Colts SC skipper, Sajith Fernando, proved himself a bowler taking 5 wickets to send Bloomfield tumbling to 168 runs all out in the Board under-24 final at Reid Avenue yesterday.
The Bloomfield team came back strongly in the last hour to have the visitors at 49/3 and keep alive the chances of winning the championship.
Bloomfield got off to a good start after being invited to take first lease at the wicket. Openers Indika Batuwitharachchi and Naveed Nawaz put on 49 runs for the first wicket.
However, when Sajith Fernando came on the home side struggled against his off spinners. Fernando claimed 5 wickets in his first 3 overs and sent Bloomfield sliding to 59/5.
Allrounders Hemantha Boteju (34) and Bateesha de Silva (7) saved the home team from further humilation with a 37 run stand for the 7th wicket. But when Boteju got out Bloomfield slumped again to be 119/9. Their last wicket pair of Pulasthi Gunaratne (31) and Priyankara Wickremasinghe (16 n.o.) added 49 runs to take Bloomfield to a respectable 168 all out.
Sajith Fernando claimed his second five wicket haul for the tournament to finish with 5/55 and was well supported by Dinuk Hettiarachchi (2/36) and Jeevantha Kulatunge (2/13).
Colts openers Sajith Fernando and Dilan Kanchana were given a testing time by Bloomfield new ball bowlers Pulasthi Gunaratne and Hemantha Boteju. Skipper Gunaratne drew first blood as he sent his opposite number back to the pavilion early in the Colts innings.
Soon after, Boteju tilted the scales in Colts favour when he struck a hard blow to send Jeevantha Kulatunge and Thushara Sampath in successive balls. However Dilan Kanchana played stubbornly to remain unbeaten on 20 to defy the home team from any further success.
Chief Scores
Bloomfield-168 all out. (Indika Batuwitharachchi 18, Naveed Nawaz 36, Hemantha Boteju 34, Priyankara Wickremasinghe 16 n.o., Pulasthi Gunaratne 31, Sajith Fernando 5/55, Jeevantha Kulatunge 2/13, Dinuk Hettiarachchi 2/36).
Colts - 49/3. (Dilan Kanchana 20 n.o., Hemantha Boteju 2/11)
Shock waves were sent around the Cricket Circles when Coach Dave What-more angry and frustrated by certain developments here - indicated to the Cricket Board he was quitting his job as Coach of the champion Sri Lanka team.
Whatmore was signed as Sri LankaÕs Cricket Coach in May 1995 for two years. However the Lanka born Australian has not been seeing eye to eye with the hierarchy of the Cricket Board in the recent past. Although his contract expires in May next year, all indications are that Whatmore will call it a day after the current series in Kenya.
The first signs of friction between the Cricket Board and Whatmore surfaced on the eve of the Singer Tournament when he was muzzled and not allowed to speak to the media. (as exclusively reported in the Sunday Times). The Cricket Board failed to give a valid explanation to this censorship at that stage and cited some flimsy reasons. The Board President attributed it to being in the constitution and insisted that questions to the coach should be directed to him or the chief executive officer. The Secretary of the Board unaware of the developments denied any such censorships on Whatmore.
However the press censorship on What-more continued and journalists were deprived the opportunity of speaking to the Coach during the Singer Tournament. The presence of the controversial Australians in Sri Lanka was also cited by the Board as a reason for the censorship. The Aussies departed after the tournament, but the attitude of the board towards What-more did not change. To make matters worse Whatmore was striped of a usual fee that is generally paid during a home series. Certain privileges enjoyed by him at the Cricket Board Headquarters were also curtailed.
Furious over the undue censorship and frustrated with the manner in which he was treated, Whatmore felt that it was an indirect way of showing him the door. He thus worked out an assignment with the English county Lancashire.
Whatmore’s presence in the Sri Lanka team has made a world of difference. Together with a well-talented side he engineered Sri Lanka to a historic World Cup triumph . It was preceeded by victories in Australia, Pakistan and Sharjah. Today the Lankans are riding on the crest of a wave of success and his contribution as a Coach is evident even to a schoolboy cricketer.
However lately, the Board officials seem to be fighting shy and reluctant to accept the fact that Whatmore had made a significant contribution.
Sumanapala Mannapperuma out raced all opposition to win all the four events that he came under starters orders in the Katu 96 motor racing meet held at the Katukurunda Air Base track.
