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Sports

9-wicket win for Chilaw Marians
Chilaw Marians coasted to an easy nine-wicket win over Sebastianites with a day to spare in the Premier Plate championship cricket match concluded at the FTZ Grounds at Katunayake yesterday. Chilaw Marians resuming on their overnight score of 127 for 3 went on to score 245 with Janaka Gunaratne making 77. Sebastianites batting the second time were bowled out for 104 leaving the Marians a victory target of 29 which they achieved with ease.

Sebastianites - 169 and 104 (K. Fernando 27, N. Bopage 18, R. Yasalal 17; H. Fernando 4 for 34, P. Jayawardena 4 for 28) Chilaw Marians - (127/3 o'night) 245 (J. Gunaratne 77, D. Marage 45, H. Fernando 30, R. Palliyaguru 31, I. Muthalip 28; N. Perera 5 for 51, D. Fernando 2 for 38, R. Yasalal 2 for 38) and 32 for 1 (A. Perera 20, I. Muthalip 10 n.o.) - MSA

Ragama CC 206, Moratuwa SC 220
Moratuwa SC have already obtained a first innings win over Ragama CC on the second day’s play in the Premier Plate championship cricket match being played at De Soysa Stadium in Moratuwa. Ragama batting first made 206 and Moratuwa in reply made 220.

Ragama CC - 206 and 47 for 1 at close (U. Fernando 23 n.o.)
Moratuwa SC - 220 (M. Fernando 57, C. Fernando 57, P. Perera 25, M. Deshapriya 21; S. Arangalla 5 for 91) -MSA

Liyanage cracks 126
A fine 126 by R. Liyanage and a 94 by S. Palihakkara enabled Police SC to amass a massive 353 in reply to the Antonians score of 207 on the second day’s play of the Premier Plate championship cricket encounter being played at the Police grounds.

Antonians SC - 207 (B. Arumathanthri 56, D. Dantanarayana 38, C. Victor 44, C. Nilantha 18 n.o.; D. Gunawardena 3 for 26, S. Wijeratne 3 for 36) and 22 for no loss.
Police SC - 353 (R. Liyanage 126, S. Palihakkara 94, D. Gunawardena 28; S. Dissanayake 3 for 101, C. Victor 3 for 48)-MSA

Set for thrilling finish
The Premier Plate championship cricket encounter between Air Force and KYCC being played at the Air Force grounds in Katunayake is set for a thrilling finish today. KYCC taking first lease of the wicket made 220 and Air Force in their turn scored 135 but fought back taking eight KYCC wickets for 92.

KYCC - 220 (H. Sureshchandra 20, S. Priyanthaka 32, D. Gunatileke 20, M. Maduwantha 71 n.o.; C. Rangajeewa 4 for 57, P. Wickrama 2 for 50) and 92 for 8 at close (H. Sureschandra 41; A. Rizan 4 for 32)

Air Force - 135 (R. Peiris 57; R. Amunugama 2 for 11, S. Jayaratne 2 for 21, M. Maduwantha 2 for 27, A, Ekanayake 2 for 52, I. Dharmawardena 2 for 10) -MSA

Joes official scorer
Cyril Nicholas an old boy of St. Joseph's, Colombo was appointed the first official scorer for the school in the year 2000. The suggestion for his appointment came through the Secretary of the Old Joes, Harsha de Silva, former vice captain and the present cricket coach of St. Joseph's College.

When Harsha requested Nicholas to take up this post, as the school boys were not mature enough to do this job, Nicholas gladly accepted this offer. Harsha began his coaching assignment in 2001 and has done a wonderful job.

His colleague Nicholas represented the school under-14 team under the leadership of Lalith de S. Wijeratne. Nicholas is an ardent cricket fan who has devoted most of his time following school and domestic cricket. Scoring for the First XI team for the second successive year he has been allocated to handle the under 13, 15 and 17 teams too, from 2002. At present he has been scoring for over 105 matches.

As an official scorer through the ACU & SSL he has done 55 matches on the new score sheet of the SLSCA put out for junior tournaments starting with under -17, 15, 13 and now under 19 as well. Nicholas is very grateful to Harsha de Silva, the College Authorities, Rev. Fr. Rector, Prefect of Masters in Charge and the coaches for the trust, confidence and the encouragement given to him to carry on his job. He also extended his thanks to the Advisory Committee for accepting Harsha's suggestion promptly.

Ajith to be honoured
Forty nine year old Ajith C.S. Perera prematurely retired by cruel fate is the youngest umpire amongst the 16 receipients, who will be hounoure (retired) for the services rendered for the uplift of cricket in Sri Lanka.

Janashakthi Insurance has come forward to make this a reality, to be held on Jan. 30, (Thursday) at the P Sara Stadium commencing at 4 p.m. Perera, a Chartered Chemist joined the fraternity after his playing days spanning over 27 years and made his way to the test panel in Nov., '92. Media Minister, Imthiasz Bakeer Markar, the President of the Association of Cricket Umpires Sri Lanka will be the chief guest, while Chandra Schaffter, Managing Director Janashakthi will be the guest of honour.

An official from the Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers England Keir Hopley is a special invitee to mark this occasion. He has already arrived and a past Secretary of Cricket Umpires & Scorers' Association.

He will address the gathering on the valuable role the umpires play for the development of the game which has spread its wings since the seeds were sown in the meadows of Old Blighty. Perera, despite his inablity to move around freely, still contributes to uplift the image of the umpiring fraternity. He should be lauded for his courageous effort and is totally committed for the sport since his school days. -B.W

Lankan women excel
By Annesley Ferreira
Sri Lanka's hockey came of age when their women's team beat Pakistan by four goals to one in the second Women's Asian Hockey Federation Cup tournament being played at Singapore.

Earlier they held the strong Singapore team to a one-all draw. In both matches Centre forward Shyama Ranaslnghe was among the goals.

Sri Lanka's two remaining matches are versus Thailand and Hong Kong. Hockey is very popular in SriLanka, specially in Matale and Kandy but during recent times the game has hit rock bottom.

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