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Bloomfield to the fore
Young Lokuarachchi marks his comeback
By Bernie Wijesekera
The lads from Reid Avenue paid the biggest tribute their convalesing Club President and the former President of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka Upali Dharmadasa by annexing the coveted Premier League Trophy by beating Colts CC in the final at the SSC Grounds last Sunday.

The final played over three days produced exciting and quality cricket. One of the best seen in recent years. It was a match that brought forth fighting instincts from both camps when chips were down.

Last year's losing finalists to Moors SC by one wicket, Bloomfield made amends this time to romp home by five wickets in a do-or-die battle, thanks to their youngsters, who proved their worth with skill and resolute.

Amid blue skies and sunshine the game was played on a good pitch with even bounce. Bloomfield skipper, Kumar Dharmasena, won the toss and invited Colts to take first lease of the wicket.

The Colts top order fell apart losing 6 wickets for 38 runs, where medium pacer Darshana Gamage exploited the morning moisture on the wicket to the maximum. He was well assisted, by Udara Warna.

For Colts former Kalutara MV and Sri Lanka player Dulip Liyanage, threw caution to the winds. Liyanage took the fight to the Bloomfield bowlers and hit 76 n.o., and helped Colts CC reach some respectability in their first inning.

Bloomfield, in reply were back pedalling losing seven wickets with only103 runs on the board. A pall of gloom fell in their camp, struggling to get a first innings lead. For Colts pacemen Vaas, Liyanage and Ishara Amerasinghe gave nothing away.

At this stage it looked like the Reid Avenue Club were heading towards a first inning defeat at the hands of the Havelock Park Club. At this juncture, Shanuka Dissanayake, an old Nalandian (who played with Mahela Jayawardena) along with a Trinity 'Lion' Kaushalya Weeraratne, a strongly built young prospect Weeraratne (also played rugby as a wing three quarter) came with gutty performance. An 88-run seventh wicket, in 89 balls sealed the game for the Reid Avenue Club on the first innings. Shanuka, a consistent run-getter scored his fourth 50 for the season - 83 runs, but still found not good enough to find a place in a Provincial side. Besides his batting Shanuka is an orthodox left-arm spinner playing in a side packed with bowlers.

With a 64-run deficit Colts were in trouble again at158 for 8. Despite a gallant 72 by Kaluwitharane, and a heroic ninth wicket stand of 81 between Niroshan Bandaratilleke and Eric Upashantha-- both former national players helped Colts to a total of 239.

No cake-walk
With a victory target of 176 Bloomfield were off to a fine start with Sanath Jayasuriya (52) and Ian Daniel (42) putting on 90 runs for the first wicket. But it was no cake-walk. They faltered after their initial flatter losing 4 wickets for 14 runs. Three of them picked by leftarmer Bandaratilleke - the top order gone - Bloomfielders were running into panic stations. Dharmasena fell to Vaas, who was bowling with a vengeance - Colts CC looked to be taking control.

The advent of Kaushal Lokuarachchi to join sedate Indika de Saram once again turned the tide back in Bloomfield's favour. He gave a flawless display, batting under pressure. He showed arrogance - even caned Sri Lankan paceman Vaas with perfect timing. De Saram who played a decisive role in the first innings too just kept his end up for Kaushal to go on the onslaught - 48 n.o. (with ten fours) and Indika on 22 to give Bloomfield victory amid fireworks. The fans went berserk.

Colts CC fought to the bitter end. Though they lost the game their efforts were not in vain and won rounds of applause for their spirited display.

Worked hard
Bloomfield coach S. Illangaratnam, interviewed after the match.Illangaratnam said" The players were totally committed and worked hard ungrudgingly at the nets even some of them training in the mornings. They deserved all credit. My task was made easy.

The club is grooming young prospects for the future. In the process it paid dividends. We will strive to win the 'A' Div. Limited over final, too. But one day cricket is a different kettle of fish. Anything could happen in the shorter version of the game." Soft-spoken Illangaratnam paid a glowing tribute also to his predecessor Osadie Weerasinghe, who handled the team before him.

mmediate past president, Shelly Wickremasinghe, paid a glowing tribute to Colts CC team. He said "They displayed skills and had the ability to fight hard to the bitter end. This final was one of the best I have seen." Wickremasinghe also commended Bloomfield led by Dharmasena, and his teammates especially the young prospects, who fought well after early hiccups. "That's what cricket is all about", Shelley said.

Pardon me your slip is showing
Pardon me your slip is showing. Was it a genuine mistake or a deliberate attempt to undermine someone's moment of glory? It all began after the game was over..

Bloomfield won the match by five wickets.
The trophies were on display on the second day (Saturday Dec. 27).
After the game the players of the respective teams, officials of the clubs and the cricket crazy fans wend their way to the precincts of the Cricket Board headquarters for the presentation. To the surprise of all there was no presentation nor the senior officials of the Cricket Board, to make the presentation to the winners and the runners-up. They were kept on waiting, until two staff members of the controlling body came to the dressing room ( They may have come from the front entrance)and informed that the presentation will not take place to the surprise of all - after a long wait.

But it will be staged on a latter date, at an Awards Nite. It has never happened in the past - the awards were made at the ground itself.
It's like postponing the honeymoon for a later date after the wedding.
The prestigious Premier League 'A' div. final is the Blue Riband of Sri Lanka cricket like the County Championship in England, Sheffield Shield (Australia) Ali Jinnah Trophy (Pakistan), Ranji Trophy (India) and the Currie Cup (S. Africa) etc. None of the senior officials were there on the final day to make their presence felt.

Of course the president Thilanga Sumathipala given to understand was in India. But what about the others, have they migrated? Asked an avid fan. The former president of the Colts CC Walwin Gunatilleke and other officials walked to the venue to watch the presentation. The TV crew, too was there. Walwin said its rather amusing for the Cricket Board to put off the awards ceremony at the eleventh hour without due notice given to the teams. What made them change their minds. It isn't cricket. Nowhere in the cricketing world - be it the World Cup where this scribe has watched two finals at Lord's and at the MCG (Victoria) or otherwise that the presentation being postponed.

Why this step-motherly treatment only this year. Is it because Bloomfield won the trophy asked one fan The Reid Avenue Club voted against the present hierarchy in last year's general meeting. Everyone has the right to vote of his own choice.Its a fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution, be it sports or otherwise.

The Secretary of the Bloomfield C and AC, Jayantha Gunasekera said he questioned the Secretary of the tournament committee, Roshan Abeysinghe about the prize money given to the winners and runners-up. Abeysinghe was not sure as it has been submitted to the Ex-co for consideration. "This is another first by the Cricket Board. The cash awards to the respective winners and runners-up were known well in advance in the past. But ironically this time round it was not known even at the end of the finals. All's not well with the CB administration"

The present hierarchy take notice of this and take remedial measures. Had saner counsel prevailed, they could have avoided this which in turn created an eyesore among the cricketing public.

Cricket is still a gentleman's game and should be administered by professionals but apparently not by those who harbour grudges for the greater good of the game at all times. Its bad organisation!

In short, if there was an amendment to the awards schedule, the authorities should have had the courtesy to inform both clubs who were involved in advance, surely not after the game was over.

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