Royal set to make 193 runs in 26 overs by Wesley after an early setback (losing two for 16) had to be content with a draw in the inter-school cricket match at Reid Avenue yesterday.
A determined unbeaten 69 run third-wicket stand between consistent run-getters Jehan Mubarak 32 n.o (with six fours) and Ruchira Jayasuriya 38 n.o (with four fours) helped Royal to total 85 for two at the close to retain the Sir Frank Gunasekera Trophy.
Last year Royal beat Wesley
Royal in reply to Wesley's healthy 249 for eight declared, were 105 for three overnight. Resuming their innings, they were able to declare at 230 for eight, thanks to an entertaining fourth wicket stand of 71 runs between Ruchira Jayasuriya 56 (with four boundaries) and an aggressive 67 by Shanaka Perera 67 (with 10 hits to the ropes).
Wesley, this year coached by former Sri Lanka captain Bandula Warnapura, showed a lot of improvement in their batting, when they rattled 173 for 5 declared, Opener A.Jaldin 39 (five boundaries and a six) and Nalin Balasuriya 36 (three fours and a six) batted confidently.
Wesley - 249 for 8 dec and 173 for 5 dec in 43.4 overs (D.Jayakody 31, A.Jaldin 39, Nalin Balasuriya 36, P.Amarasekera 38, I. Ranasinghe 15 n.o; U.Gunawardena 2 for 40)
Royal - (105 for 3 overnight) contd. 230 for 8 dec in 56.3 overs (Ruchira Jayasuriya 56, Thushan Amarasuriya 18, Shanaka Perera 67, L.Liyanage 27, Umesh Gunawardena 20 n.o; Brian Senadeera 4 for 28, R.Senadeera 3 for 52) and 85 for 2 in 26 overs (Jehan Mubarak 32 n.o, Ruchira Jayasuriya 38 n.o)
A sensational spell of bowling by Sri Lanka's fast bowler Ravindra Pushpakumara who had 5 for 34 in the Panadura SC second innings had NCC heading for an outright victory at the end of the second day's play in their Div One inter club P.Sara Trophy cricket match at Panadura yesterday.
NCC in reply to Panadura SC's score of 217 made 263 thanks to useful knocks from Sri Lanka cap Russel Arnold who made a blazing 112 . He was given good support by Avishka Gunawardena 26 and Ravi Pieris 28. For Panadura SC Sri Lanka cap Don Arunasiri took 7 for 73.
Panadura SC batting a second time with 46 runs behind were in a spot at 125 for 9 with N.Jayalath 31n.o and M.Jayasena 25 making useful contributions.For NCC, Ravindra Pushpakumara took 5 for 34. Panadura SC had a lead of 79 runs with one wicket standing at the end of the day.
Panadura SC - 217 all out (S.Kumara 102 n.o, P.Wijesinghe 23,K.Silva 15; R.Puspakumara 4 for 56, S.de.Silva 3 for 44) and 125 for 9 (N.Jayalath 31n.o, M.Jayasena 25;R. Puspakumara 5 for 34)
NCC - 263(R.Arnold 112,A.Gunawardena 36, R.Pieris 28;D.Arnasiri 7 for 73)
SSC were on the brink of scoring an outright victory over Kurunegala YCC as they had the Kurunegala Club tottering at 85 for 7 at the end of the second day's play in the P.Sara match at Maitland Place yesterday.
Kurunegala YCC were chasing an impossible traget of 504 for victory. Kurunegala YCC in reply to SSC's first innings score of 443 were bowled out for 143. Useful knocks from A.Bandaranayake 22, I.Bakmiwewa 24 helped Kurunegala. For SSC, Suresh Perera (4 for 43) and Harith Jayasuriya (2 for 60) bowled well.
SSC batting a second time around with a lead of 300 runs went for quick runs and declared their second innings at 204 for 8 . Sri Lanka's opening batsman Marvan Atapattu led the way with stylish 84. He was well supported by Mahela Jayawardena 21 and A.Jayasuriya 39.For Kurunegala YCC Wasantha Kumara 3 for 32 and R.Hearth 5 for 43 bowled well.
Kurunegala YCC chasing 504 to win were badly placed at 85 for 7 with J.Silva (2 for 45, S.Perera (4 for 30) doing the bulk of the damage and a certain defeat awating them.
