U-19 Cricket: Test star cradle in the South playing on a torn matting

The start of the Under-19 Ddivision II cricket fixture between Debarawewa National School and St. Anthony’s College Kandy was delayed as the umpires requested that the matting on which the game was to be played on was so worn out that it should be patched up or another matting be laid. 

But unfortunately as this was the only matting available, which was gifted by Sri Lanka Cricket almost four years ago the hosts had no option but to mend the torn matting to get on with the game as the visitors eagerly waited for the all important tournament fixture to start. 

Debarawewa National School is the only school in the Hambantota district that has qualified to play in the Under-19 Division II cricket tournament which is conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Tournament. 

Debarawewa is also the only school that plays in Division I of the Under-13, Under-15 and Under-17 tournament in the district. 

The majority of the students that attend Debarawewa NS are from the farming community. 

It should be noted that it was at Debarawewa NS that present Sri Lanka caps Suranga Lakmal and Dhananjaya de Silva learnt the ABC's of the game. 

Although the game against St. Anthony's Katugastota got off to a late start on a patched up matting and delayed by intermittent rain on thrice the home team won the game on first innings. 

Debarawewa 174 (Shehan Malinda 94) and 149/9 dec (Shehan Malinda 71 not out) 

St. Anthony’s 129 (Chathura Jayanath 6/9) and 89/4 at close (Chathura Jayanath 2/36)