Funday Times

Hat trick by de Silva and centuries by Shaakir
By M. Shamil Amit
A hat trick by St. Thomas’, Mt Lavinia skipper G.V.S. de Silva and two centuries by Ahamed Shaakir were the outstanding performances in the matches that were concluded in the Under 12 inter-school encounters.

The feat by Thomian skipper de Silva enabled his side to register an innings and 63 runs win over Piliyandala Central to record their third successive win. Piliyandala Central going into bat first were skittled out for 66 with skipper G.V.S. de Silva doing the damage taking six for 26.

The Thomians in their turn were propelled by two good knocks of 59 and 47 from Sachin Peiris and Pramuk Weerakoon who were also associated in a 66 run partnership helping them reach a modest score of 162 for five before declaring.

Piliyandala Central going into bat the second time fared no better and the wrecker this time was pacie Mevantha de Silva who bowled a nagging length to bundle them out for just 33. Mevantha ended with figures of five for two runs.

Shaakir with two tons stars for Royal
Eleven year old Ahamed Shaakir put in a superlative performance when he cracked two successive tons. His first century was against Susamayawardena MV Borella where he made 116 in the second innings but the Royalists were in the losing side being shot out for 71 due to a fine bowling performance by P.W.D. Sameepa who took seven for 28. Susamayawardena replied with 165 for five declared.

Shaakir’s second ton was a 116 that included 22 boundaries against Dudley Senanayake MV, which helped Royal to amass a massive 317 for six declared. He was supported by Milan Abeysekera, who made an unbeaten 100 and the pair put on a opening stand of 178 runs. Dudley Senanayake in reply was able to muster only 83.

Carey too good for Science
Carey College was too good for Science College, Mt. Lavinia when they recorded an easy 55 run win. The architects of the Carey win were Sisuru Samarasinghe and Janith Chaturanga who took five for five and four for two respectively to send the Mt. Lavinia youngsters reeling for 23 in reply to Carey’s score of 78.

Ratnayake and Tharanga match winners
The left and right arm spin combination of Vishwa Ratnayake and Hasantha Tharanga, who took five for 27 and five for 20 were instrumental in S.de S. Jayasinghe MMV overcoming Royal. It was that youngster in form Ahamed Shaakir again with a knock of 67 that helped Royal make 153.

But the Royalists were unable to defend the score as the Dehiwala youngsters thanks to Dulanja Ranasinghe, Hasitha Tharanga, Vishwa Ratnayake, Niral Jehan and Kasun Sameera reached the target with the minimum of fuss.

Oxford International make debut
With cricket being played around the country in a wide scale the latest addition is the debut of Oxford International School Kotte, who have started playing cricket.

Though the baptism was a loss to American International School, the coach of Oxford International Amitha de Costa stated that “our youngsters are yet learning the basics but they are sure to make an impression in time to come”.

He said three players who should make vast strides in time to come are Kithsen Wickramaarchchi, Jonathan Jefferson and Isuru Perera.

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