| Sports |
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| Moors
snatch sensational victory over Bloomfield It was the first time that the Braybrooke Place club won the Premier Cricket Title of the country. Yesterday they had to draw all their resources and the little experience of their young and talented outfit to knock the favourites Bloomfield in a nail biting third day. Despite step motherly treatment from Sri Lanka's National Cricket selectors who have overlooked some of the top performers of Moors and excluded them from both the National and A Team squads the Braybrooke Place Club continued to prove that they are a force to be reckoned with. Needing only 106 to win Moors slumped to 16 for 4 wickets when Bloomfield opening bowlers Hemanatha Alles (2/17) and Mathisha Ranasinghe (2/17) ripped the top order. But a determined effort by the experienced Chandika Hathurusinghe and Bathiya Perera stalled Bloomfield from making futher inroads.The pair batted sensibly to add 44 runs for the 5th wicket before Kumar Dharmasena castled Bathiya Perera for 31. Dharmasena followed it up with the prize wicket of Hathurusinghe who was controversially ruled out caught at forward short leg for 18 and Moors slipped to 66 for 7 wickets. The Bloomfield captain who was bowling an impeccable length went on to snap Ruwin Pieris as Moors slumped to 79 for 8 wickets still needing 27 runs for victory. Skipper Rangana Herath then joined Thamara Abeyratne and stopped the slide as they slowly and steadily accumilated the runs and brought Moors close to the target.However a sudden rush of blood saw Moors skipper Rangana Herath run himself out with the total on 97 leaving the Braybrooke place club 9 runs to get with their last pair at the crease. After a few anxious moments Thamara Abeyratne (25 n. o) and last man Chanaka Welagedara finally saw Moors through much to the relief and jubilation of their supporters. Once again it was Moors left arm medium pacer Nandika Ranjith who paved the way for a Moors victory.Ranjith picked up 10 wickets in the final to single handedly rout Bloomfield for 121 and 172 respectively. Ironically the Medium pacer is still to catch the eye of the Selectors who have even overlooked the player for the 'A' team squad. Bloomfield
- 121 & 172 Anthonians
win on first innings over Trinity De Silva, the leading Anthonian all rounder passed 1000 runs for the season on the first day. He followed up by bowling his left arm seamers effectively. When the Trinitians batted, two players came to their rescue with timely fifties. Asiri Ariyaratne 54 (6 fours) and youngster Sachith Pathirana (a big match debutant) who made a 94 ball 50 before being run out. The wicket began to play up yesterday with the ball coming up a little dangerously at times. There was frenzied activity with umpires, captains, old boys and spectators taking a hand in the decision - making process. Play was in danger of being called off, too. St. Anthony's
- 216 for 7 declared (M. Rislan 29, J. de Silva 64, P. Vithanage
62, A. Ariyaratne 18, P. Ekanayake 12 n.o.; M. Muneer 3/50, S. Pathirana
2/36). Another
drab draw In reply to Prince of Wales score of 200/9 declared, St. Sebastian's continued from 18/0 to 272/7 off 86 overs. Highlight of the Sebastian innings was a fluent unbeaten 64 scored by Suhada Cooray and he was well supported by his skipper Manjula Silva who cracked a quick fire 39 including 3 huge sixes. Cambrians taking
the lease for 2nd time with a deficit of 72 scored 25/1 at close
of play. It was very clear that spectator interest on big matches
are decreasing very rapidly. This kind of lacklustre draws can be
stopped if both school authorities agree to a maximum of 60 overs
or 50, an interesting tussle could be seen by spectators. St. Sebastian's - 272/7 declared in 86 overs (Suhada Cooray 64 not out, Niresh Silva 40, Manjula Silva 39, Tharaka Pieiris 36, Dileepa Perera 32. Sahan Wijeratne 2/75, Srimal Pieiris 2/31, Nisal Malinga 2/73). Sensational
win for underdogs The Petes having won the toss sent the Joes to bat though losing their first wicket at 17 they were helped by a 71 run partnership by opener Tharindu Ariyawansa and skipper Deshan Bastianpillai. Tharindu went on to make a 109 made in 153 balls which consisted of 11 boundaries. Eventually the Joes ended their alloted 50 overs scoring 217 for 7. Peterite spinner Samiddha Gallage was the most successful bowler with figures of 2 for 45. The Petes going in to bat were in for some surprise with some steady bowling by pacies Angelo Mathew and Sandun Dias who had them reeling on 28 for 5 in the 11th over. None of the Peterite batsmen were able to come to terms with the duo's bowling, particularly Angelo who bowled five maidens in the eight overs he bowled. The Petes were in dire straits. Only the last two pairs gave them some respectability to make a score of 58 which took them 23.2 overs. Skipper Nadhula de S. Wijeyaratne was the only batsman to get double figures making 17. The wickets were shared by Sandun Dias who took 5 for 18 in six overs of which two were maidens and Angelo who took 3 for 12. This was the lowest score made by either teams in the series. St. Joseph's - 217 for 7 in 50 overs (Tharindu Ariyawansa 109, Deshan Bastianpillai 28, Shamal Warnakula 21, Ranesh Perera 19; Samiddha Gallage 2 for 45) St. Peter's - 58 in 23.2 overs (Nadhula de S. Wijeyeratne 17; Sandun Dias 5 for 18, Angelo Mathews 3 for 12)
