A dazzling performance by Ananda helped them to a thrilling 08 points (01 try, 01 penalty) to 03 (01 penalty) victory over Ananda in Milo Schools 'A' Division game played at the Sugathadasa Stadium last evening.
Although the scorline will not indicate, the Anandians dominated the Royalist for the major part of the game. Their forwards, who lacked in weight, completely outplayed their opponents as they put the Royalists on the defensive from the kick-off. The dominance was such that the Royalists were kept away from the Anandian 22 during the entire first phase.
The Anandians launched wave after wave of attacks and rattled the Royalists with their forwards who impressed right throughout the entire game.
Ananda opened scoring in the 21st minute when skipper Aroshana Fernando put over a 20 metre penalty.
Ananda's hard paly in the first half was finally recorded when they scored minutes before the breather. Off a second phase move, on the Royal 40, Ananda set their three-quarter line in motion. Burly centre and skipper Aroshana Fernando covered good ground before slinging the ball to winger Guyan Koddippilly, who sped a few metres but was brought dawn by a Royalist a few metres from the line. However, with the ball rolling towards the line, Anandian Janka Jayawardene followed to touch down by the corner flag. Fernando missed the conversion and Ananda went into Lemons leading by 8 points to nil.
After the turnaround the Royalist gave an improved performance as they attacked with their heavy set of forwards. They pegged the Anandians in their own territory and threatened to breach the Ananda defence lines.
However, the Anandians stood firm as they marked the hard running Royal centres Panchawarana and Viraj de Silva very well. Ananda also inflicted a few crunching tackles on their opponents which foiled many Royal moves.
In the 6th minute Royal had an opportunity of reducing the deficit through an easy 15m penalty, but place kicker Ranendra Gonaduwa muffed it to the dismay of his supporters.
The Anandians were ahead in the line-outs through Deepal Niroshan, but the scrums were equally shared. With the pressure on the Ananda defence line, Royal finally broke through to score when Kumar Goonetileke used the manentum of his co-forwards to fall over for a try. Gonaduwa missed the conversion as Royal closed in to trail by 5 points to 8.
Immediately after the try, Royal were awarded a 50m penalty and an opportunity of taking the lead, but Gonaduwa lacked direction, although he had the power and with it went Royal's chances of taking revenge over the Anandians, who defeated them last year as well.
Referee Roshan Deen
The Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka has appointed a seven member committee with Cricket Board, President Upali Dharmadasa as Chairman to finalise the affairs of the completed 6th Wills World Cup.
The other members of this committee are, Thilanga Sumathipala, Harindra Dunuwilla, Neil Perera, Kumar Weerasuriya, M. Rajasingham and Tryphon Mirando.
The timeframe for the completion of this report is May 31.
A decision was also made to appoint a Sepcial Committee to go into the matters raised by members at the annual general meeting to the following:
(a) Development of the Galle Cricket Club grounds and monies pledged and paid so far by the Cricket Board.
(b) The preparation of practice wickets at the Colts CC by Cricket Board funds. The usage of these wickets and other matters connected therein.
The Committee comprises Kumar Weerasuriya (Chairman), Ajith Abeygunawardena (Secretary), K.M. Nelson, Nihal Leuke and Mithra Siriwardena.
This committee was empowered to obtain all facts and figures from anyone in this regard. A report is to be submitted to the Secretary on or before May 31. It was also suggested that the members of the previous management committee too be called upon to explain matters in this regard as suggested by Carlton Bernadus.
The Exco of the Cricket Board has also decided to re-appoint the Finance Advisory Committee which was dissolved by the previous Exco.
The appointed committees are,
Board Advisory Council - Lakshman Jayakody, Shelly Wickremasinghe, Daham Wimalasena, Stanley Jayasinghe, Cubby Wijetunga and Lal Wickrematunga (Secretary).
Finance Advisory Committee -
Ajth Jayaratne - Chairman, Kumar Weerasuriya-Secretary, Sunil Abeyratne, Neville Peiris, Vivendra Lintotawela, Suraj Fernando.
Technical Advisory Committee - Michael Tissera, Anura Tennekoon, Bandula Warnapura, Duleep Mendis, Ranjan Madugalle, Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda de Silva.
World Cup Promotions Committee - Thilanga Sumathipala-Chairman, Reggie Candappa, Eardley Perera, Kumar Weerasuriya, Dr. Aruna Bandaranayake and Vijaya Corea.
The Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka has been promised Rs. 2.9 million as proceeds in playing the Lankan team against the UAE team in an exhibition limited overs match at Sharjah on May 25.
The Cricket Board representative in UAE, Saliya Senanayake has informed the Cricket Board about this, the 'Sunday Times' learns.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that the Cricket Board has received an invitation to participate in a quadrangular limited overs tournament organised by the Pakistan Cricket Board in October or December 1997, involving West Indies, South Africa, Pakistan and SRI LANKA as part of the Pakistani Golden Jubilee celebrations.
The Australian Cricket Board has suggested that Sri Lanka should take part in a triangular series involving Australia, England and SRI LANKA in December /January 1998/99.
The Exco has also decided to donate Rs. 25,000/- to the ESCO Rehab Sri Lanka who sought assistance from Cricket Board to cover up the expenses incurred for the inaugural World Cup deaf cricket tournament in Melbourne in January 1996.
I refer to the news item on Page 12 of the Sunday Times of 12th May 1996 by Annesley Ferreira where in it is alleged that I had asked Bandula Warnapura to leave the Sanremo Dinner Hall, at the felicitation dinner accorded to the World Cup Cricket Champions on 9th May 1996.
I write to inform you that the Reporter has been wrongly informed, as I had no occasion to even to speak to Bandula Warnapura. and I will appreciate it if you would kindly have this article corrected.
Bandula Warnapura, Sri Lanka's first Test cricket captain, was humiliated when told to leave the restaurant at Union Place where the World Cup winning team was hosted to dinner. The story that he was uninvited was proved wrong when Warnapura produced the invitation to the newspapers.
Please send your comments and suggestions on this web site to
info@suntimes.is.lk or to
webmaster@infolabs.is.lk