Cambrians lead in 'Battle of Gold' series by 6 wins to 2By S.M.D.Sirisena

The confrontation between St. Sebastians and Prince of Wales upto now, has resulted in the Cambrians leading the series by six wins to 2. The other encounters have ended in no decisions. The last result was obtained in 1977 . Going on performances this season the Sebastianites have beaten Trinity, St. Joseph's , Sri Jayawardanapura and Sri Sumangala while the Cambrians have lost to St.Joseph's but beat St. Benedict's. 

Both teams have good batsmen like skipper Sumalka Perera and vice captain Lasitha Fernando of St. Sebastian's who represented Sri Lanka under 19 side and toured Pakistan , New Zealand and Bangladesh. The skipper of the Cambrian side, Shan Wijerathna captained the under 17 Sri Lanka team. He also toured Pakistan. Shanaka Perumpuli, Kavinda Silva and Amila Sadaruwan have represented the Sri Lanka under 15 team. 

Sumalka Perera and Shan Wijerathna are the most consistent batsmen for both teams.

Sumalka Perera has scored over 750 runs including three centuries (116 n.o and 131 against St. Sylvester's ,128 against St. Benedict's The other centurions in the Sebastian's camp are Lasitha Fernando (150 against Sri Jayawardanapura and Madushan Fernando 121 n.o. against St. Sylvester's), Niresh Silva(101) against De Mazenod. For the Cambrians Shan Wijeratna also passed the 750 runs including three centuries (130 and 105 against Sri J'wardenapura and 104 against Dharmasoka. Other century makers of the side are Amal Sadaruwan (115 against S.Thomas' and 125 against Isipatana) Shanuka Cooray 100 against Richmond). 

Sri Lanka A mauled at Moratuwa

By Marlon Fernandopulle

The pint sized,leanly built Upul Chandana continued his good form with the bat as he thundered five sixes and nine boundaries in a 83 ball 108 to help Sri Lanka A chase 314 runs for victory. However with Chandana s departure ( 257 for 7) in the 40 th over Sri Lankan tailenders followed the pathetic performances of their top order batsman to be bundled out for 274 in the 43 rd over.

Earlier Kenya won the toss and made full use of a placid,grassless wicket to send the Lankans on a leather hunt.

A flying start from openers Ravindu Shah and Kennedy Otieno who put on 52 runs in seven overs set the tone for the Kenyan innings.

Opener Ravindu Shah was in full cry as he accumulated runs on both sides of the wicket with some crisp strokes.The tall upright batsmen anchored the Kenyan innings with a stylish 109 ball century with the aid of two sixes and eight boundaries. He added 59 runs for the second wicket with SteveTikalo(37) and 57 runs for the fifth wicket with Maurice Odumbe(27) that paved the way for a challenging total.

However it was the lusty hitting by David Obuya 43 off 14 balls that took the visitors pass the 300 run mark.Obuya batting at number seven was in blistering form as he thumped four sixes and three fours in a cameo innings that left the Lankan fielders helplessly watching.

The Lankans needing to score over six runs an over were never in the equation until their fifth wicket pair of Upul Chandana(108) and Prassanna Jayawardene(33) took control of proceedings with the total on 125 for 5 in the 24 th over.The pair added 101 runs off 86 balls to bring Sri Lanka close to victory.Jayawardene batted sensibly when he rotated the strike with his skipper who was in good nick.Chandana hit five mighty sixes as he entertained the small holiday crowd and brought them to their feet.

With the exit of Chandana in the 40 th over Sri Lanka A needed 57 runs in 10 overs with three wickets in hand.It was too much for the tail as Kenyan off spinner Tikalo picked up two wickets in one over to put the issue beyond doubt. Once again it was the irresponsible batting of the Lankan top order that caused their downfall.

The third game of the series will be played tomorrow at the NCC grounds.

Scoreboard

K.O. Otieno c Polonowita b Liyanage 23
(Attempted to drive and skied to mid-on)
RD Shah run out (Chandana/Gunaratne) 128
(Beaten by a throw from mid-wicket by Chandana) SO Tikolorun out (Silva) 37
(Beaten by a direct hit from Chamara Silva at covers)
HS Modic Gunaratne b Pushpakumara 6 
(Swept, caught at deep fine leg)
*MO Odumbec Chandana b Pushpakumara 27 (Uppish drive to mid-wicket)
CO Obuya run out (Chandana) 19
(Direct hit from Chandana at mid-wicket)
+DO Obuya c Herath b Liyanage 43
(Attempted to pull, caught at short-fine leg)
AO Suji not out 12 
PJ Ongondo not out 1
Extras (b 4, lb 6, w 4, nb 3) 17

Total (7 wickets, 50 overs, 213 mins) 313

DNB: JO Angara, MA Suji.

