• Murali's spin tears down Sinhalese SC
• Renaldeen provides tingle
• Kandambi, Pushpakumara power Ananda to victory
• Ananda favoured to hold Lemonade Cup
• A do-or-die battle for supremacy
• Jehan De Saram in impressive win
• Thangavelu ABA President
• Rover pinpoints.......
• Player Benefits
• Japanese Judokas for Ambassador Cup
• Ajith, Bonita win Kinross sea swim

Tamil Union gains 24 run victory in the Premier League Limited over final

Murali's spin tears down Sinhalese SC

By Marlon Fernandopulle

Sri Lanka off spinner Muttiha Muralitharan picked up the prize wickets of Marvan Atapattu and Mahela Jayawardene to help Tamil Union to an emphatic 24 run victory over Singhalese Sports Club in the Premier League Limited over final at the NCC grounds yesterday. Chasing Tamil Union's imposing 246 runs for victory SSC were sitting pretty at 124 for 2 wickets with Marvan Atapattu and Mahela Jayawardene putting together a century stand for the third wicket But a vicious turner from Muralitharan in his sixth over, which was kept a fraction low , sneaked past Jayawardene's defence to disturb his stumps. Jayawardene's contribution was only 42 but the 105 run stand for the third wicket with Atapattu helped SSC to be on course for victory.

With the dismissal of the Lankan vice captain, opener Marvan Atapattu shouldered the responsibility and anchored the SSC innings with another classic exhibition of batsmanship. The stylish opener was in scintillating touch driving and pulling with precision timing and perfect placement. He received no support from any of his team mates as he battled all alone in the middle.

To make matters worse for SSC two of their batsmen Upekha Fernando and Tilan Samaraweera needlessly ran themselves out and skipper Hemantha Wickremaratne threw his wicket whilst playing an irresponsible stroke.

With Atapattu running out of partners and overs, he had to cut loose and look for the big hits. He was trapped well by Muralitharan who had him well stumped down the leg side by Galagoda at 112 that not only ended a classic innings, but also sealed the fate of his club. SSC were eventually bowled out for 222 in the 48th over.

Earlier in the day Tamil Union, who were invited to bat, did well to pace their innings and compile 246 for 8 in their 50 overs.

Number three batsman Ruwin Peiris was their mainstay cracking a splendid century off 114 balls. Peiris who struck a dozen boundaries added 105 runs for the third wicket with Indika de Saram (25) to help build a challenging total. Allrounder Gayan Wijeyakoon made a useful unbeaten 32 as Tamil Union reached 246 for 8 wickets in their 50 overs.

Tamil Union who narrowly missed winning the Premier League carried away the Winners' prize of 150,000.

Scoreboard

Tamil Union

I Galagoda st M Perera b U Fernado 14

N Shiroman ct S Ranatunge b D Gamage 01

R Peiris run out 104

I de Saram ct A Gunawardene b M Jayawardene 25

U Chandana c D Fernando b M Jayawardene 13

G Wijeyakoon n o 32

C Fernando run out 01

N Bandaratileke lbw b R Dhammika 03

S Jayaratne ct D Fernando b T Samaraweera 16

M Muralitharan not out 01

Extras 21

Total(for 8 wkts in 50 overs) 246

Fall of wickets: 14,52,157,189,190,193,204,240

Bowling:D Gamage 7-0-41-1 D Fernando 8-0-33-0 U Fernando 8-0-33-1 T Samaraweera 10-0-43-1 Ranil Dhammika 10-0-52-1 MahelaJayawardene 7-0-39-2

SSC

A Gunawardene c Galagoda b M Villawarayan 1

M Atapattu st Galagoda b Muralitharan 112

S Ranatunge c Galagoda b S Jayaratne 01

M Jayawardene b Muralitharan 42

U Fernando run out 4

H Wickremaratne st Galagoda b C Fernando 17

M Perera c Chandana b Bandaratileke 9

T Samaraweera run out 00

R Dhammika c(sub) b Bandaratileke 7

D Fernando not out 7

D Gamage b Bandaratileke 1

Extras 21

Total(all out in 47.5 overs) 222

Fall of wickets 8,19,124,133,180,191,197,217,217,222

Bowling:S Jayaratne 7-0-27-1 M Villawarayan 7-0-27-1 G Wijeyakoon 1-0-9-0 N Bandaratileke 9.5-0-46-3 M Muralitharan 9-0-40-2 C Fernando 8-1-43-1 U Chandana 6-0-29-0

Renaldeen provides tingle

By Ravi Nagahawatte

The annual big match cricket encounter between Gurukula and Sri Dharmaloka ended in a drab draw at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday when play was called off at 4.30 pm due to bad light .

The two days of cricket produced little excitement with the spectators having to wait till the final over of the match to have their hearts pounding which happened when Gurukula's A. Renaldeen was on a hat-rick.

The pace bowler brought the sparse crowd to the edge of their seats and accounted for Dharmaloka's M. Sasirantha and S. Sanjeewa in the second over of the Gurukula second innings in which they were 6 for 2 at stumps.

