Orient Lanka sponsors golf

Young Alain Gyi was in sizzling form on Saturday when he struck a superior par round to nett 68 and collect the ‘A’ Division classic medal donated by Orient Lanka Ltd., at the November 2000 Medal/stroke play competition at the Royal Colombo Golf Club. His handicap of 3 should be shaved. Coming behind him was new to the scene Rod Grainger who has been quite alert in recent competitions and as expected he came quite good with a nett 71. Anel de Silva dropped to a single figure handicap just recently and despite the pressure he appeared quite comfortable collecting a sound nett 71 to tie with Grainger. Anura Rohana came third with nett 72 off a handicap of plus 2. Jehan de Saram settled for gross 75 nett 72 while Doc D. Thurairajah sadly faltered twice and had to be unhappy with nett 76.

Takata’s great win

Akira Takata has been with us for several years. He is friendly and amiable and talks the language of golf with great competence. A popular personality he plays consistently good golf and it was no surprise when he clinched a hard fought win over Nirmal Hettiarachi to take the ‘B’ Division medal with gross 80 nett 67. Hettiarachi had the pleasure of shooting the best gross score 79 in this Division.

Young Takata shines

Ray Takata is young and brimful of confidence. Coming under the wing of Papa Akira Takata the young boy is hitting excellent irons. He was in good form last week when he shot 84 to collect the best gross score in the ‘C’ Division and also nett 65 to tie with Chandra Jayawardena for the 1st place. Jayawardena is a seasoned campaigner having been in the game for years. He was striking the ball well and ended with a commendable nett 65 and with a better back nine he edged off Ray Takata to take the ‘C’ Division Orient Lanka Medal.

Weeraratne repeats

In-form Frank Weera-ratne is coming back strongly to take pride of place among the seniors. Just recently he cracked into a winning streak and was awarded first position and last week he returned to the scene to be the best of all the seniors. On Sunday at beer time he was beaming and all smiles.

Disaster and success

There were a few who crept into the disaster zone through absolute lack of concentration or total negligence and indifference over little details. Hemal Fernando was negligent while Chamath Kulasinghe was indifferent and those who did not give a damn about results were Shirley de Silva, Baboo Wickremaratne, Rohan Fernando, Tissa Jayasinghe and Siri de Silva. They all made packets of confetti with their cards. In another group I found the century minded who tried desperately to outclass the dashing stamp of Sanath Jayasuriya. Those who appeared outstanding were Lester Weiman, Mohan Ratnayake, Upali de Silva, D. Hettiarachi, Tissa Wickremasinghe, Firaz Hameed and Rohan Withanachchi.

Owen Mottau

In town and in circulation in the right places is Owen Mottau a great burgher now an Australian citizen. A colourful and formidable cricketer he has been assigned to look after our freshers. Mottau is noted for strict discipline and combined with his expert knowledge of the game the freshers will be completely refreshed to reach the expected standards. His impact on the boys will be tremendous. In another field he has had a helluva impact on Dave Whatmore. Enticed by offers of extra strokes Dave comes a cropper regulargly at Golf contributing much to Mottau’s tax free income. What’s more, I too suffered similarly on some courses in Melbourne when Mottau first enticed me and then plundered my meagre dollars.

Rover Pinpoints....

No such number; No such name

Not being able to stomach the exposures in the Rover column, some have been writing letters with non-existent addresses. Why not face the truth and come forward and discuss same to see who is right and who is wrong.

Why act like cowards. Don’t try to wash dirty linen in public.

Code of conduct for whom ?

The AAA had stated that they were introducing a code of conduct for athletes. Rover wishes to ask, why not have one for the coaches, officials and administrators too, which might serve the cause.

Money returned

A leading figure of a popular sport has returned 500 US dollars, stating that he did not need that money and he took calls with his personal funds.

Ran for his life

A serviceman serving in the Southern Province was seen running for his dear life when chased by a member of the fair sex at the Milo Inter Schools Netball Championships last weekend.

Rover learns that this member of the fair sex was teased by this serviceman on the grounds, asking her whether it was knock-out tournament for which she responsed that it was so and chased this serviceman with an umbrella in hand watched by the players and officials. He vanished in his double cab.

The member is a teacher in charge of netball from a leading school in Colombo.