In the first win Mannapperuma beat Romani de Silva in his Honda VTEC for Group A cars and repeating it in the same fashion in the sub-class contest.
Mannapperuma won his third race for Group M cars S & T beating Mallik Zaveer and closed the day taking the chequered flag for the sub-class event defeating Hans Ralf.
Among the two wheelers Noel Rodrigo won both the events astride his Air Bus A 430.
Results:
Motor Cycles
Overall - 1. Noel Rodrigo ( Air Bus A430), 2 Ajith Perera (Honda NSR), 3. Damien Goonethillake( Honda RS).
Sub class upto and including 125 c.c - 1. Noel Rodrigo (Air Bus)
A430), 2. Daminen Goonethillake ( Honda RS), 3. M.R. Pathiratne (Honda RS).
Sub-class over 125 c.c. up to and including 250 c.c - 1 Ajith Perera ( Honda NSR), 2.Ruwan Peiris (Daelim Honda NSR 250), 3. Suresh Karunaratne (Yamaha TZ 250).
Group “A” cars
Overall - 1. S. Mannapperuma (Honda VTEC), 2. Romani de Silva (Suzuki GTI) , 3. Rizvi Farouk ( Peugeot 205 GTI).
Sub-Class more than 12.0 up to and including 14.0 kg/hp - 1. Samarasinhe (Mazda 323), 2. Dhammika Peiris (Ford Laser 1500), 3. B A. Tennyson (Ford Laser 1500).
Sub-Class more than 10.0 upto and including 12.0 kg/hp - 1. Rohan de Silva (B.M.W. 3161), 2. Pradeep Kavikara (Isuzu Gemini), 3. Sohan Fernando (Honda Civic).
Sub-Class more than 8.0 upto and including 10.0 kg/hp - 1. Rizvi Farouk ( Peugeot 205 GTI), 2.Upeksha de Siva ( Mazda Interplay).
Sub-Class more than 8.0 upto and including 10.0 kg/hp-1. S. Mannapperuma (Honda VTEC), 2. Romani de Silva (Suzuki GTI).
Classic Sports Cars
1. Freddie Alles (Triumph TR3), 2. Clive de Silva (Triumph TR 3), 3. Bri Ponnambalam (M.G.A.).
Group “M”, “S”,and “T” Cars overall - 1. S. Mannapperuma (Honda VTEC), 2. Malik Zaveer ( Toyota Starlet), 3. Shamraz Yehiya (Toyota Starlet).
Sub-Class Group “M” and “S” up to and including 1050 c.c. - 1. Hafiz Cader (Leyland Mini), 2. Ajantha de Zoysa (Daihatsu Charade), 3. Anil Jayakody ( Daihatsu Charade).
Sub- Class Group “M” and “S” over 1350 c.c. upto and including 1665 c.c -1. S. Mannapperuma (Honda VTEC), 2. Hans Ralf (V.W. Beetle)
Sub-Class Group “M” & “S” over 1665 c.c. - 1. Reyaz Farook (Subaru Impressa), 2. Nigel Austin (Subaru Legacy).
Sub- Class Group “T” more than 6.0 kg/hp - 1. Malik Zaveer (Toyota Starlet), 2. Shamraz Yehiya (Toyota Starlet), 3. Bri Ponnambalam (Renault 5 GT Turbo).
Group “F” Formula Ford (Standard)
1. Pradip Jayewardene (Ford) 2. Ajantha de Zoysa (Swift) 3. Sheran Cooke (Reynard).
Ranjan Fernando has been appointed as the National Coach for Carrom.
Ranjan won the Carrom Championships at Nationals four times and also collected a number of Carrom titles.
The Carrom Federation of Sri Lanka is to promote Carrom in schools in Sri Lanka
Eight new records were set at the National Schools Junior Athletics meet now on at the Sugathadasa Stadium.
M.I.M. Zifak of Perukumwatana Al Minnas BMV and Dusha Sathurangi Pulukoddy of Bishop’s College both under 11 were only two individual record breakers.
There are 7027 athletes taking part in this meet.
Long Jump U-11 Girls - Dusha Sathurangi Pulukoddy (Bishop’s College - WP) 4.16m - (New meet record)
High Jump U-11 Boys - M.I.M Zifak (Perukumwatana Al-Minnas MV, Munthelma NWP) 1.31mm (New meet record)
Long Jump U-13 Girls - P.M. Udage (Sujatha MV, Matara - SP) 4.66m
4 x 200 U-21 Boys - Joseph Vaz Wennappuwa - NWP
4 x 200 U-21 Girls - Srimath John Kotalawela MV - Kurunegala NCP 1.48.5 mts.