SSC - 443 for 3 dec and 204 for 8 dec (M.Atapattu 83,M.Jayawardena 21, A.Jayasuriya 39;W.Kumara 3 for 32,R.Hearth 5 for 43)
KYCC - (52 for overnight) 143 all out(A.Bandaranayke 22, I. Bakmiwewa 24;S.Perera 4 for 43,H.Jayasuriya 2 for 60) and 85 for 7 (N.Munasinghe 20n.o;J.Silva 2 for 45, S.Perera 4 for 30) - (SI)
Colts were heading for an early victory today as they had Matara SC struggling at 63 for 6 in their second innings. Colts piled up a massive 446 for 9 dec in reply to Matara SC first innings score of 153 at the end of the second day's play in the inter club P.Sara Trophy match at Havelock Park yesterday.
Colts starting from their overnight 135 for 2 made an imposing 446 for 9 thanks to two useful partnerships. For the third wicket,Sajith Fernando (102) and Thushara Sampath (78) put on a 183 runs stand, taking the score to 210 for 2 from 27 for 2. The fifth wicket stand of 148 runs between Jeewantha Kulatunga (76) and Thilan Samaraweera (76), further strengthened their position. S. Alexander 21 and Eric Upashatha 46 made noteworthy contributions which helped them to reach the score.For Matara SC ,D.Vaidyaratne (5 for 79) and A.Lankatillake (2 for 84) bowled well.
Matara SC batting a second time with a 293 runs deficit were heading for an innings defeat as they ended a day at a hopeless 63 for 6.
Matara batting first, after winning the toss, made 153 all out. They reached the score due to good knocks by K.Guruge 28 and P.Rangana 34. For Colts, Dinuka Hettiarachchi (4 for 47), Thilan Samaraweera (3 for 17), Eric Upashantha (3 for 42) shared the. wickets
Marata SC - 153 all out in 55.5 Overs( K.Guruge 28,P.Rangana 34; D.Hettarachchi 4 for 47,T.Samaraweera 3 for 17, E.Upashtha 3 for 42) and 63 for 6 at close (I.Priyantha 23;S.Fernando 2 for 6)
Colts - 446 for 9 dec (S.Fernando 102, T.Sampath 78, J.Kulatunga 76, T.Samaraweera 77,S.Alexender 21, E.Upashantha 46;D.Vadiyaratne 5 for 79,A.Lankatillake 2 for 84) - (SI)
The placid pitch at Reid Avenue turned out to be a batsmen's paradise when 512 runs were scored on day two of the Div One P.Sara Trophy three day match between defending champions Bloomfield and CCC.
Bloomfield batting first were 285 for 5 on Friday with Roshan Mahanama batting with authority scoring a perky 104 which had 14 hits to the ropes a towering six. Kumar Dharmasena reinforced the side with an unbeaten ton.
In reply to Bloomfield's total of 340 all out CCC were 172 for 5 at close. Bradman Ediriweera showing great concentration scored a fine107 not out. His century was the third in the match. Ediriweera's unbeaten knock contained 18 fours.
Bloomfield - (285 for 5 overnight) 340 all out( R.Mahanama 104, K.Dharmasena 104; I.Gallage 5 for 80, A.Dalugoda 2 for 94,K.Rajan 2 for 77)
CCC - 172 for 5 (B.Ediriweera 107n.o, N.Bopage 20; P.Wickremasinghe 3 for 45, R. Palliyaguru 1 for 22,K. Dharmasena 1 for 20) - (BW)
The Inaugural Ananda College Tennis Gala sponsored by Asian Finance Limited will be held at its new college courts at Ananda Mawatha from February 28th.
The events to be held are Junior singles and doubles, Men's singles and doubles, Ladies' singles and doubles, veterans, over 45 and 55 singles and doubles.
Entry forms are available with Miss Sujatha de Silva, Teacher In Charge of Tennis, Ananda College, P K. de Silva, Sudarshan Seneratne and Palitha Gunasekera.
Entries close on February 25 while the draw will be held on February 27 at 6 pm.
A chanceless 94 by Primal Buddhika of Richmond Galle against Prince of Wales was the highlight of the drawn inter-school match at Morauwa yesterday.
