| Sports |
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| Matale CC celebrates its 21st anniversary in grand style |
By L.D. Chandrasiri - Matale |
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| Matale CC – Past captains, vice captains and committee members of the club. (Standing from left): Ravindra Abeykoon, D. Thotagamuwa, Sudam Fernando, Neville Ranasinghe, A. Kolugala, Damith Rangana, Janith Welagedara, M. Ifam, R. Chandraratne, D.L. Wijewardhana, Asanka Thotagamuwa, A. Wijekoon, Asanka Abeykoon, S. Wijeratne, A. Tillekeratne, Manoj Silva. (Seated from left) – Buweneka Amaratunga, R.M.S. Rajanayake, Ravi Punchihewa, P.H. Chandradasa, Prasanna Dharmakeerthi (Secretary), Champika Wijeratne (President Matale CC), Saman Senanayake, P.K. Aluvihare, Dr. Sanjaya Wijesekera, Ananda Kumara,Chandana Silva. |
Matale CC, the only Division One cricket club from Matale celebrated its 21st anniversary (1988-2009) with a cricket awards ceremony followed by a dinner at Spring View Hotel, Matale.
Major General Shavendra De Silva graced the occasion as the chief guest.
Addressing the audience, former secretary and the current President of the Matale District Cricketers’ Association Ravi Punchihewa said that the purpose of the event eas to honour and appreciate the outstanding performances of past and present players of the club who had contributed their share to develop and maintain the high level of cricket in the club.
Outlining the achievements of the club during the past two decades, he observed that Matale CC had qualified twice to play in the semi-finals of SLC Under 23 Youth Cricket Tournament and also qualified to enter the finals of the same tournament against Kalutara TC in 2004 and finished as runners-up.
The club also has the distinction of producing the first Test cricketer from Matale, the left arm seamer Chanaka Welagedara, who made his debut against England in the Third Test at Galle in 2007. Welagedera represented Matale CC in the SLC under 23 Youth and Sara Trophy Cricket Tournaments from 1998 to 2001.
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| Special awards: (From left) Shavendra Amaradasa (Bestall-rounder), Ruwantha Kellapatha (Best bowler), Rajitha Ranaweera (Best batsman) Sara Trophy 2009. Chatura Kumarasiri (Best all-rounder), Vikumnath Jayasooeriya (Best bowler), Tivantha Dissanayake Best batsman) – Under 23 Youth cricket 2009 |
The players who performed exceptionally well during the current year received awards.
SLC Under 23 Youth Cricket Tournament – 2009
Best batsman - Tivantha Dissanayake
Best bowler - Vikumnath Jayasooriya
Best all-rounder – Chatura Kumarasiri
Division One Sara Trophy
Best batsman - Rajitha Ranaweera
Best bowler - Eruwantha Kellapatha
Best all-rounder - Shavendra Amaradasa
Special Awards
Sudam Fernando -Highest scorer in the Division One Sara Trophy - 2003 (156 against Old Cambrians).
P.K. Aluvihare - Highest wicket taker in the Division One Sara Trophy - 2001 (62 wickets). His best was 9 for 58 against Kandy CC.
D.L. Wijewardhane - Highest scorer in Under 23 Cricket Tournament - 2001. (225 against Kurunegala SC).
The club also felicitated the following past presidents, secretaries, captains and players who had rendered yeoman service to the club by promoting and developing cricket in the region.
Y.M.S. Gunasekera - Captain 1996.
D.C.Silva - Captain 2004
Damith Rangana - Captain 2005
Dr. Sanjaya Wijesekara – Player 2002
R.M.S. Rajanayake - Inspector of Police – Player 1992-95
Mohan Weerakoon (Attorney-At- Law) – Player and Patron
Wasantha Suwarnasiri – Former Secretary
Prasanna Dharmakeerthi – Secretary. |
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