FoW: 1-52 (Otieno), 2-111 (Tikolo),3-136 (Modi), 4-185 (Odumbe),5-241 (CO Obuya), 6-263 (Shah),7-312 (DO Obuya, 49.5)

Bowling : Liyanage 10-0-72-2 (3nb, 2w),Ramyakumara 3-0-24-0(1w),

Gunaratne 9-0-71-0, Herath 9-1-35-0,Chandana 8-0-42-0 (1w),

Pushpakumara 9-0-47-2, Dilshan 2-0-12-0

Sri Lanka 'A' Innings
(target: 314 runs from 50 overs)
DA Gunawardene lbw b MA Suji 21
(Straight short ball, attempted to leg glance)
G Wijekoon c & b CO Obuya 38 
(Drove straight back to the bowler)
TM Dilshan c DO Obuya b Angara 0 
(Playing away from the body, outside edge to wicket-keeper)
AS Polonowita lbw b Ongondo 30
(Attempted to play across the line)
LPC Silva b AO Suji 1 
(Down the track missed completely)
*UDU Chandana c Modi b AO Suji 108
(Attempted to pull, caught at mid-wicket) 
+HAPW Jayawardene c & b Tikolo 32 
(Drove straight back to the bowler)
M Pushpakumara c & b Tikolo 14
(Drove straight back to the bowler) 
DK Liyanage c sub (BJ Patel) b Tikolo 1
(Uppish drive, caught at long-off) 
HMRKB Herath not out 8 
PW Gunaratne run out (Ongondo) 3
(Beaten by throw from cover point) 
Extras (w 11, nb 7) 18

Total (all out, 42.5 overs, 200 mins) 274

FoW: 1-22 (Gunawardene), 2-23 (Dilshan),3-79 (Polonowita), 4-85 (Silva),5-125 (Wijekoon), 6-226 (Jayawardene),7-257 (Chandana), 8-262 (Pushpakumara),9-265 (Liyanage), 10-274 (Gunaratne).

Bowling : MA Suji 7-0-32-1 (1nb, 1w), Angara 4-0-49-1, Ongondo7-1-44-1 (5nb, 1w), AO Suji 8-0-50-2 (1nb, 2w), CO Obuya 1.2-0-5-1,

Odumbe 8-0-37-0 (2w), Tikolo 7.3-0-57-3 (1w)

Isipatana takes honours

By S.M.D.Sirisena

Earlier in the day Thurstan resuming their innings 31 for 1 in reply to Isipatana's huge total of 286 for 6 declared, made 189 for 9 dec. 

At one stage the Thurstanites were in deep trouble with the score on 128 for 9. But skipper Gihan de Silva with a gritty innings of 53 n.o. which had 7 boundaries saved them by puting on a record ninth stand of 61 runs with Amila Nishantha whose contribution was 13 n.o which made the Isipatanians bat again. The partnership between Gihan and Amila erased the existing record of 56 runs which was made in 1999. 

Isiapatana going into bat the second time made a quick score of 96 for 3 before declaring with first innings hero Saman Nishantha making another unbeaten 44. Thurstan chasing a target of 193 to win in 30 overs were 126 for 6 when stumps were drawn. Isipatana's batting hero Saman Nishantha was selected as the Best Batsman and the Man of the Match while Thurstan's skipper Gihan de Silva got the Best Bowlers award. Isipatana retained the Blackham Wijewardena Trophy as they were the outright winners in the year 1999.

Isipatana first innigs: 286 for 6 dec (Saman Nishantha 150 n.o, Rohan de Silva 54) and 96 for 3 dec; (Saman Nishantha 44 n.o, Rashiru Totamuna 18; Gihan de Silva 2 for 37) 

Thurstan 189 for 9 dec; (Sandaruwan Wijesundara 23, Dinesh Perera 16, Damith Indika 23, Prajeeth Shanuka 47, Amila Nishantha 13 n.o.; Saranga Perera 3 for 60, Damith Dushantha 2 for 41, Rohan de Silva 2 for 29) and 126 for 6 (Prajeeth Shanuka 21, Damith Indika 34, Sandaruwan Wijesundara 17, Sanjeewa Nishantha 14, Sumithra Warnasuriya 37 n.o; Rohan de Silva 2 for 29, Saranga Perera 2 for 47) 

Daniel steers Bloomfield out of trouble

By Bernie Wijesekera 

CCC batting first totalled 202 with K. Dharmasena picking 5 for 75. Bloomfield in reply were 112 for 3 at stumps. Continuing their innings with Daniel on 81 were made to struggle against some lively bowling coming from Mario Villavarayan 5 for 57. Daniel completed a fine 100 (with 15 fours made in 193 balls). 

CCC in their second innings were 152 for 2 at close. Michael Van Dort made an aggressive 73 (with 10 fours) until he threw his wicket away.