High Jump U-13 Boys - W.A. Gayasiri Vethuranga Samira (St. Mary's MV Negombo - WP) 1.46m.
4 x 800 U-17 Girls - Ranjanagana Yaya MV. Angomuwa NCP 10.21.1 mts.
4 x 800 U-21 Boys - Vangekumbura MMV - Boralanda - UVA 8.05 3 mts. - (New meet record)
4 x 800 U-19 Boys - Vangekumbura MMV Boralanda - UVA 8.04.2 mts. - (New meet record)
4 x 800 U-21 Girls - Srimath John Kotalawela MV - NWP 10.01.04 mts. (New meet record)
4 x 800 U-19 Girls - Ambagamuwa MV, Udabulathgama - NWP 10.06.0 mts.
4 x 800 U-17 Boys - Vangekumbura MMV Boralanda - UVA 8.54.5 mts.
4 x 800 U-17 Girls - Ranjangana Yaya MV, Angomuwa NCP 10.21.mts.
4 x 800 U-15 Boys - Maris Stella, Negombo WP - 1.414 mts.
4 x 200 U-19 Girls - St. Joseph's BMV, Kegalle 1.47.3 mts. (New meet record)
4 x 200 U-19 Boys - St. Peter's College WP 1.30.4 mts. (New meet record)
With cricket reaching unprecedented heights of popularity, the Sri Lanka Federation of the Visually Handicapped (SLFVH) will also conduct a limited over cricket match for visually handicapped players next Sunday, White Cane Day, at the SSC Grounds in Colombo.
The President’s XI of the Federation will take on the President’s XI of the Sri Lanka Council for the Blind for a Challenge Shield.
This 30 over match will also serve as an initial trial to identify players to form the pool of players from which the team to represent Sri Lanka at the proposed Asia Cup tourney for visually handicapped, in India next year will be chosen.
Members of the visually handicapped community throughout the country; representatives of other social service organisations and other cricket fans are expected at the grounds to watch the match as well as to extend their support and encouragement to the participating players.
Kandy S.C. pipped CR&FC at the post in a nail biting cliff hanger to win the President’s Trophy by 6 points (2 penalties) to 5 points (1 try) on September 29 at Longden Place.
Kandy S.C. who lost their two league encounters to CR&FC by 15 points to 13 points and 28 points to 5 points did well to defeat CR&FC in the Clifford Cup finals by 7 points to 6 points and now the President’s Trophy by 6 points to 5 points in thrilling encounters.
Kandy’s skipper Imthie Marikar should be a happy man on this day as the first half of the game was dominated by CR&FC who led 5-nil at half time and his team to turn defeat into victory thanks to Nalin Dissanayake who kicked two penalties during the second half. CR, even during the dying stages of the game put up a never say die fightback. But luck was not with them. Even their prodigal kicking sensation, full back Nalaka Weerakkodiy could not help them as he missed all his kicks on this crucial day.
The man who made Kandy’s resurrection after their crushing defeat by CR in the second round league encounter by a staggering 28 points to a 5 points is their coach Nimal Leuke who is a master tactician and a crafty coach who brought back his team to win both the Clifford Cup and the President’s Trophy by defeating CR&FC in the two finals.
Nimal is proud that since he took over the coaching of Kandy Sports Club the club has not lost a single match to any club other than the two defeats they suffered this season in the hands of CR&FC.
Nimal has coached schools such as St. Joseph’s College, Colombo and St. Peter’s College Bambalapitiya and Havelocks S.C. and now Kandy S.C.
1960: Born Diego Armando Maradona, October 30, Buenos Aires. Fifth of eight children of a factory worker.
1976: Makes first division debut for Argentinos Juniors, 10 days before 16th birthday.
1977: Full international debut for Argentina.
1978: Coach Cesar Menotti omits him from World Cup finals in Argentina saying he is too young to handle pressures.
1979: Captains Argentina to victory in World Youth Cup in Japan.
1981: Wins Argentinian League title with Boca Juniors.
1982: Moves to Barcelona after World Cup finals.
1984: Joins Napoli in Italy.
