Reviewed by Yeshan Ranatunga (Web Content Team)
The scene was set, it was supposed to be a walk in the park, but it was a run chase that never had left the crowd in awe. In the end the lions managed to roar the loudest at the Under 19 All Island Division 1 Tier A Inter-School Limited Overs Tournament 2023 by winning back-to-back titles.
In August 2023, the Trinity Cricketers passed on their journey to defend their remarkable 2022 victory in the U19 Division 1 Tier A Limited Overs Tournament. Master Manula Kularathne, serving as the captain, played a pivotal role in the 2022 season and was determined to ensure that their success continued. With the backing of his teammates, they initiated their campaign with the goal of securing a consecutive victory in the limited overs tournament.
The Trinitians didn’t have their expected full side with the absence of their skipper Manula Kukarathne. Representing the Sri Lanka U19 side on a tour to Pakistan, skipper Manula Kularathne was unable to take part in the opening matches of the tournament. However, it was not a failure when the experienced Trinity in-stand captain Dinusha Peiris led the Trinity side to get into the knockout rounds, in which they looked on towards on what a repeat of their famous 2022 season would be.
The Knockouts
After defeating Mahanama College, Colombo by 8 wickets in the Quarters with the support of skipper Manula Kularathne’s 3-fer and Dinusha Pieris’s unbeaten knock of 78, Trinity advanced themselves into the semi-finals to face off against the mighty Royalists.
An anticipated contest was disturbed by rain, but thanks to an amazing century by Sri Lankan youth cap Supun Waduge and a DLS win by 10 runs meant that Trinity was just one shot away from going back-to-back!
One Final Push
The Thurstan College Grounds took centre stage as Trinity was to face St. Joseph’s College Colombo in a thrilling final on the 21st of November. A ground which would bring back fond memories for the Trinitians as a year ago when they managed to capture the title in the 2022 season. It was no surprise that Trinity was running high on confidence and going into the final with high ego spirits to create history at the Thurstan College Grounds.
Winning the toss and electing to bowl, the Trinity bowlers kept ticking off every St. Josephs batsmen who’d walk into the crease. One by one Trinity kept turning out wickets at regular intervals and just didn’t let the Josephians get the game going into their hands. A slight scare as a 47-run partnership was building for the 7th wicket, but Tharana Wimaladharama got the key wicket of his opposite number and as the wickets kept tumbling down, Trinity managed to get the Josephians all out for a modest total of 135.
The Sri Lankan Youth Cap Tharana Wimaladharama ended up with figures of 3-22 in 9 overs supported by the 2 left arm orthodox bowlers in Dinuka Tennakoon and Malith Rathnayake scalping 2 wickets each. While skipper Manula Kularathne and right arm leg-spinner Jayavi Liyanagama got a wicket each.
Thrills and Spills – a Rollercoaster Ride
It is a known fact that cricket is a funny game and no matter what situation in the game you may be in, there is always a chance that play can favour even those in desperate times. In what would be a simple run chase under normal circumstances to score 136 runs in 50 overs, it was never ever an easy run chase. And what we were treated to next; left the crowd in awe.
As the Trinity openers Viduka Dhammage and Vathila Udara set onto the field, the stage was set. The supporters cheering on in the background, hundreds of live telecast viewers, it was an absolute perfect way to start a run chase. But the Josephians thought otherwise, and a first ball duck for Viduka Dhammage caused everything to just pause…
With a pumped up start from the Jospehians, they never looked back as Trinity lost 4 wickets for just 43 runs on the board. With Trinity requiring 93 runs with just 6 wickets to spare, there were no favourites at this point. It was anyone’s game. Trinity needed something special.
Skipper Manula Kularathne and Supun Waduge had all eyes on them as they were against a pumped-up St. Joseph’s side, by the start they got. But with the cool and calm nerves of both batters, they built an important 56 run partnership for the 5th wicket, which settled the dressing room until Manula Kularathne was caught at point at which point Trinty was 99 for 5.
With just another few more runs required with sufficient wickets in hand, it seemed that the rest would just be a walk in the park for in form batsman Supun Waduge who passed his all-important half-century. But just a few overs later Supun Waduge found himself lofting the ball right into the hands at long on departing for a magnificent knock of 60 and Rajindu Thilakarathne getting bowled in his second ball found Trinity at 111 for 7.
A Rise to the Occasion!
The tension was high. Everything was on the line. What looked like would be a good run chase for the Trinitians already found themselves in a spot of bother. But Jayavi Liyanagama and Tharana Wimaladharama stepped to the occasion and scored a valuable partnership of 22 which made Trinity just 3 runs shy. Although Tharana Wimaladharma found himself getting bowled, it was Dinuka Tennakoon who had a moment to savour by hitting the winning runs with a six to make Trinity to go back-to-back in the Division 1 Tier A Limited Overs Tournament!
An eventful day with all kinds of emotions finally concluded. And the lions found themselves victorious once more defending their title at the Thurstan College Grounds.
Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to the tireless efforts and unwavering dedication of the coaching and support staff, under the leadership of Mr. Naveen Ekanayake and the assistance of Mr. Lakshitha Alahakoon alongside the Master-in-Charge Mr. Bryan Senaratne.
As another remarkable, unforgettable, and historic tournament concludes, Trinity eagerly sets its sights on the horizon, anticipating the highly awaited Under 19 Division 1 Tier A Two-Day Tournament in the days to come!