Bowled round the legs

Much talk was heard by the newly appointed Minister of Sports, posing the question as to why two grounds in close proximity.

But Dambulla bowled Pallekelle, with the promise that Pallekelle will have an Academy and Dambulla the Stadium. The question is who is going to finance the Academy. Your guess is good as mine.

Refused

The AGs Department has refused the proposal made by the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka for amendments to be made to their Constitution.

The AGs Department in a proposal made by the Cricket Board in a letter dated October 4 has refused to the Cricket Board’s request. The reply is dated October 18.

Sirisoma shines at world billiards

Attapatu sends Antonians on leather hunt in Premier League

By Marlon Fernandopulle

Sri Lanka vice captain Marvan Attapattu compiled a majestic unbeaten century to help SSC compile an imposing 335 for 4 and nudge their opponents Antonians SC on the Duckworth-Lewis System in a Premier League Limited over tournament game at Maitland Crescent yesterday.

Invited to bat first on a good batting wicket SSC openers Avishka Gunawardene (46) and Ian Daniels (20) put on 59 runs before Daniel departed. Attapattu strode to the crease in his customary number three position and unleashed a flurry of strokes on both sides of the wicket as the Antonian bowlers watched in despair. After losing Gunawardene at the other end Atapattu was joined by his captain Mahela Jayawardene. The duo sent the Antonian bowlers on a leather hunt as they added 122 runs for the third wicket. Jayawardene’s contribution was 61 off 66 balls and included four boundaries and a six.

Despite losing his partner Marvan Atapattu continued in the same vein smashing six boundaries and a six to remain unbeaten on 115 off 123 balls and help SSC reach a formidable 335 for 4 in 50 overs.

Chasing an asking rate of over 6 runs an over the Antonians were never equal to their task. They lost wickets at regular intervals and were playing out for time with the rains threatening.

SSC on the other hand ran through their overs to bowl 25. 1 overs before the rains finally came.The Antonians at this stage were 94/4 but needed a target of 166 on the Duckworth Lewis System to emerge winners.

NCC crush Matara

NCC trounced Matara SC by eight wickets in a Premier League Limited over game at Maitland Place yesterday.

Batting first Matara SC were bundled out for 135 in 49.4 overs. After losing their first wicket with the score at zero the visitors recovered through a 51- run second wicket stand between I.Priyantha (16) and N.Guruge (30).However after that stand was broken the rest of the Matara SC batsmen succumbed to the NCC spin of Malinga Bandara(2/21) and Hashan Tilakaratne (3/18) to be all out for 135.

Opener Kumar Sangakkara then hit an unbeaten half century as NCC cruised to their victory target in the 25th over minutes before the rains came down. Sangakkara who struck three boundaries in his 68 ball knock added an unbroken 63 runs for the third wicket with Russell Arnold who remained unbeaten on 35 off just 23 balls.

Tamil Union unlucky

Table Leaders Tamil Union were forced to share points with Moors SC after heavy rain washed off their game at the P. Sara Stadium.

Moors winning the toss and batting first in a 33- over encounter were shot out 107 in 32.1 overs. Chandika Hathurusinghe top scored with 21 while left arm leg spinner Niroshan Bandaratilake was the pick of the bowlers claiming 4 for 13.

Tamil Union were well on the way to victory at 55 without loss in only 11 overs before the heavens opened out and forced the players in.

No decision

Bloomfield and BRC had to be content with a no-decision after rain halted play at Reid Avenue yesterday.

Bloomfield batting first hit up 154 for 7 in their allotted 33 overs.In reply BRC were 42 for 2 in 7 overs when rain halted play.

Colts hold the gun

By Leonard Ratnayake

Duckworth/Lewis was the decider at Colts Grounds as the match between Colts CC and Galle CC ended with a victory to Colts after heavy showers in Colombo halted play at 4.00 p.m.

Galle, chasing a victory target of 227 runs in 50 overs, were 86 for the loss of five wickets in 29 over when the two umpires called off play due to rain and decided the victors on Duckworth/Lewis run rate system.

According to the Duckworth/Lewis system, Galle who had lost five wickets in 29 overs, needed to have scored over 133 runs to pull a win, but ended conceding a worthy 47-run victory to the opposition.

Colts however was poised for victory having sent the Galle top order back to the pavilion cheaply, except for the other opening bat Sudarshana who made 31 runs.