This match sponsored by AMW which precedes the annual 'Battle of the Blues' was played in a typical carnival atmosphere where the old boys from both institutions were there in their numbers to watch this fellowship game. Brothers Ajith and Tilak de Zoysa, senior officials of AMW graced the occasion. Old Royalists led by Nalliah Rajan won the toss and invited the Old Thomians to take first lease of the pitch.OTSC helped by bright top scores of 49 by Manoj Mendis (seven fours) helped them to total 189. Nalliah Rajan was adjudged the Man-of-the-match with two for 33 and an unbeaten 34 with four fours. He contributed much for the Old Royalists. The chief guests for the match were Chanaka de Silva and Kumar Boralessa and they gave away the trophies. Old Royalists, with this win, make it five-all in the series. Last year the match was not played. Old Thomians - 189 in 35 overs (Manoj Mendis 49, Anura Gunawardena 26, three fours and a six, Nisal Fernando 19, Kanaka 13, Mhinda Halangoda 14; M. Thotawilage 2 for 34, N. Devarajan 2for 33, Gamini Perera 2 for 27). Old Royalists - 193 for 5 in 31.5 overs (Chulaka Amarasinghe 27, Gamini Perera 51, N. Rajan 34 n.o; M. Halangoda 3 for 29) Man-of-the-Match - N. Rajan; Best batsman - Manoj Mendis; Best bowler - M. Halangoda; Best Fielder - Andrew Perera; Best allrounder - Gamini Perera. Ananda
-Nalanda 50 overs game today N.M. besides being a politician par-excellence, has indulged in the willow wielding sport for Ananda and later for the Nondescripts CC and later became the president of the club. He went one further to become the president of of the Cricket Board (BCCSL). It was during his tenure that Sri Lanka won the ICC trophy at the second World Cup staged in London in 1979 in the process paved the way for the country to gain ICC status. Today's match played in the name of a great Philosopher and sportsman who served the country well on and off the field. This is a much lookforward to contest by the two schools. Both teams are evenly matched. It will provide the fans good fare to witness an entertaining contest too - played in the correct spirit. -BW
League tournament
winners: Knockout tournament
winners" Kingswood-Dharmaraja
ends in draw Rachita Liyanage,
in an all round capacity, Rajitha Ariyadasa, Niroshan Perera and
Iruka Senaratne shone for Kingswood. Gayan Wijetilleka, Muditha
Wijekoon and spinners Asanka Samarakoon and Amal Ekanayake were
the pick of the Rajans. Royal-Thomian
Past Cricketers Annual Dinner If you are a past coloursman of Royal or S. Thomas' you can relive those golden memories by attending the Past Cricketers Annual Dinner at the Taj Samudra Hotel (On Golden Pond) from 7.30 p.m. onwards on March 12 (Wednesday) 2003. This event has become as much a tradition as the Big Match itself and those attending the event will have the opportunity to reminisce with some of the greatest cricketers either school has ever produced. Tickets are priced at Rs. 700/- and Rs. 350/- (Under 25 and over 60s) and can be obtained by contacting the following during office hours: Neil Chanmugam - 698908; Ajita Pasqual - 452536; Lakshman Thalayasingham - 448306; Trevor Rajaratnam - 421547; Sashi Ganeshan - 300750; Anushka Polonnowitha - 695527. A limited number oftickets will also be available at the door.
The tournament which is organised by DSS Cricket Foundation and sponsored by Dialog GSM has a handsome cash prize of Rs. 25,000/- for the winners while the runner up will receive Rs. 15,000/- while the third team will receive Rs. 10,000/-. DSS were the winners of last year and are favourites to lift the trophy for the second year.-MSA
In sixth position is PCC Lanka with four wins from eight matches, Hemas are seventh with three wins from eight matches while SAGT and Multivision are occupying the bottom two places with one win each from eight matches. The coming weeks will be decisive for the top four teams who will move into the final stage to decide the champions .- MSA |
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