Resuming from their overnight score of 128 for 1, Richmond were 307 for six declared in reply to the Cambrians first innings total of 244 for 6 declared.
Overnight not out batsman Buddhika (who was 54 at the end of the first day) was ultimately run out at 94. His knock included 12 boundaries and he was associated in a 74 runs partnership for the first wicket with O.Sumathipala (43) and 94 runs for the second wicket with Indika Udayanga (46).
In the second innings Prince of Wales were 151 for 7. Three batsmen - Hasantha Fernando (912), Kalum Fernando (836) and Indika Hittatiya (825) failed to complete 1000 runs. All batsmen got out cheaply in the second innings.
Earlier Indika Hittatiya of Prince of Wales fell one run short of a century. As a result of the first innings lead obtained by Richmond they carried away the A.P.M.Pieris Memorial Trophy.
Prince of Wales - 244 for 6 dec in 60 overs (I.Hittatiya 99, R.Ranaweera 19, H.Fernando 46, J.Gooneratne 21 retd hurt, N.Ratnayake 21; O.Wijesiriwardena 3 for 25) and 151 for 7 (R.Ranaweera 42, N.Ratnayake 32, A.Wannakuwatte 30).
Richmond - (Overnight 128 for 1 ) 307 for 6 dec in 86 overs (Primal Buddhika 94, O.Sumathipala 43, I.Udayanga 46, N.Ratnayake 23, P.Loransuhewa 46, P.Kumara 20; H.Fernando 3 for 59)
Namal: Match
haul of 9/36
A match bag of nine wickets for 36 by Namal Abeywickrema helped D.S.Senanayake College to gain eight wickets win over Thurstan in the inter-school cricket match at Wijerama Mawatha yesterday.
Namal Abeywickrema captured five wickets for 14 in the first innings and followed it by taking four wickets for22 runs in the second essay.
This was D. S. Senanayake's first victory for the season.
Thurstan were bundled out for 102 in reply to D.S. Senanayake's 215 for 7 dec. Following on Thurstan were all out for 134.
D.S.Senanayake College - 215 for 7 dec. (S.Lafir 46, D.Perera 28, D.Amaraweera 35, N.Pradeep 39, R.Gunasekera 22 n.o; S.Perera 3 for 47) and 23 for 2 (Maduwantha 17 n.o)
Thurstan - 102 (A.Dayananda 25, T.Wickrema 29, G.Sandanayake 20; N.Abeywickrema 5 for 14, M.Alwis 2 for 4, D.Perera 2 for 19) and 134 (T.Wickremasinghe 40, N.Sandanayake 40; N.Abeywickrema 4 for 22, N.Dharmapriya 2 for 17, N.Pradeep 2 for 24) - SMDS
A second successive 10 wicket match bag (10 for129) by left arm leg spinner Sajith Rupasinghe and a classy 118 in 92 balls by Mutumudalige Pushpakumara was all in vain as butter fingered fielding by Ananda let Mahinda off the hook in their inter-school cricket match which ended in a draw at Ananda Mawatha yesterday.
Mahinda who took strike a second time with 23 runs behind, batted for the remaining part of the day and ended at 147 for 6.They obtained this score due to well compiled knocks by Duminda Munasinghe (40) and Pardeep Kumar (57). This pair were involved in a 47 runs stand for the fourth wicket and came at a stage when they were in a spot at 59 for the loss of three wickets.. Kumar's 57 had 10 well timed boundries .
Mahinda's situation could have being worse if the Ananda fielders had held on to the catches which came their way.
Sajith Rupasighe was the pick of the bowlers when he took five for 42. He has now clamied 20 wickets in his last two matches and has taken 60 wickets for the season.
Early in the day Ananda resumed from their overnight score of 85 for no loss with the overnight batsmen Lakshan Fernando and Lahiru Chaturanga atthe crease. This pair added another 23 runs with Lahiru Chaturanga making a soild 38 with Lakshan Fernando contributing a workman like knock of 64 with 12 boundries. After the first wicket fell at 108, five wickets fell for 49 runs which reduced Ananda to157 for 6.