1986: Scores infamous “Hand of God” goal then adds brilliant second in 2-1 World Cup quarter-final defeat of England in Mexico. Leads Argentina to 3-2 triumph over West Germany in final.
1987: Helps Napoli to their first Italian league title.
1989: Clinches UEFA Cup winners’ medal - Napoli’s first triumph in Europe. Spends two months in Argentina, failing to return for start of Italian League season. Demands a transfer.
1990: Leads Napoli to their second Italian title before captaining Argentina to World Cup final in Italy, when they lose 1-0 to Germany.
1991: Fails dope test for cocaine and is investigated in connection with Naples vice ring and banned from game for 15 months. Arrested for taking cocaine shortly after return to Argentina and ordered by a judge to quit the habit under medical supervision.
1992: Refuses to return to Napoli after drugs ban and demands transfer. Joins Spanish club Sevilla.
1993: Returns to captain his country against Brazil. Quits Sevilla. Joins Argentinian club Newell’s Old Boys.
1994: Sacked by Newell’s for missing training. Fires airgun at reporters. Appears in Argentina’s opening two World Cup matches before giving positive dope test. Banned for 15 months and fined by FIFA for taking cocktail of performance-enhancing drugs.
1995: After two unsuccessful coaching stints with lower-division Argentinian clubs, returns to playing action with Boca Juniors. Claims to have kicked his bad habits.
1996: Books into a Swiss drugs clinic to try to finally combat his cocaine addiction. (Reuters)
Old Peterites, led by former Sri Lanka wicket keeper batsman, Amal Silva emerged winners beating the Old Bens in the final at the 30th Annual Cricket Quadrangular concluded at St. Anthony’s College grounds, Katugastota.
In the first semi final, Old Petes batting first helped by a fine innings by Rumesh Ratnayake, which included 10 sixes, scored 128 for 3 in 10 overs. In reply the old Joes could only manage 79 for 4 in 10 overs.
In the other semi- final, the Old Bens batting first scored 85 for 5 in 10 overs beat the Old Antonians 70 for 8 in 10 overs.
In the final the old Bens,winning the toss and electing to bat scored 79 for 8 in 10 overs. The Old Petes achieved their victory target with 05 deliveries to spare - 84 for 2. Indunil Anthony figured prominently for the winners with a grand all round performance.
Best Batsman - Indunil Anthony/ Old Petes
Best bowler - Rumesh Ratnayake/ Old Petes
Best Fielder- Senarath Seneviratne/Old Petes
Most Outstanding player - Rumesh Ratnayake/ Old Petes
A.C.M. Lafir who was the Chief Guest gave away the awards.
Schools defeated the joint champions Colombo HA by 3 goals to nil in the 7th Women’s Hockey Nationals conducted by the Sri Lanka Hockey Federation and sponsored by Singers played at the Astro Turf at Reid Avenue.
Schools led two nil at their half. Chandima Rajawardena and Apsara Gunaratne scored a goal each in the first half, while Rajawardena notched her second goal in the second half.
In the semi finals, Schools beat Kandy by 8 goals to nil, with Thasika Gunaratne and Surangika Ratnayake scoring three goals each and N. Dissanayake, Sudharma Herath scoring one each.
In the second semi-final, Colombo beat Matale by a solitary goal to nil with Theja Kariyawasam sounding the boards.
Iresha Kapugamage of Galle was picked as the Best up and coming player while Chandima Rajawardena of the Schools was picked as the Most Outstanding player.
Mrs. Anoma Amarasuriya the wife of the Singer chairman, Hemaka Amarasuriya was the chief guest and gave away the trophies.
The champion Schools team comprised: Sudharma Herath (Captain), Surangika Ratnayake, Manusha Gurunathan, Apsara Gunaratne, Chandima Rajawardena, Kaniskha Obeysekera, Shiroma Athurupana, Sureni Wijesundera, Surani Bandara, Prasadini Koralage, Dinushri Tissera, Namali Dissanayake, Thisila Gunaratne, Amila Kapilaratne, and Sarajini Wijekoon.
The Schools' team was coached by A.N Perera and assisted by Shiromantha Wijesinghe
A Romanian junior team, trailing their opponents 16 nil, fled from the field two minutes before time, after fans threatened to strip them naked, if they conceded two more goals.
