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J.R. Jayewardene Trophy match on September 14
The annual SSC-NCC J.R. Jayewardene trophy fifth annual limited trophy cricket match, will be played on Sept. 14, at the Nondescripts C.C. ground. This traditional match has many firsts in the annals of Sri Lanka cricket and for its development. Both teams have produced some fine willow wielders, who, has done proud to the country. The likes of Sargo Jayawickreme F.C. De Saram, the first to score a hundred against Australia for Oxford University against W.M. Woodful's team in 1930.

When it comes to cricket late President J.R. Jayewardene was also the President of the Singhalese Sports Club and President of the Cricket Board. F.C. served as the secretary. Fittingly the trophy is named in his memory.

NCC had the likes of Robert Fernando, Pat McCarthy, who played Sheffield Shield cricket for West Australia, Malcolm Spittel, Vernon Prins (he passed away recently), K.M.T. Perera and later Stan Jayasinghe, Mike Tissera, Dr. H.I.K. Fernando etc. The likes of C.I. Gunasekera, Mahes Rodrigo, Bertie Wijesinghe, Fairlie Dalpathado probably will be there at this annual get-together which will bring back nostalgic memories.

NCC, who are the holders of the trophy will be led by Russel Arnold. The others in the team are: Naveed Nawaz, Hashan Thilakaratne, R. Pushpakumara, Ganegama, Kumar Sangakkara, T. Dhammika etc. Probably Aravinda de Silva, the "little dynamo" of Sri Lanka cricket who recently retired from the big league may turn out for them as well.

S.S.C. will be led by Mahela Jayawardena, which team will include batting artiste, Marvan Atapattu, Ruchira Perera, Avishaka Gunawardene, Dilip Samaraweera, Hemantha Wickremaratne and a host of youngsters drawn from the Under 23 team.
There are awards for the best batsman, F.C. De Saram Trophy; best bowler, Vernon Prins Trophy and best fielder Ben Navaratne Trophy, besides the man-of-the-match.
Last year's match was abandoned due to inclement weather.

Some of the finest one-day cricketers will be on show. The game will provide the "Golden Oldies" from both clubs exciting cricket provided the weather keeps fine.
Chief guest will be, the President of the Cricket Board, Thilanga Sumathipala. -BW

Old Joes meet Old Petes in final today
Traditional rivals Old Josephians and Old Peterites have qualified to clash in the final of the annual 36th Saints Quadrangular cricket tournament to be played at the newly laid pitch at Darley Road today. In the two semi finals played yesterday Old Joes overcame Old Antonans by seven wickets at Bambalapitiya while Old Peterites thrashed Old Benedictines by 275 runs at Darley Road. Both the matches were played yesterday. In the semi final played at Bambalapitiya the Old Peterites scored a massive 326 for 4 in rain curtailed 44 overs game with Sri Lankan cap Russel Arnold making an unbeaten 166 and Mahesh Perera hitting 88.

At Darley Road:Old Antonians - 80 in 17.5 overs (Asela Herath 21; Mark Fernando 3 for 15, Asela Pathirana 2 for 13, Ian Daniel 2 for 16, Dilshan Perumal 2 for 22)
Old Josephians - 82 for 3 in 13.5 overs (Dilan Ramanayake 30 n.o., Michael Vandort 28 n.o.)

At Bambalapitiya:Old Peterites - 326 for 4 in 44 overs (Mahesh Perera 88, Russel Arnold 166 n.o, Indunil Anthony 22 n.o.) Old Benedictines - 51 in 20.2 overs (S.K. Perera 19; Ranga Dias 3 for 14, Riaz Farouk 2 for 19) -MSA

Maheesha knockout defending champ Dinali
By M. Shamil Amit
Seventeen-yea- old Maheesha Seneviratne advanced to the women's final of the 88th Tennis Natinal championships sponsored by F & G Property Developers when she ousted the defending champion Dinali de Silva in three sets 6/3, 5/7, 6/7 in a semi final clash played at the SLTA tennis courts which lasted two hours and 40 minutes.

Both players matched each other shot for shot from the base line in a tense struggle and the game could have gone either way but the turning point for Maheesha was the strong serves which she had perfected that had her opponent wanting.

The win by Maheesha has set up a clash for her against archrival Thiyumi Abeysinghe who defeated former Federation Cup player Shalini de Silva 6/4, 6/3 in a match played under floodlights. With play not possible yesterday due to bad weather the women's final will be worked off today. Weather permitting it will be an interesting final as previously the two players had clashed in the Under 18 and the women's singles final with Thiyumi coming out best on both occasions.

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