However a seventh wicket stand of 87 runs between Mutumudaliage Puhpakumara (118) and Maduranga Mallawarachchi(24) and an eighth wicket stand of 57 runs between Puhpakumara (118) and Nuwan Jayawardena (24) helped Ananda to reach 314 fot 9 dec. enabling them to overhaul Mahinda's score by 23 runs. Puhapakumara's blazing knock of 118 in 92 balls had 19 hits to the ropes and one over it. For Mahinda, Tushar Sampath captured five for 106.
Mahinda - 291 and 147 for 6 in 49 overs (P.Kumara 57, D. Munasinghe 40, P. Maharachchi 12, H.Darshana 11; S.Rupasinghe 5 for 42)
Ananda - (85 for no loss overnight) 314 for 9 dec in 68.4 overs (L.Fernando 64, L.Chaturanga 38, R.Basnayake 15, M. Puhpakumara 118, M.Mallawarachchi 24, N.Jayawardena 26;T. Rupasinghe 5 for 106, P.Kumara 2 for 61).
A blazing 106 by Mahes Kanthan helped St. Anthony's Wattala to score 281 on the first day of their inter-school cricket match against Raddoluwa MV at Wattala yesterday.
In reply Raddoluwa MV were 72 for the loss of two wickets at the end of the first day. The match will be resumed at 10 am today.
St. Anthony's Wattala - 281 (Mahes Kanthan 106, S.Perera 46, D.Perera 58; S.Arangala 3 for 40, N.Gunatilake 4 for 96)
Raddoluwa MV - 72 for 2 (C.Delpechitra 37 n.o, S.Sanjeewa Arangala 24)
DUBAI: The Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union (AGRFU) is keen to undertake a short tour of Sri Lanka by the end of May, in a bid to boost links with the country. AGRFU secretary John Griffiths said that both countries have been eliminated from the World Cup tournament and it would be good if they could play an international match.
"Both the countries lost narrowly in the World Cup qualifiers. We feel that an international will help the players get over that," said Griffiths who is based in Dubai.
The AGRFU is made up of several expatriate rugby clubs in the Gulf and West Asia.
The AGRFU is willing to pay towards the cost of their accommodation in Sri Lanka and will cover their own air fares, said the secretary, who is looking for a 6-day tour, with a friendly fixture and a full international.
The International Rugby Board has also been contacted regarding this fixture. According to Griffiths, Sri Lankan rugby is of a higher standard than the Gulf.
Defending Carlsberg 'Sevens' champions CH &FC, who won the title under skipper Chandrishan Perera, when they outplayed Kandy S.C. 24 nil will be rearing to go when the SLRFU rugby season opener kicks off on Feb., 28 and March 1 at Longden Place.
'Shan' Perera glutton for hard work not only skippered the winning team, but also coached them to hit a purple patch, when the CH were able to stall Kandy S.C's run of success. Incidentally KSC took the field after winning three major titles.
'Keep- fit' Chandrishan, hard running wing-three quarter has an excellent record in this popular sport. This year he will be the coach of the CH 'sevens' team. This year the team is being skippered by Jude Pillai and Chandrishan is in the driving seat.
According to CH's rugby committee members it will be no let up with 'Shan' to guide the team which has some of the best 'sevens' players in the country
Nippy scrum-half Sudath Sampath, Jude Pillai a speedy centre, Graham Rauax, Azad Junkeer, Alex Malinda Jaysinghe, Subamulla and others are in the fray.
Further muscle has been added to the team with three players from the CR&FC joining them. Outstanding fly-half Asanga Rodrigo, Naufer Rahim and towering Hapugoda have signed with CH&FC. The CH are confident of being in the finish, with 'Shan' right on course to achieve their ultimate object of retaining the title. Predictions are difficult in this short game as outsiders too have a chance of making it in the end. - (B.W.)
Talking PointThe Cycling Federation of Sri Lanka held its general meeting without the statement of accounts being mentioned.
One wonders how it has been taken off the agenda, and who was responsible for it!
Who is the official taking a foreigner for a ride by promising him citizenship in Sri Lanka as he is married to a Sri Lankan.
Rover learns that this foreigner has been even taken to meet the Minister who has turned a blind eye to this.
The request of a new football club for registration with the Negombo Football League has been refused.
P>The club that has a foreign coach, has appealed to the Football Federation seeking their right to membership.Reutrn to Sports Contents Page
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