Galle batsmen never seemed to be settling to make a long innings as they were troubled by Colts pace attack led by Eric Upashantha. He captured two wickets for 25 runs sending seven overs, while Kaushalya Weeraratne finished with one for 11 in three overs.

Earlier electing to bat first, Colts suffered an early shock when last week’s centurion Romesh Kaluwitharana was run out in the first over even without facing a ball.

Thereafter their middle order batsmen made valuable contributions while in the tail, Chaminda Vaas (20) and Eric Upashantha (31) put up the total.

A superb spell of bowling by Saman Fonseka who captured four for 45 and Pasan Wanasinghe with three for 33 restricted the Colts innings for 226 runs in 47.3 overs. Viraj Perera chipped in with two for 53.

Karunasena who was responsible for the dismissal of Kaluwitharana, continued his outstanding fielding performances holding onto three brilliant catches.

Panadura consolidate

Panadura SC, leaders of their group, consolidated their position with a win against Sebastanites CC by 13 runs when Duckworth/Lewis came into the decision with the rain spoiling the game again.

Sebastanites were 14 runs short of asking 124 for victory under the Duckworth/Lewis method, when they had lost five wickets in the 28th over before rain stopped play.

Panadura batting first had made only 204 runs in their allotted 50 overs and contained the Sebastanites batsmen to 110 runs in 28 overs taking five wickets.

Police up on Duckworth

Police SC beat the giant killers Singha SC by six wickets at the Police grounds.

When rain stopped play at 4:00 pm , Police who were chasing 157 runs for victory were well placed with 78 for the loss of four wickets in 24.4 overs to be up in the Duckworth/Lewis run rate method.

Singha SC, who beat the tournament favourites SSC last Saturday, were bowled out for 156 runs in 47.1 overs by underdogs Police SC.

Only Pulasthi Ranga(52) made a half century in the match to strengthen the Singha total.

T. Abeyratne spearheaded the attack for Police taking five wickets for Police.

In reply Police had made 78 runs for four wickets in 24.4 overs when rain stopped play.

Scores at a glance:

SSC vs Antonians at Maitland Crescent:

NCC beat Matara SC by eight wickets at Maitland Place.

Tamil Union share pts.with Moors at Sara Stadium

Bloomfield and BRC in ‘No Decision’ at Reid Avenue.

Colts win over Galle CC at Colts Grounds

Panadura SC beat Sebastianites at De Soysa Stadium Moratuwa

Police beat Singha SC by six wickets.

Nalanda post highest score

By Bruce Maurice.

At the eighth annual six-a-side cricket tournament organised by the Old Wesleyites SC at Campbell Park yesterday, Nalanda recorded the highest score of the day, when they scored 71 runs against Kalutara Vidyalaya.

The highest score of the day was by S. Peiris of Nalanda who scored 55 against Kalutara Vidyalaya.

Scores:

Nalanda beat Joseph Vaz (Wennappuwa) by 4 wkts..

Joseph Vaz - 55 (S. Fernando 12, M. Rodrigo 14, M. Porage 2 for 17).

Nalanda - 56 for 1. (M. Porage 34, S. Peiris 20 n.o).

Weluwana Vidyalaya beat S. Thomas’ Mount Lavinia by 5 wkts.

S. Thomas’ College - 13 ( S.Wishwawarage 1 for 3, S. Gamage 1 for 3, Praboda 1 for 2)

Weluwana - 14 for no wkt.

St. Joseph’s College beat Isipatana by 7 runs.

Isipathana - 58 (Malinda 29).

St. Joseph’s - 65 for 1. (Danuka 37, Dilshan 19).

Wesley College beat C.W.W. Kannangara by 4 wkts.

.C.W.W Kannangara - 45 (Mahendra 15, O. jayasinghe 10).

Wesley - 46 for 1 wkt. (Sajeewa 14, not out, Nuwan 19 not out). Mahanama beat Zahira by 5 wkts.

Zahira - 45 (Imran 24).

Mahanama - 46 for no wkt (Hamza 28).

Thurstan beat St. Benedict’s by 3 wkts.

St. Benedict’s -15 all out.

Thurstan -16 for 2.

Nalanda beat Kalutara Vidyalaya by 48 runs.

Nalanda - 71. (S. Peirs 55).

Kalutara Vid -23 all out

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