Seminarians surprise lay schools

Who could have imagined that St. Aloysius Seminary, with a mere 168 students could beat larger schools and colleges in any sport. They carried away the Senior School Basketball Championship (B Division) trophy in a 2 stage, four group contest, concluded recently.

The Seminarians from Borella crushed St. Benedict's, Wesley, Maris Stella, Nalanda, Maliyadeva, Trinity and Richmond to earn the much coveted title. The Seminarians unlike their counterparts in other schools, usually commence basketball training after the age of 15 and enter the under-17 tournament in the first instance, skipping the under-13 and under-15 competitions. Being a hostel school they do not train round the year.

Possessing above averge height and weight, the Seminary team gained easy victories in the Group level and in the semi-finals. So did Richmond College, Galle with consummate ease.

In the finals St. Aloysius' Seminary met the small made but quick footed Richmondites, with the Seminarians imposing their will.

They not only gained defensive and attacking rebounds, but also employed a well planned set attack and fast break moves to gain easy baskets.

At half time the scores were 34- 19 in favour of the Seminarians. The Richmondites fought back when they took on the Seminarians in the second half. With a close full court press, they hindered every move of the Aloysians while gaining on their scores systematically.

With five minutes left the Richmondites had reduced their deficit to a single point with successive three point long distance shots. Now the game seemed set to go either way.

It was at this juncture, that the Seminary Coach Withanage made the all important tactical move to slow down the tempo of his team so as to retain possession and to avoid costly errors. With this change the Seminarians were able to successfully convert penalty throws.

The final whistle signalled a three point victory 64-61 in favour of St. Aloysius Seminary even as their supporters went into wild celebrations.

Father Mahendra, the priest in charge and, the coach Sameera Withanage should be congratulated for their efforts to make their team an invincible squad.

The Rector of the Seminary, commenting on the achievement of his team attributed it to their being well bonded and well trained. Team games like Basketball, he observed, enable players develop team spirit, leadership, motivation and a spirit of sacrifice. He asserted that the students could hardly learn them from books.

Air Force beat BRC in quarter final

Air Force pulled an upset 2 goals to 1 win over the much fancied BRC in their 43rd Moore Shield All Island inter club knock-out hockey tournament quarter final encounter played at the CH&FC grounds, Maitland Crescent.

In the three other quarter final matches, Park SC beat Wennappuwa by 2 goalds to 1 at Wennappuwa, Army beat Youngsters SC Kandy at Peradeniya by 3 goals to nil and CH&FC beat Police 2 nil at Maitland Crescent.

The semi-final line up fixed for today is:

CH&FC vs Army at 3 p.m.

Airforce vs Park SC at 4.30 p.m.

Both matches will be played at the Astro Turf, Reid Avenue.

The final will be played on September 12 at the Astro Turf at 4.30.

Mahanama put through his paces

Sri Lanka Cricket Foundation in Victoria, which is doing a lot to uplift and develop the sport in Sri Lanka with men and material, accorded a luncheon party to Roshan Mahanama, attended by the officials of the SLCFV, at Knox City. It was hosted by David Cruse.

According to Dr. Quintus de Zylwa, Sri Lanka's cricket rep. in Australia, Mahanama attended a short stint at the A.I.S. Academy for further improvement of his batting technique, ( if there was any) under head coach Rod Marsh.

Roshan, followed a strenuous course, under the watchful eyes of Wayne Phillips, Ashley Mallet and Carl Recherman etc., who are in the coaching panel at the AIS. They hardly found any technical flaws in his batting skills though it was meant only for a couple of days. But for the Sri Lankan batsman it was not only batting, but physical training, too, which will stand in good stead for his future.

Former Aussie skipper Greg Chappell, was to have a look at Mahanama's batting but he was not available, said Dr. Quintus.

It was a well attended luncheon attended by former A.B.A. president, Eddie Gray, a key figure in the Duncan White Sports Foundation. Gray, was in Sri Lanka last March, '98, along with late Duncan White for the (award ceremony 1997) which was awarded to Susanthika Jayasinghe where Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lakshman Kadirgamar, was the chief guest.

