Hilmy saves the day for Trinity

By Shamseer Jaleel

Trinity College fought back strongly on the second day of their 107th Battle of the Blues cricket encounter against St. Anthony’s College which continued at the Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy yesterday.

Trinity recovered from a shaky 71 for 5 to secure a valuable first innings lead of 107 runs thanks to a century from middle order batter Adham Hilmy as they made a first innings score of 264 in reply to 157 made by the Antonians.

At one stage Trinity were in the dumps at 111 for 7 after losing their skipper Dimantha Mahavithana who added just two runs to his overnight 52 after his team resumed at 66 for 3.

Adham Hilmy celebrates century

But Hilmy the Sri Lanka youth player batted with authority to rescue Trinity with some elegant stroke-play. 
His innings included ten boundaries and two towering sixes as he held the lower order together with great determination making 125.

He was involved in a crucial eighth wicket partnership of 78 runs with national youth fast bowler Sethmika Seneviratne (29), a stand that carried Trinity past the Antonian first innings total. Hilmy continued by adding a further 57 runs with Viduneth Dammage (15) for the ninth wicket, stretching Trinity’s advantage and securing an important first innings lead of 107 runs.

Batting a second time St. Anthony’s were 9 for 1 when rain stopped play 30 minutes before schedule.

Scores

St. Anthony’s 157 and 9 for 1 Trinity 66 for 3 overnight, 264 all out (Adham Hilmy 125, Dimantha Mahavithana 54, Sethmika Seneviratne 29, Sisal Hemaka 3 for 41, Kaveesha Samaratunge 3 for 55)