The Hill Country Battle of the Blues: A Glorious Celebration of Tradition, Triumph, and Brotherhood at Foxton
Sunday, 30 August 2026
Foxton Granta Cricket Club, Cambridge (CB22 6RN)
The Battle of the Blues in the UK brought the Antonian and Trinitian communities together for a vibrant celebration of tradition, sport, and brotherhood Organised by St Anthonyβs with Asama Weerasekara leading the organising, with the support of the SACKOBA UK Committee under the presidency of Sachin Randunne, the event successfully brought the spirit of the Sri Lankan hill country to Cambridge.
Match Results & Highlights
Rev. Fr. Stephen Abraham Memorial Touch Rugby Trophy
St Anthony's won the inaugural Rev. Fr. Stephen Abraham Memorial Touch Rugby Trophy,
which was presented by TCK President Gihan Herath.
Antonian Sahan Keerthisiri won Best Player with 2 tries,
under the captaincy of Shehan Kodithuwakku.
Cricket β Dash-Thushara Memorial Trophy
St Anthony's batted first and posted a commanding total of
208 runs in 30 overs, driven by standout performances from:
- Saranga Rajaguru β 50 retired
- Kian Niyarapola β 27
- Kalhara Senarathne β 25 not out
- Manoj Sarathchandra β 50 retired
In response, Trinity fought hard with Adil earning best player
for the losing team after top-scoring with 37, alongside
Geshan (37) and Issadeen (25),
but they were restricted to 170 runs.
St Anthony's won the match by 38 runs and successfully retained
the Dash-Thushara Memorial Trophy under the captaincy of
Jonty Burah, which was presented by the wives of Dash and
Thushara (Dilhara & Shiromini).
Saranga Rajaguru, with wickets and runs, took the
Man of the Match.
Netball Shooting Challenge
Due to the absence of the ladies' netball match, a special shooting challenge
was held instead. Congratulations to Manha Uwaiz, who won
the grand prize of a dinner for two!
A Community Celebration & Family Festivities
Beyond the fierce and competitive action on the field, the day was designed
as an immersive family festival that captured the true essence of Sri Lankan
culture and community life in the UK.
Food & Sri Lankan Delights
Attendees enjoyed a vibrant culinary experience highlighted by a
live hoppers station starting in the late afternoon,
complemented by a spread put on by Antonians including Sri Lankan delights
like Kawum, Kokis, Aluwa as well as sandwiches, cakes and sweets.
Family Entertainment
The grounds buzzed with continuous energy through all-day karaoke,
a dedicated kids' zone, and games to keep families and younger
attendees entertained.
Evening Celebration
As the sporting encounters concluded, the atmosphere transitioned into a lively
evening celebration featuring professional DJ entertainment
that kept the community connected long after the final ball was bowled.
A Special Thank You
A big thank goes to all the families and friends of old antonians and
old trinitians in the UK, and St Anthonyβs sponsors
Perera and Sons, Dinesh Silva (Owl Financial) and WIS Accountancy.
A memorable family atmosphere that kept tradition alive and thriving thousands
of miles away from home.
Photographs by Praneeth Hettiarachchi
