Sri Lanka Schools: The Trinity-Antonian glimpses of the past (12 March 1999)

12 March 1999

Sri Lanka Schools: The Trinity-Antonian glimpses of the past

Victor Alahakoon

The 83rd Trinity-Antonian cricket encounter will take place on March 12 and 13 at the Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy.

This time honoured cricket encounter between Trinity and St. Anthonys, two of the oldest educational institutions in Kandy, has been played in the best traditions of the game.

Trinity last won at Asgiriya way back in 1951 under the captaincy of Eustace Rulach when the Antonians led by Bernard Weerakoon were bundled out for 37 runs, the lowest score in the series. The Antonians last won at Asgiriya in 1981 under Faizal Majeed. Thus registering a victory by either side at Asgiriya has been a rare occurrence.

The day of reckoning for Antonian cricket however, goes back 50 years to March 20, 1948 when Trinity was humbled by the Antonians at Katugastota playing their 35th cricket encounter. Trinity established by our colonial masters on the lines of Royal College, Colombo, had the best of fortunes from the inception of the game started in 1914, and although both schools were playing against leading Colombo colleges at the turn of the century. Trinity who were dominating the public and private sectors during the colonial times had the wherewithal to show their colours and considered it infra dig to give St. Anthony's a cricket fixture earlier than 1914.

During the formative years, the game was one sided except when Jack Anderson the Antonian with a good eye and twinkling feet was anathema to the bowlers of the day, scored 5 centuries in a season against the leading colleges at the time and strode Bogambara and elsewhere like a colossus and with all the resources at their command Trinity dictated terms not only to SACK but also to the leading colleges like Royal, S.T.C., Wesley, STC (Mount Lavinia) etc.

Devoid of a level playing field and facilities, the Antonians considered underdogs till about 1947 were at the mercy of Trinity in the big match. Winning only three encounters during the period 1914 to 1947. As such the revival of Antonian cricket proper has to be reckoned only with the memorable and historic Antonian victory of 1948. Although defeated in 1947 by 68 runs Trinity's invincibility was broken by SACK with the first fixture after the end of World War II.

Three important factors brought about the resurgence of Antonian cricket.

The cessation of hostilities brought back a sign of relief for SACK, coming back to their premises at Katugastota resulting in the cricketers being afforded the privilege of playing on a level field for the first time.

The influx of rural talent to SACK thanks to Mr. K. S. Kanniah brought with it untapped resources and rich dividends while Trinity were lagging behind having found accommodation only to the elite.

Finally the astute leadership of the late Rev. Fr. D. A. Rossati at the helm of affairs as principal ably supported by the late Fr. C. Macky as prefect of games opened the way for enlisting the series of no less a cricketing personality as the late John Hallangoda an old Trinitian himself as the Antonian coach. Trinity's loss was SACK's gain and the person Trinity most grudgingly gave, proved to be Trinity's tormentor and the forerunner for the high standard of cricket at SACK since then.

There is no going back that John Hallangoda has given Antonian cricket a great fillip and the status quo maintained upto date with SACK bagging many a trophy meant for a prestigious Colombo College. For the record SACK can be proved that they have produced the most number of outstation Sri Lankan cricketers starting from A.C.M. Lafir to Muralitharan rated as the worlds best spin bowler of the day and Ruwan Kalpage the present duo doing service to the national side.

So the 1948 Trinity-Antonian encounter deserves praise and assumes importance not only for its record but also for being the pathfinder and a base contributing handsomely to the national cricketing talent for which SACK deserves an accolade. 1998 saw St. Anthony's beating not only Trinity, but St. Peters, Ananda, Kingswood and nearly beating St. Benedict college, Colombo.

The game against the Joes was a dramatic draw.

Nostalgic memories of the 1948 Trinity-Antonian encounter bring to mind the heroics of stalwart cum helmsman L. A., Pamunuwa a solid left hand persevering one down batsman of impregnable defence sound in technique with a cracker like square cut who held first for a well compiled 32 with the demise of the openers. His deputy the late S. V. A. Samaradasa a hard hitting batsman wicket-keeper was a reveller who rose to the occasion when the chips were down in the 2nd innings collecting a near half century with 8 hits to the ropes. In both innings Sam as he was popularly known was responsible for stumping of 5 victims and running out at least two. SACK's middle order were however bamboozled by the spin of Hala Wadsworth a left arm seamer of repute who later captained the combined schools team, till the arrival of the babe of the side Edmond Cooray (50 runs) He held the centre stage with C. A. G. Dissanayake (51 runs) who was batting in inimitable style and composure having come in at four down with the score reading 110. These two produced the best partnership bringing the score from 138 for 7 to 200 hitting the Trinity attack to all concerns of the field to the delight of the Katugastota crowd who later went about the town in a victory parade. When the new ball was taken Edmond Cooray hit Hala for 5 fours and departed with the score at 246. The last wicket partnership between Dickey Dunnuwille of spin fame and T. Pararajasingham an ace slip fielder realised 46 runs with the former getting 26 runs and the latter 28 respectively. Dickey Dunnuwille and Para scored in boundaries. SACK missed the 300 mark by 18 runs.

Two of the present Ministers in the PA Cabinet played for Trinity in this match and one of them Mr. Lakshman Jayakody got the highest score of 59 for Trinity in the 1st innings while Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar the present Minister of Foreign Affairs, chipped in with 26 in the 2nd innings when the going was against Trinity. Trinity replied with scores of 175 and was trailing by 107 runs but the follow-on was not enforced.

Going for the runs a second time SACK could muster only 103 and Trinity had to score 211 for victory, 15 mts. after tea. Trinity found runs hard to get and could not survive till close of play. They were bundled out in 34 overs for a paltry 59 runs. To their dismay as he had done previously at Asgiriya and also against the Peterites and Anandians earlier in the season. Dickey Dunnuwille the mystery Antonian bowler who moved the ball both ways in the air mixing his flighted deliveries with fastest off breaks caught most of the batsmen flat footed clean bowling three of them and having equal number caught in the slips. Thus SACK achieved victory against Trinity after 18 years by a margin of 151 runs.

Since then SACK has lost to Trinity only twice ie in 1951 and 1986 whereas Trinity has been beaten by SACK on nine occasions what a difference it makes when playing on a level field. This was "cricket lovely cricket" at Katugastota when it was played on the 19th and 20th of March 1948.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)