Sports

6th January 2002

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Murali's nine wickets:
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Contents

Rover pinpoints ...

Seeing is believing
The Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association President's XI were in for some shabby treatment during their match against the Sussex XI at the Galle Esplanade.

The President's XI players were told to travel by themselves to the match venue and were served dhal and bread for breakfast and after the match they were told to find their way back to Colombo. Several officials travelled to Colombo in their high-powered vehicles but none of them had a thought for the cricketers who did all the hard work on the field. Oh well that is life eh?

Another fast bowler
Who is this coach who is demanding that a fast bowler be played in the Sri Lanka team and a lot of fuss was played about this player in the dressing room with the senior players wanting a spinner instead. The coach was seen muttering away when he did not have his own way.
Have you heard this?
A parent of a leading schoolboy cricketer had aproached an umpire, who was on the panel to pick the award winner at a junior match up in the hills. 

The parent had insisted that his son, a bowler of repute, should be awarded the best bowler's prize. This bowler, however, bagged only two wickets while another lad captured three. When the awards were made the boy who captured two wickets failed to turn up for the award while the other received his award as thebest bowler.

Lalin, Soysa tops sailing
Lalin Jirasinha and Soyza of the Sri Lanka Navy were winners of the Navy Cup Sailing Championships - 2001 organised by the Ychting Association of Sri Lanka sponsored by Mobitel at the Bolgoda Lake.

The runners up were W.P.K.Janaka and T.T.B. Kodituwakku also of the Navy. Joseph Kenny and Janisha Kariyawasam took third spot.

On your marks
A national pool of eighty nine athletes which comprises of forty nine men and forty in the women's category have been selected in preparation for forthcoming Asian Athletic meet to be held in Sri Lanka in August this year and for other International meets that are scheduled to be held in the future. 

The pool includes sprint queen Susanthika Jayasinghe, Sriyani Kulawansa, and Sugath Tilekeratne and many more talented athletes who are knocking at the door.

All the athletes who are include in the pool are requested to report to the Department of Sports Development on January 8 at 10.00 a.m.

The Pool: (Men)- Sugath Tilekeratne, W.V.S. Ravindrakumara, S.P.N.Hemantha, N.S.B.Aludeniya, K.S.Mendis, S.A.M.R.Bandara, R.P.Pradeepkumara, S.P.Wasanthakumara, W.M.C.I.Wijekoon, J.M.S.Jayaweera, R.M.T.Ratnayake, K. Chandradasa, G.S.P. Mendis, K.C. Wasantha, H.R.N.V. Bandara, J.M.C.J. Jayasuriya, U.I. Bandara, T.M.S.S. Bandara, A.I. Indika Kumara, T.M. Nawagamuwa, S.T. Gunasekara, H.A.R. Ratnayake, Manamperi Sunimal, H.A.N. Bhuddika, W.M.S.D. Weerasinghe, A.D.N.P. Rathnasiri, Rangana Pegeira, R.P. Perera, R.M.C.P. Laksiri, B. Prabath, De Silva Duminda, I.C. Vithanage, Kumara Suresh, Weerasinghe Sampath, I.S. De Silva, A.P.K.U. Amarasinghe, T.F. Alailima, Silva P. Anura, G.W. Fonseka, Upendra K. Gayan, D.M.S.K. Dissanayake, A.B.P. Nishantha, K.A.G.C. Thilakaratne, P.K. Aluvihare, M.D. Nimal, A.J. Weerasooriya, V. Murugadas, Chinthaka de Soysa, Danushka J Perera.

(Women) - Susanthika Jayasinghe, Damayanthi Dharsha, Kulawansa MA Sriyani, Herath Pradeepa, Chathurangani Jani, Umayani Inoka, Sooriyarachchi Anoma, L.S. Irangani, D.H.M. Priyadharshani, S. Edirisinghe, K.L. Gunawardena, A. Atapattu, R.P.U. Kanchanamala, Wickramasinghe Menaka, R.D. Edirisinghe, D.A. Inoka, J.H.A.T.S. Jayasekara, S.N. de Silva, W.G.P. Sanjeewani, K.K.C. Priyadharshani, S.V.A. Kusumawathi, T.G.K. Sandamali, Kodikara Janitha, N.C.D. Priyadharshani, W.A. Ruklanthi, Chandrasena Nayanthi Kumari, Ekneligoda Anusha, D.K. Hemachandra, A.A.D. DInesha, N.M.D. Muthunayake, B.L.P.N. Wijesundara, E.A.M. Edirisinghe, N.B. Perera, De Silva Anne Maheshi, P.L.N. Lakmali, A.D. Nandawathi, Lak Priyadharshani GL Rukma, Rathnayake R.M.U. Shamali, N.M.K. Mapa, M.N.S.N. Manchanayake. -MSA

Enjoining order against Jaffna DCA
On a petition filed by the Asst. Secretary of the Jaffna District Cricket Association at the District Courts of Jaffna challenging the suspension of him by the JDCA for a period of two years from attending any committee meetings until two Annual General Meetings as illegal and to be declared null and void.

In his petition he had stated that the normal norms of law are observed in imposing this sentence by the JDCA on the complaint made by the Secretary of the JDCA that he was assaulted by the Asst. Secy. immediately after an adjourned committee meeting. The letter of suspension to the Asst. Secy. by the Secretary who was supposed to have been assaulted.

