Lucky Rogers claim Nelson Mendis Challenge trophy
View(s):The Lucky Rogers Cricket Academy exerted their authority over the undefeated CCC School of Cricket ‘A’ team to notch up an emphatic seven-wicket win and claim the Nelson Mendis Challenge Trophy, in the final of the
The champions A joyful Lucky Rogers CA team with the ‘Nelson Mendis’ Trophy and the CCC SC officials and Chief Guest Ranjan Madugalle in the centre.
ninth International Invitational Under 14 cricket tournament, which was played at the Thurstan College grounds on Friday.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, CCC SC ‘A’ were off to a good start and were 53 for one wicket and 73 for two, when things began to happen. With the introduction of spin, wickets fell at regular intervals. The last eight wickets fell for just 53 runs. The chief wrecker was Nipun De Silva, an off spinner who took five wickets for 31 runs and won the Man of the Match award. Omal Gunaratne, the left arm spinner took 3 for 22.
Chasing a meager total, Luck Rogers CA replied with 131 for three wickets in 33.3 overs to win the match by seven wickets. Vishwa Chathuranga 48, Navod Madusnaka 40 not out and Shammu Ashan 29 not out saw them home. .
The final was umpired by two national and ICC umpires, Asoka De Silva and Tyronne Wijewardena. Ashley De Silva, Manager Development, Sri Lanka Cricket was the Guest of Honour at the opening ceremony of the final.
The awards ceremony which followed at the Bishop’s College Auditorium was a glittering event, with Ranjan Madugalle, former Sri Lanka captain and current Chief Match Referee of the ICC, gracing the ceremony as the Chief Guest along with his wife Kumudhini.
In his address, Ranjan Madugalle stressed the importance and value of participating in a tournament of this magnitude with 36 teams including seven foreign teams fighting it out. He added that the young cricketers should make the best possible use of it and learn to enjoy playing and gaining much-needed experience and confidence which in turn will help them immensely in their future careers.
The genial cricketing ambassador also said, that young cricketers should also make an effort to enjoy the opportunity to make new friends among themselves and carry those friendships into the future, while respecting each other as fellow humans and thereby helping to strengthen peace, understanding and goodwill among all nations.
Nelson Mendis, Chairman of the Tournament Committee in his address paid a handsome tribute to the members of the Executive Committee of the CCC School of Cricket for all the hard work done to make this year’s tournament the best. He also praised and thanked the sponsors who have rallied round the school from the very inception and eased the burden of the organizers.
The runners-up CCC School of Cricket with the CCC Challenge Trophy and Chief Guest Ranjan Madugalle standing 6th from left in the back row.
Nasser Majid, Marketing Director, of Singer Sri Lanka PLC, the principal sponsor, said they are proud to be associated with the CCC School of Cricket from the inception as they strongly believe that participatory sports help build character among the youth of the country. He congratulated the organizers for a wonderfully done job.
Anuj Aloysius, the skipper of the CCC School of Cricket ‘A’ team made the welcome speech, while Sumith Tennekoon, secretary of the school and executive committee member proposed the vote of thanks.
The following awards were presented to the winners who excelled at the tournament.
Best batsman of the tournament: Kasun Abeyratne of MCA Cricket Academy.
Best bowler of the tournament: Hareen Weerasinghe of Madampa CA.
Best fielder of the tournament: Manoj Mendis of CCC SC ‘B’.
Best wicketkeeper of the tournament: Vishwas Chathuranga of Lucky Rogers CA.
Player of the final: Nipun De Silva of Lucky Rogers CA.
Player of the tournament: Tharusha Wijayabahu of CCC SC ‘A’.
Most disciplined team of the tournament: Pelawatte Cricket Academy. Sponsored by the Professional Umpires Association.
Runners –up: CCC School of Cricket (CCC Challenge Trophy).
Third place winners: Singha Cricket Academy.
Final scores
CCC SC ‘A” 126 in 39.5 overs (Sanogeeth Shanmuganathan 29, Tharusha Wijayabahu 28, Asel Siger 13, Nipun De Silva 5 for 31, Omal Gunaratne 3 for 22).
Lucky Rogers CA 131 for 3 in 33.3 overs (Vishwa Chathuranaga 48, Navod Madusnaka 40 n.o., Sammu Ashan 29 n.o., Charith Kankanamage 2 for 25) (BM)
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