Renaldeen however failed to live up to expectations with his third delivery which eventually happened to be the last ball of his productive over and the match .

Dharmasoka batting first yesterday made 213 all out while opponents Sri Dharmaloka posted a score of 149 for 9 declared after continuing from their overnight score of 30 for no loss.

Sri Dharmasoka - 213 and 2nd innings - 6 for 2 wkts at close (A. Renaldeeen 2 for 0)

Gurukula MV - 149 for 9 dec (S.Asanga 18, A. Sudesh 19,, M. Prasad 56, D. Nishantha 11, I. Nandasiri 18; A, Sandaruwan 2 for 31)

Kandambi, Pushpakumara power Ananda to victory

Ananda spurred on by a grand unbroken fourth wicket partnership of 106, between Sri Lanka Under 19 World Cup stars, skipper Thilina Kandambi (87 n.o.), and Muthumudalige Pushpakumara (53 n.o.),powered there way to a conclusive seven wicket's triumph over arch rivals Nalanda in their annual limited over cricket encounter at SSC grounds yesterday.

Thus Ananda regained the Dr. N.M. Perera memorial trophy from Nalanda having lost the trophy to them at last year's contest.

Chasing Nalanda's total of 211 for 9 wickets made off 50 overs, the lads from Ananda romped to their target at 212 for 3 wickets in 48.4 overs, with skipper Kandambi leading the batting

fireworks with a typically aggressive unbeaten knock of 87. Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, lended him fine support from the other end, stroked an enterprising 53. The two batsmen who got together with the Ananda score at 106 for 3, simply mauled the Nalanda bowlers around, to coast their way to the required target, while putting on show an excellent display of batsmanship to the sparse crowd present at the SSC last afternoon.

Kandambi's 87 which came off 102 deliveries was spiced with six fours and a six while Pushpakumara's 53 realised in 70 balls had five fours.

Nalanda - 211 for 9 wickets in 50 overs. (Mevan Porage 62 Malinga Gamarachchi 28, Mevan Dunusinghe 31, Dilhan Jayasundere 25, Hiran Gunawardene 15; Eshan Abeysinghe 2/34)

Ananda - 212 for 3 wickets in 48.4 overs. (Dinusha Bandara 12, Lakshan Fernando 18, Yohan Wickramage 33, Thilina Kandambi 87 n.o, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara 53 n.o.)

Ananda favoured to hold Lemonade Cup

By Jatila Karawita.

So who will be the undisputed schools limited overs kings? Will it be the Ananda maroons led by Sri Lanka youth cap Thilina Kandambi, or the Royal blue and gold captained by Ruchira Jayasuriya.

The answers to these queries will be known, by the end of the Lemonade Cup Schools knock-out limited over final between defending champs Ananda and Royal at SSC grounds today.

Ananda boasting of a champion all round team on paper,will move into the crunch-game as the top dogs, to retain the Lemonade Cup for the second successive year with the Royal XI taking to the field as the underdogs.

Possessing an array of talented cricketers in their ranks, with the likes of top-notch batsmen such as Lakshan Fernando, Dinusha Bandara, Sanjaya Bandara, Eshan Abeysinghe, skipper and hard-hitting left hander Thilina Kandambi to name a few, the lads from Maradana should hold sway, over their Colombo seven rivals in batting.

In bowling stakes, vice captain and Sri Lanka Youth Cap Akalanka Ganegama, Sri Lanka Cap Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, prolific wicket taker Kasun Fernando and skipper Kandambi himself, could be relied upon to run through the Royal batting line-up in what should turn out to be a stern test for the blue and gold batsmen.

Meanwhile the lads from Reid Avenue, as usual will pin their faith on their solid batting card led by lanky left hander and another of Sri Lanka Youth World Cup stars Jehan Mubarak, supported by the likes of skipper Ruchira Jayasuriya, Malinda Thotuwilage, Dhanushka Perera and Andrew Perera to keep the rampant Ananda bowlers at bay.

Their bowlers comprising Edirimuni, Kariyakarawana, Harith Rajakaruna, Ganganath Edirisuriya, Thotuwilage,and Mubarak should pose a serious threat to the Ananda batsmen, in what shapes up to be a right-royal battle for the ultimate prize in the schools shorter version of cricket.

Ananda - (From) Thilina Kandambi (Capt), Akalanka Ganegama (v capt), Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, Lakshan Fernando, Dinusha Bandara, Sanjaya Bandara,Kasun Fernando, Eshan Abeysinghe, Mohan Fonseka ,Nadeshan Jayakody, Rukshan Fernando.

Royal - (From) Ruchira Jayasuriya (Capt), Jehan Mubarak(v capt), Dhanushka Perera, Malinda Thotuwilage, Harith Rajakaruna, Andrew Perera, Sampath Edirimuni, Amila Kariyakarawana, Kanishka Edirisuriya, Ganganath Edirisuriya, Dilina Perera.

* Ball by ball commentaries will be given on this match over the SLBC by Eric Gauder in English and Palitha Perera and Kamal Desapriya in Sinhala.

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