No charge sheet was served nor any explanation called nor was this matter referred to the Disciplinary Committee as laid down in the Constitution.

The Court having satisfied on the evidence placed issued an Enjoining Order restraining the Jaffna District Cricket Association from conducting any Executive Committee Meetings, Special General Meetings or the Annual General Meeting till the 15th of Jan. and had asked the Association to file answer on this date as to why this order should not be extended further.

Earlier the JDCA in a similar fashion voted out the duly Elected President and suspended the Captain of the University of Jaffna Cricket team for a period of one year arbitrarily without following the normal norms as laid down in the Constitution.


Tiny Manoj hits Arjuna's massive record for six

By M.Shamil Amit
Twelve-year-old Manoj Thushara Perera, a grade nine student of Science College, Mt. Lavinia performed an incredible feat hitting a massive unbeaten 318 in an Under 13 inter-school cricket match against Arethusa College, Wella-watte.

He also went on to establish a Sri Lanka schools record eclipsing the previous highest score of 315 not out held by none other than the former Sri Lanka cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga way back in 1978 in a Under 15 match against St. Peter's College, Negombo. 

The feature of young Manoj's marathon innings is that he accumulated his score by hitting 50 boundaries which is 200 runs and eighteen towering sixes that counts to 108 both put together accounts to 308 of the 318 he scored. 

Astonishing
An astonishing feat which any batsman would cherish to achieve but a milestone that anyone will have to work hard for. He also put on a record partnership of 437 runs for the second wicket with Indika Lakmal Silva, whose contribution was 128. 

His team hit a massive 498 for 3 wickets in just 61 overs which is also another record. Arjuna's feat in contrast included of lesser boundaries and sixes. 

Arjuna had a partnership of 300 odd for the first wicket and his team scored 445 for 1 wicket in that match.

When the Sunday Times spoke to Manoj, who also captains the side, and asked what he felt when he heard that he has broken a record which was held by one of the greatest cricketers that Sri Lanka has produced. He was shocked. 

He says he was happy not because he broke the record and he kept on improving with every match he played. 

This record breaking score cannot be taken lightly as it is not a fluke or a flash in the pan. Before this feat he has been in the runs in almost every match he played. 

He scored four half centuries - 57 against Piliyandala MMV, 50 against Dharmapala, Pannipitiya, 78 against Hindu College, Ratmalana and 63 against Piliyandala MMV in a second round game. With one century - 120 against Revatha MV, Balapitiya. 

Plans
When asked about his plans for the future he said that his main ambition is to represent the national team. Manoj is the last child in a family of five children - three sisters and a brother elder to him. 

The irony of it is that he comes from a poor family his father L. Rubert Perera has no permanent job. He is painting contractor but that does not prevent him from denying this talented boy from playing cricket. 

The father said he is cricket crazy and is always with a bat in the hand and even in his sleep he shouts in his dreams :"Take that catch," as he is the captain he is always active. 

He is also grateful to the school as he was presented with a bat and they opened a savings bank account with NSB in his name. 

When inquired how he manages his sons expenses without a permanent job, he said his wife's sister's son Chandana Pushpakumara who hires private cars helps out with most of his son's cricket commitments.

Shocked 
His mother Jayanthi Perera was finding for words as she was shocked to see the publicity that her son is getting and the after glow of that. Probably she is unable to understand that her son has broken a long-standing record. 

The only thing she could tell was, "I am proud of my son's achievement and we will do every thing possible to improve his cricket".

The most interesting part of the whole affair was when the boy was taken to the house of the previous record holder Arjuna Ranatunga in Nugegoda. Arjuna had been informed earlier and was keen to speak to the record-breaker. Arjuna greeted him warmly, and said, "So you are the one who broke my record. Come let's speak more about it."

Having spoken to Manoj, the former Sri Lanka skipper in appreciation of this wonderful feat requested the parents that the boy should be looked after with care and be given better coaching which of course the parents could never dream of. 

Responsibility
Arjuna said that he will take full responsibility of this talented boy and the first steps he will be taking will be to take the lad to Arjuna's 'guru' and coach Lionel Mendis for more training and to polish his batting. 

Arjuna undertook to spend or give whatever help Manoj required for the betterment of his cricketing career. 

When the Sunday Times asked what he thinks of this extraordinary feat and his record being broken. He started by saying: "I was happy when I read this which was highlighted in a newspaper." Regarding the record being broken he said it was nice to see that there is hidden talent in lesser known schools. 

Asked Arjuna, "Why was this not highlighted when it was established. When I scored my triple hundred it was in the papers the very next day!" 

Continuing Arjuna said: "I am proud to see players of this calibre. 

We should nurture them." He also said that it is immaterial against whom the record was set up whether it was a weak opposition or even a ladies team. To score a triple hundred specially at this age is something special which I appreciate very much". 

Encouraging words from a great player. He was sorry the boy was not allowed to continue his batting which most probably could have broken the world record of 411 (for schools) held by another batting star Sachin Tendulkar. 

Sachin scored this when he was 16 years. 

To end this happy day for the record breaker, Arjuna presented him with cricketing gear and promised that there is more to come from him. A promise he said he will oblige very soon. 

We left Arjuna with a mission accomplished.



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