating rain and bad light in securing the wins.
Against Vidyartha College over 100 minutes play was lost on the first day but they posted the win in the first over after lunch.
Against St. Peter’s College over two hours of play was lost on the first day. Despite heavy overnight rain, they managed to beat the Peterites by tea time on the second day with showers beginning to fall.
There is plenty of depth in the batting with Akila Jayasundera, Kavinda Jayasuriya, Niroshan Dickwella. and Heshan Wanniarachchi (all have scored centuries this season), Rajitha Jayatunga, Tissa Sanjeewa Bandara, Keheliya Athugoda, Dinuk Wickremanayake, Janishka Premasinghe, Alvin Fernando and Lakshitha Dassanayake to churn the runs.
The speed department is spearheaded by Tissa Sanjeewa Bandara and Alvin Fernando. But Trinity’s strong point is their spin attack led by Akila Jayasundera who captured 106 wickets in 2009 despite missing 4 matches.
Left arm spinner Aamil Anas is a match winner having captured over 50 wickets last season and has already captured 26 wickets so far this season.
Off spinners Janishka Premasinghe, Kavinda Jayasuriya, Heshan Wanniarachchi, and Keheliya Athugoda have the potential to run through their opponents’ batting.
There is a lot of loose talk in the schools circuit that Trinity’s fine performance is due to the fact they have brought in cricketers from other schools. Nothing could be further from the truth than this.
Trinity’s present side is made up of cricketers who have been in Trinity College from junior school. The exceptions being Tissa Sanjeewa Bandara and Heshan Wanniarachchi who came over to Trinity to play under 17 cricket from the remote Sandalankawa ( in the Kurunegala district) and that too when they were barely 15 years.
Thus it is most unfair to level criticism of this nature without knowing the real facts. Is there anything wrong if a cricketer joins an established school to pursue his cricketing aspirations and thus be prevented from falling by the wayside.
Master tactician Sampath Perera has done a tremendous amount of work to mould this Trinity side into a fighting outfit. Criticism of this nature is nothing but jealously which is an usual trait when one cannot stomach the fine performances of a school reputed for its rugby achievements.
The former D.S. Senanayake skipper, in his third season in charge of the Hill Capital schoolboys has guided the Lions to an amazing 21 outright victories in addition to continued success at the under 17 age group tournaments during the last couple of seasons.
One elusive dream for this Trinity side this season will be to win their big match against traditional rivals St. Anthony’s College which will break a 24 year old hoodoo. Their last win came in 1986 under Thushara (T.P.) Weerasuriya.
By: U.J. Jezeem- Daily Mirror
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