Picture shows from left to right: Dr. Quintus de Zylwa, Bertie Ekanayake, Roshan Mahanama, David Cruse, Nigel de Krestser and evergreen Eddie Gray some of the officials of the SLCVF, who attended the function. - (B.W)

Muralitharan leaps into No. 1 spot

Muttiah Muralitharan, Sri Lanka's match winner in the recently concluded Test match against England, leapt into the top position with 62 points in the CEAT Cricket Ratings for the CEAT International Cricketer of the Year 1998-99.

Muralitharan's match haul of 16 wickets fetched him 26 points.

South African paceman, Allan Donald, who was leading the ratings till the Oval Test has 44 points.

Sri Lanka's opening batsman and winner of the CEAT International Cricketer of the Year Award 1997-98, Sanath Jayasuriya too marked his maiden entry to the top ten CEAT Cricketer Ratings of 1998-99.

Jayasuriya, whose knock of 213, earned him 16 points, is now in fourth position with 35 points each with England speedstar Angus Frazer.

The top 10 in the CEAT Cricket Ratings as on September 1 is:

1. Muttiah Muralitharan - 62 points

2. Allan Donald - 44 points

3. Alex Stewart - 41 points

4. Angus Frazer and Sanath Jayasuriya - 35 points each

6. Mark Boucher - 25 points

7. Darren Gough and Aravinda de Silva 24 points each

9. Jacques Kallis - 23 points

10. Dominic Cork - 22 points.

Sri Lanka's victory against England at the Oval fetched them 9 points taking their total to 36 points in the CEAT International Cricket Team of the Year Award Rankings. Sri Lanka is followed by India, England with 18 points to their credit.

The latest team rankings are: Sri Lanka - 36 points; India and England 18 points each; South Africa - 15 points; New Zealand 9 points; Kenya 4 points and Bangladesh 2 points.

(Courtesy R.S. Hartley & Company Private Limited)

Aravinda surpasses all of them

By Harold de Andrado

In an era studded with batting triumphs and with Sri Lanka only 1 1/2 decades in the Test arena, it was given to three Sri Lankans to join a select band of those who have scored twin centuries in a Test match. They are Duleep Mendis, Asanka Gurusingha a star performer, now unfortunately lost to Sri Lanka cricket for inexplicable reasons, with a few more years left in him in Test cricket.

But the greatest of them all Sri Lanka's greatest Test batsman perhaps, and truly a world class performer, is Aravinda de Silva who did so twice.

For audacity, skill, effortless power and courage against any type of bowling that beset him Aravinda's performance with the bat speaks for itself.

The figures are very attractive and too numerous to be reproduced here. There are other striking instances of Aravinda's indomitable spirit which are on the occasions of limited over finals including the World Cup 1996.

Despite the glare of publicity and the tension of international encounters, Aravinda went in and played the way the situation required.

If the side's welfare called for patient batting he could become pedestrian and hold his throttle back, but he was never humdrum nor did he ever die a lingering death. His defensive technique would have pleased any coach. In his self reliant manner he has shaped the modern style of Sri Lanka batsmanship. Style had no more to do with his extraordinary success than his broad bat and his superb technique and his attacking stroke play.

His buoyancy of spirit survived the heaviest trials away from the public gaze. Fellowmen relished the full flavour of his personality. He was almost in the all rounder class with his utility bowling and his safe fielding.

His name will always hold a notable place on the honour roll of players who represented Sri Lanka even before the Test match era. That includes Jayawickreme, Sathasivam, Stanley Jayasinghe, De Sarams, Gunasekeras, Prins, Spittel, Jayasundara, Tissera and others of their like. In the present context Aravinda has formed a run getting axis with Sanath Jayasuriya of the attacking blade and the twinkling feet. Their determination, guts and grit, are now being aped by other dogged fighters like Mahanama and Tillekeratne who have come to Sri Lanka's rescue on numerous occasions.

These are all the plus points of Aravinda's cricket as no player was more alert for an ambuscade. His early coaches like Walter Perera, W. A. N. Silva and Ranjit Fernando must not be forgotten even though basically Aravinda was a self-made batsman.