“With the score 16-nil for the opposing team, some gypsy fans shouted Athletic Bucharest would leave the Stadium naked if they lost the game 18-nil,” the daily newspaper, Evenimentul Zilei reported. The club have been fined $14,500 dollars by the Romanian Soccer Federation.
“We’re very sorry for Athletic, but we had to apply the rules, which are the same for everybody,” a Federation spokesman said
Viraj Fernando bagged a double winning the mens singles and doubles in the Nationalised Services Open Carrom championships worked off at their Headquarters at Reid Avenue.
In the mens singles Fernando of the Ports Authority beat J.N. Abeywardena of the SLTB 25/13,25/13 and in the mens doubles Fernando partnered by A.R.M. Sakkaf of the Ports Authority beat R.A. Ranasinghe and Lalith Kumara of the CECB 25/24, 18/25,25/8.
In the other finals,
Veterans singles - Y.S. Somasiri (Insurance Corporation) beat M.A.M. Niaz (SLTB) 25/16,25/14.
Mixed doubles - S.S. Perera & Rohini Mathiasz (Petroleum Corporation) beat J.N. Abeywardena, & Leela de Silva (SLTB) 10/25,25/20,25/19.
Womens singles - Leela de Silva (SLTB) beat Rohini Mathiasz (Petroleum Corporation) 25/22,25/19.
Womens doubles - Rahila Rumlan and Ramini Munasinghe (National Water Supply & Drainage Board) beat Leela de Silva & Nelsa Devanarayana (SLTB) 25/20,10/25,25/23
The annual five-a-side cager tournament for men over-40 years conducted by the Sri Lanka Veterans Basketball Association will be held on October 26 and 27 at the Depot Police Courts at Bambalapitiya.
This tournament is conducted for the second successive year and is open to Clubs, Associations, Districts, Mercantile Firms and Service Organisations.
A host of ex-Sri Lankan cagers will be seen in action in this tourney with the Celtell trophy champions Maharajah Organisation also in the fray.
Arshad Junaid of D.S. Senanayke heads the list of the “Most Popular Horlicks under 15 Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 96” competition after the second weeks voting with an aggregate of 441 votes followed by: Mahesh Perera (St. Peter’s) 149, Nimesh Perera (President’s College Rajagiriya) 139, Thilina Kandambi (Ananda) 111, Chamara Lasantha (Lumbini MV) 108, S. Senanayake (Lumbini MV 54, M.M.M. Rameez (Zahira) 53, Ian Daniels (St Joseph’s) 46, S. Priyashammi (Richmond) 43, Jehan Mubaraq (Royal) 29, N.M. Nizam (St Anthony’s ) 26, Y.P. Mahes (Royal Panadura) 11, M.S.M. Faiz (St. Thomas Gurutalawa) 9, N. Prasanna (Galahitiyawa Central) 4,
The competition ends on October 13.
Joseph Kenny crewed by Prasanga Kariyawasam bagged the Qantas Cup by winning the Fleet Race conducted by the Ceylon Motor Yacht Club at the Bolgoda Lake.
Taking second place was Kamal Sri Gunatilleka and W.A. Upul of the Navy followed by Anil Gunawardena and H.K. Rajapaksa, Olaf and Leena Krinehamn, R.S. Arambawatta and W.P.K. Janaka, J. Lenham and Suwene Lenham, Shehan Tennekoon and D.P. Newton.
Last yearÕs winners Asitha and Avantha Tennekoon finished in ninth place.
Shenuka Dias the daughter of Ranil Dias won the Optimist junior race with Matthew Chauvin finishing second followed by Victor Olmin, Robert Hendricks third, and Philip Olmin, Reshan Svendsen and Anura Amunugama.
The first round of golf in the two round competition for the Captains Cup of the Royal Colombo Golf Club was concluded at the Ridgeways.
F.H. Gunasekera had an exceptional round closely followed by John Barton with nett scores of 67 and 68 respectively.
Shirley de Silva was in third place with a nett 71 followed by Rusi Captain with a nett 72.
The second round will be played next week.
The Mercantile A Division league championships conducted by the Mercantile Football Association will kick-off on October 8 at the City League grounds with Dimo taking on Commercial Bank, at 4.30 p.m. All matches will be played at the City League grounds, Slave Island.
The other teams participating are: AirLanka Catering, Grindlays Bank, Hatton National Bank, Lake House and Tri Star Apparels. Missing action this year is the defending champions, Ceylinco Group.
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