Desert Cubs Cricketers in Lanka from July 5-15
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The Desert Cubs Cricket Academy (DCCA), based in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE), are once again due in Sri Lanka on their annual Cricket tour, from July 5 to 15. The Desert Cubs, led by former Sri Lanka junior player Presley Polonnowita, will play 2-day games against top quality school teams. This year, the DCCA will bring 5 junior teams in the age categories of Under (U)-11, U-13, U-15 and U-18 to Sri Lanka. The U-18 team will be led by current UAE U-19 skipper Waruna Perera, and will include 2 talented girls as well. “This will be the 6th tour to Sri Lanka by the DCCA since its inception. The main reason for exposing the Academy’s kids to Sri Lankan school Cricket frequently is because the island nation is famed for maintaining one of the best Junior Cricket structures in the world,” Polonnowita said.
The DCCA’s 2016 tour will kick off in the south Sri Lanka. Then they will travel up to the central hills to face the best of the Kandy schools. The two-day games are all slated to be worked off in Kandy. The DCCA youngsters will pit their skills against both St.Anthony’s College and Trinity College. The final leg of the tour will culminate with matches in Colombo where the DCCA will compete with quality opposition at first class venues. A grand gala dinner and award presentation will herald the end of the tour on July 15. DCCA’s Management has planned to invite a number of former and current Sri Lankan Internationals to grace this occasion and mingle with the kids. Day-1 of the tour will be on July 6 when 5 matches are scheduled with a series 40-over games in the South.
The DCCA U-17 will play against Mahinda College at Mahinda grounds, while the 2 U-15s sides, Blues and Yellows, will take on Sri Sumangala at Hikkaduwa and St. Servatius College at Uyanwatte in Matara. The U-13 will play against Foundation of Goodness team at Surrey Village in Maggona, while the U-11 will play Richmond College in Galle. On July 6, the DCCA U-17 will play St. Servatius College at Uyanwatte, while the U-15 Blues and Yellows are scheduled to meet Mahinda College and Sri Sumangala College respectively at Galle and Hikkaduwa. The U-13 will meet Richmond College at Galle, while the U-11 will play Foundation of Goodness at Surrey Village in Maggona. On July 7, the 5 teams will be busy at the same venues but opponents swapped.
On July 9 and 10, the DCCA will travel to Kandy and Kurunegala for a series of 2-day games. The U-17 will meet Maliyadeva College at Kurunegala., while the U-15 Blues will meet St. Anne’s College and the U-15 Yellows will take on St. Anthony’s College at Katugastota. The U-13 will play Trinity College at Asgiriya while at Kandy Police Park the U-11 will meet Future Stars Cricket Academy. The tour will switch to a series of 40-over games on July 13 with the U-17 meeting Wesley College at Campbell Park, while the U-15 Blues will play Serendib International Cricket Academy at the BOI ground, Katunayake. The U-15 Yellows will play against St. Sebastian’s College at Moratuwa, while the Under-11 will meet the same opponents at De Zoysa Park. The U-13 will meet St. Peter’s College at Bambalapitiya.
The following day, the DCCA U-17 will meet Isipathana College at Mattegoda, while the U-15 Blues will meet St. Peter’s College at Bambalapitiya. The U-15 Yellows will meet Moratu Vidyalaya at De Zoysa Park, while the U-13 wil meet Serendib International CA at the BOI ground, Katunayake. The U-11 will play St. Peter’s College at Horana. On the final day of the tour, July 15, five 40-over games are scheduled. The U-17 will take on DS Senanayake College at Wijerama Mawatha, while the U-15 Blues will meet Isipathana College at Moors ground.
The U-15 Yellows will play Wesley College at Campbell Park. The U-13 meet the MCA Academy at the MCA ground, while the U-11 will take on Moratu Vidyalaya at De Zoysa Park. The DCCA is known for its innovative coaching methods and different types of match situations that it provides to its students, while the longer version games are another step towards developing the mental and physical skills of the kids from a young age. This year’s DCCA tour is sponsored by Dubai Duty Free and Matco Packaging. - LR