On the debit side of Aravinda's career is his lack of ambition for leadership. He prefers to be bestman and never the bridegroom. The other minus factor is his infrequent appearances for the Nondescript, the Club that nurtured him and gave him so many openings and opportunities in the earliest days. It is true he is out on Test duty or out of the country on other assignments but even when here his declination to represent his Club is enigmatic and puzzling.

He has a fascination for fast cars but his loyalty to his parents and to the old school and his superiors is something to be admired. That sums up the gilt-edged quality of Aravinda. His cricket should have been valued in carats not runs.

Commonwealth Games in Malaysia

Two A Grade Lankan diving judges to officiate

Diving which was somewhat getting step-motherly treatment from the parent body, will gain world recognition with two Sri Lankans being invited by FINA to officiate as 'A' Grade judges by the organising committee of the Commonwealth Games in Malaysia from September 11 to 21.

M. Fiasz, the National Diving Coach and Sumith Dharmadasa will do Sri Lanka proud in as 'A' Grade judges at the Commonwealth Games.

Both were National diving champions and have been duly rewarded.

M. Fiasz

1. Attended many International meets.

2. Attended FINA TDC meeting in Rome - Italy in 1994.

3. Participated at Commonwelth Games in Victoria as a diving coach.

4. Represented at the 7th World Swimming and Diving Championships in Rome, Italy in 1994 as Diving Coach.

5. Attended the FINA World Cup Diving in Atlanta, Gerogia, USA for a coaching cum judging seminar in 1995.

6. Was selected to represent Sri Lanka as a diving coach to Janaka Biyanwela at the centenary Olympics in USA in 1996. But could not go due to unavoidable circumstances.

7. Coach cum Manager at the 11th FINA World Junior Diving Championships in Penang, Malaysia in 1997, for Harini Jayasekera and Dilshan Karunaratne and also judged the Women's A Group diving finals.

8. Coached and judged at Asia Pacific 8th to 12. Fiasz was trained by Chen Chau Chan. Faisz was the national champ in 1984 and 1987 and took to coaching after Dicky Delpichithra retired in 1988 and was the chief diving coach of St. Joseph's and S. Thomas' Colleges. He was strongly supported by Mike Anthonisz, Vijitha Fernando and Henry Perera. He also coaches Wycherley, Stafford, Elizabeth Moir and Royal Institute in swimming.

Sumith Dharmadasa

Sumith is a former juvenile diving champion, was a silver medallist in the Indo-Sri Lanka quadrangular meet in 1979. He won the Sri Lanka colours the same year.

Sumith was the national age group champion in 1980 and national champ in both the spring and hardboard diving.

Sumith won the national title in hardboard diving in 1981 and was a diving judge since 1984.

He was also a Diving Judge in the Asia Pacific meet in 1994.

Sumith's proudest moment was when he won the Australian Honda Masters Games Diving Trophy, winning two golds and breaking two records in swimming in 1993 and 94.

He is currently the diving coach at Otter's Aquatic Club.

Bad weather hampers Singer cricket tour of KL

By Bernie Wijesekera

The Singer Sri Lanka cricket team's tour to Malaysia and Singapore was hampered by bad weather. In the Malaysian leg fickle conditions, prevailed according to Premlal de Silva, who managed the team.

The Malaysian authorities' sudden decision to debar any match being played in the venues earmarked for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games robbed the tourists of playing the three matches in the Malaysian leg.

Despite this setback the Singer cricketers showed up well in their tie against the Malaysian State team. Singer scored an easy six- wicket win, played at the Johor Bharu grounds.

But in the Singapore leg of their tour they met stiff opposition against their national team where some outstanding players drawn from Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan were included.

The first match against the strong Ceylon Sports Club, which was established in 1928, drew much spectator attention. For the first time the Singer players were confronted to play on Astro turf and found it difficult to adjust their mode of play. Ceylon S.C. batting first scored 171 in 40 overs. N. Tillekeratne, bowling to an immaculate line captured 5 for 11, in 4.4 overs. He was well supported by Dayal Dharmaprema, who chipped in with 2 for 17. Singer 'B' in reply, could muster only 142 all out in 34.5 overs.

