Palink SC recognise junior cricketers
View(s):The prize distribution of the 3rd Under-15 Boys Inter Academy Cricket Tournament 2017 conducted by the Palink School of Cricket in collaboration with Palink Sports Club was held at the Railway Grounds, Mount Mary last Sunday.
SSC Blues emerged champions in this year’s tournament defeating NCC Blues in the finals. SSC Blues scored 160 for the loss of three wickets and NCC Blues in reply scored 157 for six wickets. In the 1st semi final SSC Blues beat Sugath Nanayakkara Cricket Academy by 46 runs while NCC Blues scored an easy 55 run victory over NCC Reds.
Former Anandian cricketer and a well respected administrator and mentor Foundation of Goodness, Kushil Gunasekera and former Dharmaraja and Adastrians cricketer and a cricket coach of highest class D.D.P. Alwis graced the occasions as Chief Guests and distributed the awards.
Speaking to the young cricketers Gunasekera said that there were no shortcuts to the top in cricket. “Hard work, dedication, sacrifice and discipline are the four main requirements for a young cricketer needs to be a good cricketer.” Where hard work is concerned the mentor of Foundation of Goodness quoted the legendary Kumar Sangakkara and Muttiah Muralidaran for their hard work and dedication which helped them to reach the top of cricketing world.
Two tokens of appreciation were presented to Kushil Gunasekera and D.D.P. Alwis by Palitha Gunasekera for their service they rendered for the upliftment of junior cricket.Palink School of Cricket which was inaugurated in 1995 is a volunteer organisation. It was started under the guidance of Lion Palitha Gunasekera, a former Anandian and Nomads cricketer.
This school of cricket has produced several national and international players in both categories, Men and Women. Some of its players are playing cricket in foreign countries are Narendra Ekanayake (National captain of Bahamas Island), Omal Rakapakshe (Captain of Bangalore University), Suresh Nadesan and Kevin Moore (Sussex League).
Palink SC, which introduced Women’s cricket to Sri Lanka in the early nineties had produced seven national captains namely K.M. Indrani, Shashikala Siriwardene, Chamari Polgampola, Sripali Weerakkody, Thilaka Gunaratne, Vasanthi Ratnayake and Hasini Perera.
- Lakshman Ranasinghe