At Maitland Place (NCC grounds) 

CCC 204 (K. Dharmasena 5 for 75) and 152 for 2 (M. Van Dort 73, J. Mubarak 24 n.o., D.K. Munaweera 38, P. Seneviratne 12 n.o.). Bloomfield 222 in 75.4 overs (Ian Daniel 108, K. Lokuarachchi 35, D. Gamage 14; Mario Villavarayan 5 for 57,) 

Colts drub Panadura SC 

Colts CC thrashed Panadura SC by an innings and 165 runs on day two in their Premier Super League 'A' three-day match continued at CCC grounds yesterday. 

Panadura batting first made 82. Colts after being 247 for 2 at the close hit up a massive 400 for 5 declared. Panadura in their second essay were bowled out for 153. 

At Maitland Crescent (CCC grounds) 

Panadura SC 82 (Eric Upashanta 6 for 29) and 153 in 34.1 overs. (Anjola Perera 36, R. Wimalasena 21, S. Kumara 22, S. Roshan 20; C. Vaaz 3 for 32, D. Hettiarachchi 3 for 64, J. Sigara 3 for 30).

Colts (247 for 2 overnight) contd. 400 for 5 dec. (Shanta Kalawitagoda 169, Sajith Fernando 94, Romesh kaluwi-tharane 67, D. Samaraweera 28 n.o.; Kapila Silva 2 for 49, S. Roshan 2 for 73). 

Yasas clobbers unbeaten 143 

Wattala Antonians after being made to follow on (dismissed for 138) in reply to Sebastianite SC's 319 made a spirited reply in their second innings 292 for 5 due to an aggressive and attractive 209-run fifth wicket stand between Yasas Thillekeratne 143 n.o. (22 fours) and Amal Dalugoda 85 (11 fours) on day two in a plate (Premier League) 3-day match continued at Bloomfield grounds yesterday. 

Sebastianite SC 319 (H. Fernando 86, Nimesh Perera 50). 

Wattala Antonians 138 (C. Samarasinghe 40 n.o.; A. Jabbar 5 for 24) and 292 for 5 at close (Yasas Tillekeratne 143 n.o., Amal Dalugoda 85; H. Fernando 2 for 62,

Innings win for Air Force 

By M.Shamil Amit

Air Force 366 (A. Thahir Rizan 29, Ajith Kumara 34, Chamila Gamage 43, Charith Ranjeewa 77, Wesley Fernando 96, Roy Silva 43 n.o.; Ajith Ekanayake 7 for 101)

KYCC 182 (Asela Wewalwala 28, Muditha Maduwantha 42, Ajith Ekanayake 35, D.Pathirana 35; Chamila Gamage 2 for 36, Roy Silva 3 for 30, Ranga Dissanayake 3 for 32) and 104 (Asela Wewalwala 13, A.Dhanjaya 14, Muditha Roy Silva 6 for 33, Ranga Dissanayake 2 for 29)

Chilaw Marians in strong position

Chilaw Marians helped by two good knocks by Saman Tittagala (103) and Praneeth Jayasundara (55) put temselves in a strong position in the Premier Plate cricket match against Moratuwa SC being played at the BRC grounds. In reply to Moratuwa's score of 262 the Marians replied with 279 and Moratuwa batting the second time were in deep trouble on 126 for 6 at close.

Moratuwa SC 262 and 126 for 6 at close (Ashan Ranaweera 43, Chandika Niroshan 28 n.o., Amal Wanigasekera 23; Dhammika Perera 4 for 52)

Chilaw Marians 279 (Saman Tittagala 103, Praneeth Jayasundara 55, Dinidu Marage 42, Ruchira Palliyaguru 24; Amal Wanigasekera 3 for 14, Manoj 4 for 64)

Kandy CC sitting pretty

Kandy CC are sitting pretty in their Premier Plate cricket match against Rio SC Ambalangoda being played at the FTZ grounds in Katunayake. Kandy CC taking first lease of the wicket made 298 and in reply Rio SC were bowled out for 106 and made to follow on were 168 for 6 at close needing another 24 runs to avoid an innings defeat.

Kandy CC 298 (M.Pallihakkara 71, Piyal Wijetunge 52, Suresh Peiris 47, S.Ranaweera 8 for 75)

Rio SC 106 (R.Weerasinghe 28; I.Baddegama 2 for 41, D.Kolugala 3 for 24, S.Navaratne 2 for 31) and 168 for 6 (M.G.Dinesh 39, K.Palliyaguru 25, M.N.Tharan-ga 26, M.G.Roshan 20, T.Mada-nayake 13 n.o., N.Rupasinghe 31 n.o.; M.Palliyakkara 3 for 55, S.Navaratne 2 for 53).