ANTONIANS CROWNED JOINT CHAMPIONS – U13 DIVISION I TOURNAMENT
St Anthony’s College, Kandy were declared joint champions of the Under-13 Division I School Cricket Tournament after the final against Thurstan College ended in a draw yesterday (27 Jan 2026) at the Mercantile Cricket Association Grounds, Colombo. Skipper Sandil Seneviratne led from the front with a superb 94, adding a valuable 50-run partnership with Hiruka Abeyratne (30*) to guide the Antonians to a competitive total. The pair then bowled their hearts out, supported by some desperate ground fielding, to keep Thurstan in check. Sandil returned figures of 2/33 from eight overs, while Hiruka claimed 2/27 from ten overs.
The Antonians last claimed the Under-13 Division I title 28 years ago, sharing the championship with St Peter’s College in 1998. They reached the finals in 2019 but had to settle for the runners-up spot after going down to Royal College, Colombo. That side was coached by Dimuthu Weerasinghe and led by Induwara Galapitage, and included last year’s First XI captain and vice-captain, Charuka Ekanayake and Januka Rathnayake. More details on the past achievements of our Under-13 teams are outlined below.
The journey to the final was a demanding one, with 85 schools competing across twelve groups (eleven groups of seven teams and one group of eight) for Division 1 honours. From this field, 32 teams progressed to the pre-quarterfinal playoff round. The Antonians played six group matches and four knockout encounters to reach the final, overcoming St Benedict’s College, Colombo (pre-QF playoff), Ananda College, Colombo (pre-QF), St Joseph’s College, Colombo (QF), and defending joint-champions Devapathiraja College, Rathgama (SF).
Joint Champions - U13 boys from St Anthony’s College and Thurstan College posing with the trophy
The two skippers Sandil Seneviratne (SACK) on left and Didula Samarasinghe (Thurstan) receiving the trophy
U13 squad - 2025/2026
TOP-PERFORMERS
Skipper Sandil Seneviratne topped the batting honours in the tournament, amassing 408 runs in 13 innings at an average of 34.0, with four half-centuries. Crucially, the left-handed opener delivered in the pressure games, scoring 94 against Thurstan in the finals, 37 against Devapathiraja in the semi-final, 65 versus St Joseph’s in the quarter-final, and 63 against Ananda in the pre-quarter-final. Sandil’s 94 in the final—ending in a run-out off the very last ball—stood as the team’s highest individual score of the season.
His opening partner, right-hander Methupa Bandara, was the only other batter to cross the 200-run mark, compiling 247 runs at 19.0, including two half-centuries and a top score of 74 against Maliyadeva. All-rounder Vibu Samarakoon scored 173 runs in 11 innings at 28.8, with five not-outs.
In the bowling department, pace bowler Hiruka Abeyratne (26 wickets at 7.42), left-arm spinner Vibu Samarakoon (18 wickets at 6.61) and Sandil Seneviratne (16 wickets at 8.56) were the standout performers. In the side’s only outright victory, against Ranabima, Hiruka claimed a superb match haul of 10 for 15 (6/04 and 4/11). The other notable individual performance came from Vibu, who returned figures of 6/08 against Royal College, Polonnaruwa.
CRICKET ACADEMY
This success reflects the strong foundations laid from the age of 10 through the Antonian Cricket Academy. While due credit must go to the administration and the coaching staff—headed by Akalanka Dissanayake and supported by assistants Kavidu Bandara and Divyesh Ramaiyah—special recognition is owed to the Cricket Wing, led by Angelo Wickremasuriya, for its continued guidance and support. During the current season, St Anthony’s fielded teams across four divisions, providing nearly 80 players— all products of the academy—with the opportunity to compete. In a further reflection of the academy’s depth, three of the top Under-13 players were included in the senior squad, with one of them, Sandil, going on to feature in a couple of Under-19 matches for the second XI. This forward-thinking initiative by the Cricket Wing, aimed at fast-tracking the development of young talent, deserves special commendation. Well done.
PAST SUCCESS
Before this year’s triumph, one must go back to the golden era under coach Ranjith Colombage, when St Anthony’s dominated junior cricket by winning the Under 13 Division I title for four consecutive years from 1995 to 1998—a record unbeaten streak in schools’ junior cricket. The run began in 1995 when the side, led by Nafees Nizam, emerged Division I champions after defeating St Thomas’ Matara. In 1996, Prasad Ranawake captained the team to the same honour, sharing the title with Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala. The following year, under Nipuna Ratnayake, St Anthony’s became joint champions with St Sebastian’s, before completing an unprecedented four-in-a-row in 1998, jointly with St Peter’s, under the leadership of G.K.G. Madiwala. To this day, St Anthony’s remains the only school to have won the Under 13 Division I title in four consecutive years.
Success at junior level has long been the foundation of strong First XI teams. Complementing the achievements of the Under-13s, the Under-15 side were joint champions in 2020 under Lahiru Abeysinghe and again in 2022 under Okitha Fernando. The present First XI squad is largely composed of players from the successful 2022 Under-15 team. Meanwhile, the 2017 Under 15 side, captained by Gihan Ebert, was also well placed for a title run before the tournament was unfortunately abandoned at the semi-final stage.
St Anthony’s College has a proud tradition of nurturing exceptional cricketers from the junior ranks, many of whom have gone on to make significant contributions to our First XI teams and, in some cases, have represented the country. It was no coincidence that two of our most successful eras in under-13 cricket coincided with the guidance of two remarkable coaches: Sunil Fernando and Ranjith Colombage.
