Colts make full use of a good batting strip to exploit the mediocre SSC bowling
By Marlon Fernandopulle
Colts SC continued their dominance over SSC as they strengthened their grip in the Premier League Final and took a further step towards clinching the championship title at the end of the second day's play at Maitland Place yesterday.
After bowling out the home side on Friday for 216, the Colts SC batsmen made full use of a good batting track to exploit the mediocre SSC bowling attack and hit up 411 all out. Five of their batsmen hit up half centuries as Colts obtained a commanding 195 run first innings lead to have SSC on the ropes.
SSC gained the upper hand in the morning session to reduce Colts to 255 for 6 from their overnight 183 for 3. But a forceful 79 run 7th wicket stand between Muthumudalige Pushpakumara (81) and Jeevantha Kulatunga (50) followed by a 59 run stand for the 8th wicket between Pushpakumara and Eric Upashantha (27) saw the Havelock Park club gain the initiative with a crucial first innings lead. Pushpakumara who came into bat at number eight followed up his four first innings wicket with a fine 81 that came off 97 deliveries and included 10 boundaries and a six. Earlier Kaluwitharana struck a run-a-ball 72 which included 14 boundaries and Jeevantha Kulathunga stroked a stylish half century off 70 balls to send SSC on a leather hunt.
Colts opening bowlers Chaminda Vaas and Dulip Liyanage further annihilated SSC when they picked up two wickets each to leave SSC reeling at 38 for 4 wickets in their second innings. However the inform Mahela Jayawardene(32 n o) and all rounder Tilan Samaraweera(23 n o) denied Colts of making further inroads by adding 58 runs for the 5 th wicket before bad light halted play with 25 over remaining. SSC will have to rely on their 5 th wicket pair and Hemantha Wickremaratne their last recognised batsman to wipe out the deficit of 99 runs and build a challenging second innings total to stall Colts's victory bid.
By Bernie Wijesekera
Former old Royalist and Chairman Singer (Sri Lanka), Hemaka Amerasuriya, has been appointed Chairman of the new Interim Committee of the controversy- ridden Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka effective April 1, by the Minister of Sports, Johnston Fernando. He takes over from Vijaya Malalasekara.
Soft-spoken Hemaka is a man of few words. He has done much for the uplift of sports in the country - especially among the less affluent rural areas.
He played cricket and rugby (wing three quarter) for Royal and has done much for the school's uplift on and off the field. As Chairman of Royal's new Sports Complex, with his diehard committee, he did a tremendous job to complete without state funds. It speaks well for his ability to work without let or hindrance.
Singer has now moved out of the sponsorship package with the CB. Using his good offices Hemaka was able to sew up Singer with national sports besides cricket, hockey, rugby and track and field. He injected fresh blood to hockey to be in surface.
Hemaka Amarasuriya the new Chairman of the Cricket Interim Committee is expected to retain the core of the Old Interim Committee.
The Sunday Times learns that Micheal Tissera,Siddath Wettimuny, Kushil Gunaskera and Nalin Ladduwahetty will be retained in the new cricket interim committee which will be appointed by the Minister of Sports Tomorrow. A further two to three members will make up the new cricket interim committee.
Considering the fact that two important events the Mini World Cup in Sri Lanka and the World Cup in South Africa will be held within the next10 months, the move by Hemaka Amarasuriya to retain the experienced and core members of the old interim committee is commendable.-MF
An outstanding all-round effort by Nimesh Perera 152 runs. (with 20 fours and 2 sixes) and 4 for 93 helped defending Premier League Plate champions Sebastianite SC to take control on day two in their final against Chilaw Marians, continued at the NCC grounds yesterday.
The Moratuwa Club, batting first helped by an attractive second-wicket stand of 171 runs between opener Nimesh Perera 152 and Gayan Randiligama 56 (with 8 fours) totalled 400 all out on Friday. Off spinner Gayan Gunarathne, 8 for 130 was among the wickets.
Chilaw Marians, last year's "Sara" champs received a good start. Openers A. Perera (53) and S. Tittagalle (34) put on 72 runs between them. At lunch 130/3.
But the middle batting floundered against leg spinner Perera and were 223 for 6 at tea.
But stubborn batting by I. Muthaliph 61 batting at No. 5, (with 7 fours). Tailenders, P. Jayasundera 48 n.o., and Ruchira Palliyaguru 22 in an 8th wicket stand of 57 helped them to reply with 315/8 when bad light and rain stopped play at 5.10 p.m. The match will be continued today.
Sebastianite SC 400 all out in 99.4 overs. (Nimesh Perera 152, Gayan Randiligama 56, D. Fernando 33, N. Wijesinghe 23, M. Fernando 30, N. Kumara 31; Janaka Gunaratne 8/133, D. Perera 2 for 41).
Chilaw Marians 315/8 in 85.3 overs. (A. Perera 53, S. Thittagalla 34, D. Perera 35, I. Muthaliph 61, K. Palliyaguru 22, P. Jayasundera 48, n.o., L. Fernando 20 n.o.; Nimesh Perera 4 for 93, H. Fernando 2 for 64).-B.W.
Ajith Weerakkody of the Navy swam to his third successive win, having won the race for the last two years when he won the 38th Kinross six-mile-swim conducted by the Kinross Swimming Club and sponsored by the Bank of Ceylon.
Pushpa Chandani of Sri Devananda College won the women's event. Ajith timed 2.39.31 with second placed P.D.A.Kumara timed 2.56.57. Women's winner Chandani timed 3..46.11 and R.Krishani of Kinross in second place with a timing of 4.01.01.
Controversy prevailed when the race was in progress as some participants were trying to take a short cut which was detected by some officials who were manning the two checkpoints that the swimmers had to be reported. As a result ten swimmers who belonged to a services team had to be disqualified.
Results
Men - Ajith Weerakkody (Navy) 2.39.31; 2. P.D.A.Kumara (Dolphin) 2.56.57; 3. E.G.I.Eranga (P.de S.Kularatne MV) 3.06.00.
By M.Shamil Amit
A cracking 110 by Sameera Senaratne of Taxila Central who also put on a partnership of 147 runs for the third wicket with Pradeep Fernando who made 56 was the feature of the second 'Battle of the Central' between Taxila Central and Piliyandala Central which ended in a draw at the De Soysa Stadium in Moratuwa yesterday.
Piliyandala Central - 188 and 147 for 8 at close (Sampath Perera 50, T.D.Janaka 27, D.Rajitha 24; Sameera Senaratne 3 for 26, Lushan Sandaruwan 2 for 43)
Taxila Central - 287 for 9 declared (Sameera Senaratne 110, Pradeep Fernando 56, Chameera Lakmal 33; Tharindu Madusanka 5 for 65)
Sastralaya in strong position
Ananda Sastralaya were in a strong position in the 12th 'Battle of Sri Jayawardenapura' against St. John's Nugegoda which began at the Police grounds yesterday.
There were two new records set up when the Sastralians took first lease of the wicket, scored 298 eclipsing the record of 212 scored by St. John's in 1993.
Dinuka Saranga cracked 121 for the Sastralians which is the other record erased the record of 106 scored by N.Lakmal of St. John's in 1996. St. John's were 34 for 2 when bad light stopped play.
Ananda Sastralaya - 298 (Dinuka Saranga 110, Dinesh Nilanga 49, Sagara Wijemanne 41 n.o.)
St. John's - 34 for at close.-MSA
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