Rover pinpoints ...
Seeing is believing
The Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association President's XI were in for some
shabby treatment during their match against the Sussex XI at the Galle
Esplanade.
The President's XI players were told to travel by themselves to the
match venue and were served dhal and bread for breakfast and after the
match they were told to find their way back to Colombo. Several officials
travelled to Colombo in their high-powered vehicles but none of them had
a thought for the cricketers who did all the hard work on the field. Oh
well that is life eh?
Another fast bowler
Who is this coach who is demanding that a fast bowler be played in the
Sri Lanka team and a lot of fuss was played about this player in the dressing
room with the senior players wanting a spinner instead. The coach was seen
muttering away when he did not have his own way.
Have you heard this?
A parent of a leading schoolboy cricketer had aproached an umpire, who
was on the panel to pick the award winner at a junior match up in the hills.
The parent had insisted that his son, a bowler of repute, should be
awarded the best bowler's prize. This bowler, however, bagged only two
wickets while another lad captured three. When the awards were made the
boy who captured two wickets failed to turn up for the award while the
other received his award as thebest bowler.
Lalin, Soysa tops sailing
Lalin Jirasinha and Soyza of the Sri Lanka Navy were winners of the Navy
Cup Sailing Championships - 2001 organised by the Ychting Association of
Sri Lanka sponsored by Mobitel at the Bolgoda Lake.
The runners up were W.P.K.Janaka and T.T.B. Kodituwakku also of the
Navy. Joseph Kenny and Janisha Kariyawasam took third spot.
On your marks
A national pool of eighty nine athletes which comprises of forty nine men
and forty in the women's category have been selected in preparation for
forthcoming Asian Athletic meet to be held in Sri Lanka in August this
year and for other International meets that are scheduled to be held in
the future.
The pool includes sprint queen Susanthika Jayasinghe, Sriyani Kulawansa,
and Sugath Tilekeratne and many more talented athletes who are knocking
at the door.
All the athletes who are include in the pool are requested to report
to the Department of Sports Development on January 8 at 10.00 a.m.
The Pool: (Men)- Sugath Tilekeratne, W.V.S. Ravindrakumara, S.P.N.Hemantha,
N.S.B.Aludeniya, K.S.Mendis, S.A.M.R.Bandara, R.P.Pradeepkumara, S.P.Wasanthakumara,
W.M.C.I.Wijekoon, J.M.S.Jayaweera, R.M.T.Ratnayake, K. Chandradasa, G.S.P.
Mendis, K.C. Wasantha, H.R.N.V. Bandara, J.M.C.J. Jayasuriya, U.I. Bandara,
T.M.S.S. Bandara, A.I. Indika Kumara, T.M. Nawagamuwa, S.T. Gunasekara,
H.A.R. Ratnayake, Manamperi Sunimal, H.A.N. Bhuddika, W.M.S.D. Weerasinghe,
A.D.N.P. Rathnasiri, Rangana Pegeira, R.P. Perera, R.M.C.P. Laksiri, B.
Prabath, De Silva Duminda, I.C. Vithanage, Kumara Suresh, Weerasinghe Sampath,
I.S. De Silva, A.P.K.U. Amarasinghe, T.F. Alailima, Silva P. Anura, G.W.
Fonseka, Upendra K. Gayan, D.M.S.K. Dissanayake, A.B.P. Nishantha, K.A.G.C.
Thilakaratne, P.K. Aluvihare, M.D. Nimal, A.J. Weerasooriya, V. Murugadas,
Chinthaka de Soysa, Danushka J Perera.
(Women) - Susanthika Jayasinghe, Damayanthi Dharsha, Kulawansa MA Sriyani,
Herath Pradeepa, Chathurangani Jani, Umayani Inoka, Sooriyarachchi Anoma,
L.S. Irangani, D.H.M. Priyadharshani, S. Edirisinghe, K.L. Gunawardena,
A. Atapattu, R.P.U. Kanchanamala, Wickramasinghe Menaka, R.D. Edirisinghe,
D.A. Inoka, J.H.A.T.S. Jayasekara, S.N. de Silva, W.G.P. Sanjeewani, K.K.C.
Priyadharshani, S.V.A. Kusumawathi, T.G.K. Sandamali, Kodikara Janitha,
N.C.D. Priyadharshani, W.A. Ruklanthi, Chandrasena Nayanthi Kumari, Ekneligoda
Anusha, D.K. Hemachandra, A.A.D. DInesha, N.M.D. Muthunayake, B.L.P.N.
Wijesundara, E.A.M. Edirisinghe, N.B. Perera, De Silva Anne Maheshi, P.L.N.
Lakmali, A.D. Nandawathi, Lak Priyadharshani GL Rukma, Rathnayake R.M.U.
Shamali, N.M.K. Mapa, M.N.S.N. Manchanayake. -MSA
Enjoining order against Jaffna DCA
On a petition filed by the Asst. Secretary of the Jaffna District Cricket
Association at the District Courts of Jaffna challenging the suspension
of him by the JDCA for a period of two years from attending any committee
meetings until two Annual General Meetings as illegal and to be declared
null and void.
In his petition he had stated that the normal norms of law are observed
in imposing this sentence by the JDCA on the complaint made by the Secretary
of the JDCA that he was assaulted by the Asst. Secy. immediately after
an adjourned committee meeting. The letter of suspension to the Asst. Secy.
by the Secretary who was supposed to have been assaulted.