From the 1970s through to the early 1990s, our junior teams were shaped under the mentorship of Sunil Fernando, who developed a generation of outstanding cricketers. Among his protégés were Anura Dunuwille and Marlon Von Hagt, followed by Damian Nadaraja, Ruwan Kalpage, Piyal Wijetunge, and Muttiah Muralitharan. Some of the notable successes achieved under Sunil’s guidance include:
• 1975 - Under 12 reached the semi-final, All-Island Division One tournament
• 1976/77 - Under 14 reached the quarter-final
• 1980 - Under 11 became All-Island Division One joint Champions
• 1984 - Under 15 reached quarter finals
• 1984 - Under 13B became All-Island Division Two joint Champions
• 1984 - Under 13 reached quarter finals
• 1986 - Under 15 reached semi-finals
• 1987 - Under 13 became All-Island Division One joint Champions
• 1987 - Under 17 became runner-up Division One
Skipper Sandil Seneviratne had an outstanding all-round season scoring 408 runs and capturing 16 wickets
ROAD TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP
FINAL
Vs Thurstan College, Colombo at MCA Grounds, Colombo (27 Jan 2026)
SACK – 176/6 (50 overs): Sandil Seneviratne 94, Hiruka Abeyratne 30*
Thurstan – 175/4 (42 overs): Hiruka Abeyratne 2/27, Sandil Seneviratne 2/33
Match Drawn - Declared Joint Champioins.
SEMI FINAL
Vs Devapathiraja College, Rathgama at Ananda Shasthrayalaya Grounds, Kotte (16 Jan 2026)
Devapathiraja – 73 all out (45.5 overs): Hiruka Abeyratne 2/05, Sandil Seneviratne 2/05, Vibu Samarakoon 2/17
SACK – 111/5 (38.3 overs): Sandil Seneviratne 37, Methupa Bandara 15, Mohamed Farhan 15
SACK won on first innings and qualified for the Finals.
QUARTER FINAL
Vs St Joseph’s College, Colombo at Boyagane Army Cricket Grounds (03 Jan 2026)
SACK – 148/9 (50 overs): Sandil Seneviratne 65, Methupa Bandara 22, Mohamed Farhan 20*
SJC – 96 all out (36.3 overs): Hiruka Abeyratne 3/19, Janiru Bandara 3/21
SACK won on first innings and qualified for the SF.
PRE-QUARTER FINAL
Vs Ananda College, Colombo at Ananda Shasthrayalaya Grounds, Kotte (30 Dec 2025)
SACK – 177/8 (50 overs): Sandil Seneviratne 63, Danujaya Weerakoon, 21, Mohamed Farhan 18
Ananda – 137 all out (45.4 overs): Hiruka Abeyratne 4/24, Janiru Bandara 2/28
SACK won on first innings and qualified for the QF.
PLAYOFF FOR PRE-QUARTER FINAL
Vs St Benedict’s College, Colombo at Sarath Amunugama Stadium (22 Nov 2025)
SBC – 72/6d (38.2 overs): Vibu Samarakoon 2/11
SACK – 32/3 (19.2 overs): Methika Rajaguru 12*, Vibu Samarakoon 13*
Match Drawn – but SACK won on match points and qualified for the Pre-QF.
GROUP GAMES
(1) Vs Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala at Galagedara Central College Ground (27 Sep 2025)
SACK – 149/6d (34 overs): Methupa Bandara 74, Sandil Seneviratne 31
Maliyadeva College – 56/5 (35 overs): Hiruka Abeyratne 2/05, Vibu Samarakoon 2/12
Match Drawn
(2) Vs Sri Sumangala College, Kandy at Galagedara Central College Ground (02 Oct 2025)
SACK – 154/8 (50 overs): Vibu Samarakoon 46*, Danujaya Weerakoon 29, V Harikesh 21
Sri Sumangala College – 71/5 (50 overs): Inula Boyagoda 2/05
SACK won on first innings
(3) Vs St Anne’s College, Kurunegala at Galagedara Central College Ground (11 Oct 2025)
SACK – 160/9d (43.3 overs): Methupa Bandara 25, Methika Rajaguru 31, Vibu Samarakoon 40, Hiruka Abeyratne 22 and 41/4; Sandil Seneviratne 16, Matheesha Gunasekera 15*
St Anne’s College – 90 all out (36.3 overs): Sandil Seneviratne 3/23, Inula Boyagoda 3/12, Vibu Samarakoon 2/05.
SACK won on first innings
(4) Vs Ranabima Royal College, Peradeniya at Galagedara Central College Ground (30 Oct 2025)
Ranabima College – 16 all out (17.2 overs): Hiruka Abeyratne 6/04, Sandil Seneviratne 4/04 and 27 all out (17.2 overs): Hiruka Abeyratne 4/11, Sandil Seneviratne 3/01, Mihin Dissanayake 2/03
SACK – 131/1d (20 overs): Methupa Bandara 53, Sandil Seneviratne 53*
SACK won outright by an innings and 88 runs
(5) Vs St Sylvester’s College, Kandy at Vidyartha College Grounds, Kandy (01 Nov 2025)
St Sylvester’s College – 196/9 (50 overs): Hiruka Abeyratne 2/41, Danujaya Weerakoon 2/25, V Harikesh 2/36
SACK – 42/2 (18 overs): Methupa Bandara 15, Sandil Seneviratne 12
Match Drawn
(6) Vs Royal Central College, Polonnaruwa at RCC Grounds, Polonnaruwa (09 Nov 2025)
SACK – 119 all out (39.3 overs): Danujaya Weerakoon 26 and 77/4 (16 overs): Danujaya Weerakoon 28*
Royal Central College – 89 all out (39.3 overs): Vibu Samarakoon 6/08 (in 9.3 overs with 4 maidens)
SACK won on first innings
