Jaffna Central, a team to watch out and runners-up of Div-III
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(Standing from left) Tharsan (Master-in-charge), Kavitharsan, Januyan, Sansayan, Vithushan, Gowthaman, Tharmigan, Viyaskanth, Abiyuth, Kajan, Inthujan, Newton, Kishanthan (Physio), Shelton (Coach), Ajay
Jaffna Central College (JCC) scripted their own history by entering the final at recently concluded Sri Lanka Schools Under-19 Division III ‘Tier 3’ cricket tournament for the very first time, only missing out by a whisker from winning their maiden title. JCC had been cruising all along during the entire contest, winning with big, convincing and comfortable margins.
They, in fact, did so earning bonus wins too. It’s only in the title-deciding finals, their skills were tested when they had to chase down 210, and eventually, falling short by 17 runs.
S. Sarangan, an opening wicketkeeper/batsman, part of Sri Lanka’s Under-19 pool of 75, was the school’s highest run-scorer and the tournament’s only third, notching up 258 runs. While from the bowling department, it was the left-arm pacie, R. Newton collecting 14 wickets, the most by a Centralite in the tournament.
Their bowling strength had been such, comprising the likes of Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, an ex-captain of his school and now member of the Jaffna Kings, they did not concede over 100 runs up until the knockout stage. Viyaskanth, an ex U-19 cap, finished the season and his school career with a dozen wickets from the tournament.
Complementing their bowling unit, that batting also had fired when on most occasions, in knocking off targets with many wickets sparing or with all wickets intact.
Apart from Viyaskanth, JCC has also produced several other cricketers at U-19 level, who have featured in the Sri Lanka U-19 set up. Some of them are Donald Ganeshkumar, his younger brother K.M. Shanthikumar, R. Naguleswaran and Madushan Selvarajah.
The 206-year-old school also brags a rich sporting history having produced an Olympian Dr. Nagalingam Ethirveerasingham and the first school in the North to introduce cricket, scouting and football. JCC is also only the second of the two schools to have a big match running into three days and the duration is over a centenary period.
| JCC’s tournament progress | |
League stage
Pre-quarter-finals Playoff (2-dayer)
Pre-quarter-final
Quarter-final
Semi-final
Final
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