No charge sheet was served nor any explanation called nor was this matter
referred to the Disciplinary Committee as laid down in the Constitution.
The Court having satisfied on the evidence placed issued an Enjoining
Order restraining the Jaffna District Cricket Association from conducting
any Executive Committee Meetings, Special General Meetings or the Annual
General Meeting till the 15th of Jan. and had asked the Association to
file answer on this date as to why this order should not be extended further.
Earlier the JDCA in a similar fashion voted out the duly Elected President
and suspended the Captain of the University of Jaffna Cricket team for
a period of one year arbitrarily without following the normal norms as
laid down in the Constitution.
Tiny Manoj hits Arjuna's massive record for six
By M.Shamil Amit
Twelve-year-old Manoj Thushara Perera, a grade nine student of Science
College, Mt. Lavinia performed an incredible feat hitting a massive unbeaten
318 in an Under 13 inter-school cricket match against Arethusa College,
Wella-watte.
He also went on to establish a Sri Lanka schools record eclipsing the
previous highest score of 315 not out held by none other than the former
Sri Lanka cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga way back in 1978 in a Under
15 match against St. Peter's College, Negombo.
The feature of young Manoj's marathon innings is that he accumulated
his score by hitting 50 boundaries which is 200 runs and eighteen towering
sixes that counts to 108 both put together accounts to 308 of the 318 he
scored.
Astonishing
An astonishing feat which any batsman would cherish to achieve but a milestone
that anyone will have to work hard for. He also put on a record partnership
of 437 runs for the second wicket with Indika Lakmal Silva, whose contribution
was 128.
His team hit a massive 498 for 3 wickets in just 61 overs which is also
another record. Arjuna's feat in contrast included of lesser boundaries
and sixes.
Arjuna had a partnership of 300 odd for the first wicket and his team
scored 445 for 1 wicket in that match.
When the Sunday Times spoke to Manoj, who also captains the side, and
asked what he felt when he heard that he has broken a record which was
held by one of the greatest cricketers that Sri Lanka has produced. He
was shocked.
He says he was happy not because he broke the record and he kept on
improving with every match he played.
This record breaking score cannot be taken lightly as it is not a fluke
or a flash in the pan. Before this feat he has been in the runs in almost
every match he played.
He scored four half centuries - 57 against Piliyandala MMV, 50 against
Dharmapala, Pannipitiya, 78 against Hindu College, Ratmalana and 63 against
Piliyandala MMV in a second round game. With one century - 120 against
Revatha MV, Balapitiya.
Plans
When asked about his plans for the future he said that his main ambition
is to represent the national team. Manoj is the last child in a family
of five children - three sisters and a brother elder to him.
The irony of it is that he comes from a poor family his father L. Rubert
Perera has no permanent job. He is painting contractor but that does not
prevent him from denying this talented boy from playing cricket.
The father said he is cricket crazy and is always with a bat in the
hand and even in his sleep he shouts in his dreams :"Take that catch,"
as he is the captain he is always active.
He is also grateful to the school as he was presented with a bat and
they opened a savings bank account with NSB in his name.
When inquired how he manages his sons expenses without a permanent job,
he said his wife's sister's son Chandana Pushpakumara who hires private
cars helps out with most of his son's cricket commitments.
Shocked
His mother Jayanthi Perera was finding for words as she was shocked to
see the publicity that her son is getting and the after glow of that. Probably
she is unable to understand that her son has broken a long-standing record.
The only thing she could tell was, "I am proud of my son's achievement
and we will do every thing possible to improve his cricket".
The most interesting part of the whole affair was when the boy was taken
to the house of the previous record holder Arjuna Ranatunga in Nugegoda.
Arjuna had been informed earlier and was keen to speak to the record-breaker.
Arjuna greeted him warmly, and said, "So you are the one who broke my record.
Come let's speak more about it."
Having spoken to Manoj, the former Sri Lanka skipper in appreciation
of this wonderful feat requested the parents that the boy should be looked
after with care and be given better coaching which of course the parents
could never dream of.
Responsibility
Arjuna said that he will take full responsibility of this talented boy
and the first steps he will be taking will be to take the lad to Arjuna's
'guru' and coach Lionel Mendis for more training and to polish his batting.
Arjuna undertook to spend or give whatever help Manoj required for the
betterment of his cricketing career.
When the Sunday Times asked what he thinks of this extraordinary feat
and his record being broken. He started by saying: "I was happy when I
read this which was highlighted in a newspaper." Regarding the record being
broken he said it was nice to see that there is hidden talent in lesser
known schools.
Asked Arjuna, "Why was this not highlighted when it was established.
When I scored my triple hundred it was in the papers the very next day!"
Continuing Arjuna said: "I am proud to see players of this calibre.
We should nurture them." He also said that it is immaterial against
whom the record was set up whether it was a weak opposition or even a ladies
team. To score a triple hundred specially at this age is something special
which I appreciate very much".
Encouraging words from a great player. He was sorry the boy was not
allowed to continue his batting which most probably could have broken the
world record of 411 (for schools) held by another batting star Sachin Tendulkar.
Sachin scored this when he was 16 years.
To end this happy day for the record breaker, Arjuna presented him with
cricketing gear and promised that there is more to come from him. A promise
he said he will oblige very soon.
We left Arjuna with a mission accomplished. |
