The curtain of the Under-19 Inter-School Limited Over tournament will come to an end with the final clash between Trinity and Dharmasoka Ambalangoda which is due to be played today at the CCC ground.
The two teams have had a successful season this year and was placed in the same group with Trinity coming out on top and Dharmasoka the second best. But when the two teams met each other in the two-day encounter Dharmasoka got the better of Trinity who will be looking forward to take sweet revenge today.
Trinity will be playing the limited over final for the second successive year this time around. They will be aiming to clinch the title that they almost won last year but could not get hold of. Dharmasoka on the other hand will be coming as underdogs. They are playing in an Under-19 limited over final for the first time in the history and will be hoping finish off the season on a remarkable note.
In the run up to the final, Trinity began their campaign with a massive win against the hapless St. Anthony’s Panadura and then overcame traditional rivals St. Anthony’s Katugastota in the pre-quarterfinal. Trinity followed it up with a massive win over Maliyadeva in the quarterfinal where the Lions blasted a mammoth score of 387 for 9. Then they booked the berth to the final with an easy win over high-riding St. Peter’s in the first semi-final.
In contrast it was not a cake walk for Dharmasoka. They began with a narrow two-wicket win over St. Patrick’s Jaffna before defeating St. Benedict’s by seven wickets in the pre-quarterfinal. In the quarterfinal clash against St. Sebastian’s they underwent some anxious moments. Dharmasoka were given a fright by the Sebs last pair before chalking up a thrilling 19-run victory. The semi-final encounter against Zahira played two days ago was a thrilling one for the Ambalangoda lads. Dharmasoka were almost in the receiving end when they were struggling on 122 for 9 but fought back thanks to their last wicket pair Thilan Maduranga and Chamath Gunasinghe who defied the Zahira bowlers for over 15 overs to see them through to the final.
Confronting Dharmasoka today is not going to be easy for Trinity though odds are much in favour of the Kandy lads. Dharmasoka possess some fine all-rounders but even then Trinity cannot afford to take their opponents simply as they have the capability of turning the apple cart.
Trinity have in their ranks players in the caliber of skipper Niroshan Dickwella, who made a swashbuckling knock of 162 against Maliyadeva, last year skipper Akila Jayasundara, Ron Chadragupta, Dinuk Wickramanayake, Janishka Premasinghe and Rajitha Jayatunga to name a few.
Dharmasoka too possess players who could turn the game in their favour. They have not been able to make any big scores in the competition but will be expecting skipper Gihan Mihiranga along with Duminda Kannangara, Thanura Helambage, Yohan de Silva, Adeesha Thilanchana, Ramesh Mendis and Chamath Gunasinghe to deliver the goods.
It all points to an interesting tussle between the two teams and whoever comes out as the winner will be laying the hands in the limited over title for the first time.
The teams:
Trinity: Niroshan Dickwella (Capt), Janishka Premasinghe, Akila Jayasundara, Ron Chandragupta, Dinuk Wickramanayake, Rajitha Jayatunga, Alwin Fernando, Amrith Srimahan, Lakshan Jayasinghe, Bhagya Palihawadana, Lakshitha Dassanayake, Heshan Wanniarachchi, Madushan Subendra, Arjuna Jayasinghe.
Dharmasoka: Gihan Mihiranga (Capt), Duminda Kannangara, Yohan de Silva, Ramesh Mendis, Adeesha Thilanchana, Thanura Helambage, Nimesh de Zoysa, Buddi Taraka, Pasan Piyaranga, Thilan Maduranga, Chamath Gunasinghe, Sudara Deshantha, Sohan Wellage, Amila Thabrew, Yasaru Umayanga, Hasindu Vidarshana.
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