- Anura Tennekoon Challenge Trophy 2024 – T20 Triangular (STC / RC / TCK)
Day One of the Anura Tennakoon Challenge Trophy began at S. Thomas’ Big Club Grounds in Mount Lavinia on Monday the 12th of March, witnessing an impressive performance from the Thomians. They kicked off 100 year’s for Big Club at Mount by defeating Royal College by 4 wickets in a final over nail biter, followed by a dominant win over Trinity College by 80 runs to make their way into the Finals of the Challenge Trophy.
Royal College, having won the toss early in the day, set out to bat first against the home side in Game 1 of the four match series. Royals top order batsmen got the ball rolling with a stubborn stints early on but bad running between the wickets got the better of them. Despite their shaky start, S. Thomas College Mount Lavinia managed to limit Royal to a relatively low score of 116 for 9, picking up wickets more towards the death. Kavindu Dias emerged as the standout bowler for S. Thomas, claiming three wickets for a mere 22 runs but was well assisted by teammates Yatindra and Anuk.
In their chase, S. Thomas faced difficulties despite a strong start, slipping to 76 for 5 by the 14th over. However, a crucial partnership between Darien and Anshane steadied their innings, taking the game right down to the wire. With 11 needed off 6 rocks, Kavindu Dias smashed Royal for 15 runs in just 3 balls to ensure victory for the home side, doing so with 3 balls to spare.
Shortly the first game, the Thomians took on Trinity College in Game 2 of the Anura Tennakoon Challenge Trophy, thrashing the Kandyans by 80 runs. Nathan Caldera and Akash Fernando teamed up to initially keep the Thomians in the contest after a five wicket collapse, but ended up taking the game away from the Trinitians with a 118 run sixth wicket stand. Caldera and Fernando put on a show at the Big Club Grounds, batting through the remaining overs unbeaten, taking the hosts score to 172 at the end of their allotted overs. Nathan Caldera did well to stay calm under pressure, patiently collecting runs while wickets tumbled in the beginning of the run chase. His 51 rock stint, ending with an unbeaten 77 was the catalyst that motivated teammate Akash Fernando to power through with him, also reaching a speedy half century in 31 deliveries himself.
Chasing a mammoth target of 173 on a 70 meter boundary could not have been easy for Trinity College. The visitors had a commendable start to their run chase, but scoreboard pressure eventually sunk in and got the better of the boys from the hills. Trinity suffered a slow death with every one of the seven Thomians bowlers being economical, picking up 7 crucial wickets as they strolled through the second innings. Darien Diego and Shanil Perera both claimed two wickets a piece while first inning hero Nathan Caldera, Dineth Goonewardena and Abheeth Paranavithana chipped in with a wicket each to constrict the Kandyans to just 92 for 7 wickets.
S. Thomas’ two consecutive wins means they will play the winner of Game 3 on the 13th of March, in a final match to determine who raises the Anura Tennakoon Challenge Trophy in 2024.
Chief Scores : (Game 1 [STC vs RC])
Royal College – 116 for 9 in 20 overs (Hirun 30, Shane 28, Anick 12, Kavindu 3 for 22, Yatindra 1 for 18, Anuk 1 for 19)
S. Thomas College – 117 for 7 in 19.3 overs (Mithila 35, Thisen 24, Kavindu 15, Tharul 3 for 12, Khalid 1 for 13, Chirath 1 for 18)
Chief Scores : (Game 2 [STC VS TCK])
S. Thomas College – 172 for 5 in 20 overs (Nathan 77, Akash 56, Dineth 11, , Kanilka 2 for 21, Chaniru 2 for 25, Sethmika 1 for 27)
Trinity College – 92 for 7 in 20 overs (Oshana 30, Virul 24, Mahendra 13, Darien 2 for 13, Shanil 2 for 18, Nathan 1 for 2)