(Kasun Dikkumbura 37, Tilak Wijeratne 19, Prabath Kumar 18 ) were among the runs. Dikkumbura, was adjudged the best batsman.

In the final game, the visitors had to play against the S'pore National team at the International Stadium (on turf).

Singer skipper, Prabath, winning the toss elected to bat first. Prabath Kumar, opening the innings scored an attractive 93 runs, despite this gallant effort Singer still folded up for 193 in 45 overs.

The S'pore XI comprising Indian, Pakistani and Lankan cricketers, won the match in a cliff hanger. They had to make nine runs in the last over. An overthrow in the penultimate ball helped them to victory. Singer, were unlucky to lose this match and won much admiration from the fans for their gritty display. Mahesh Wijewardena 3 for 30 and Nilantha Peiris 2 for 19, were among the wickets.

The tourists were quite popular and maintained a high standard of sportsmanship on and off the field and did proud for their institution.

According to Premlal de Silva, the Singer team owe a token of gratitude to Mr. B. Satgunasingham of Malyasia and Mr. Anil Kalaver, of S'pore for all the arrangements to make this short but memorable tour, one to remember.

This cricket tour for the Singer cricketers, was made possible, thanks to their sports loving Chairman, Hemaka Amerasuriya.

Ashan Dias helps Maris Stella victory

Ashan Dias with a fine allround performance helped Maris Stella Negombo to a 4 wicket win over St Anthonys, Wattala in their Gampaha District Under-17 the semi-final cricket match played at Negombo.

Dias stroked a fine unbeaten 59 with four sixes and 4 fours.

He and Achala Jayalath put on 117 runs for the 7th wicket.

Dias and Buddhika Fernando captured 4 for 19 and 4 for 27 respectively.

St Anthony's - 161 all out in 50 overs.

(R. Dias 37, Devandra Perera 30, Y. Suraweera 22, Ashan Dias 4 for 19, Buddhika Fernando 4 for 27).

Maris Stella 166 for 6 in 46 overs.

(Ashan Dias 59 not out, Achala Yayalath 57 not out, M. Perera 2 for 12, S. Perera 2 for 33).

Harasgama, hockey and Sri Lanka

He is affectionately called the 'Grand Old Man of Sri Lankan hockey' but A.P.B. Harasgama, hardly looks it, the old part that is.

The spritely Harasgama, who recently took over as President of the Sri Lanka Hockey Federation from Roy de Silva, turns 70 on October 19 this year but moves around like a man half his age.

An active player who took to the field as centrehalf, Harasgama did not don national colours in his active playing days but that hadn't stopped him from serving Sri Lanka hockey as an administrator starting at district level in ths 60s and then graduating to the national level in the mid 90s.

Harasgama, a Justice of the Peace, is an active president at the district level at Matale HA and is also a member of the Sri Lanka Olympic Council.

After his playing days were over for Matale HA, Harasgama became their secretary in 1960, took over as president in the 80s and went on to become Sri Lanka HF secretary in 1997.

Unlike their cricket which has reached Test status, Sri Lankan hockey is working hard to get the exposure and the finances that are badly needed for the development of the game.

Here is where Harasgama and his officials use their connections.

Hockey friends like Sports Minister S.B. Dissanayake and the chairman of Sri Lanka Singer, Hemaka Amarasurya, have done more than their fair share to promote the game.

"They are a great help to Sri Lankan sports," said Harasgama.

In fact, Singer are their major sponsors, backing them generously in the development of the game, and Sri Lanka's successful annual inter club tournament is named after this company.

They have a senior men's Junior and women's leagues involving all the districts as well as the Schools, Defence and State Services teams.

While they are working at domestic game, Harasgama is also looking abroad, into the neighbouring Sub-Continent where his personal contacts with Indian HA officials like Shiv Kumar Varma has won them regular invitations to play in the Nehru Memorial tournaments.

Travel to India is cheap and the exposure in their tournaments has been invaluable to Sri Lankan hockey.

Sri Lanka has also played in the inaugural AHS Cup in Hong Kong..

"Our men's team played well there. It was an excellent exposure for both our teams in the Hong Kong tournaments," said Harasgama who is in close contact with top AHF officials.

Sri Lanka are lobbying to host the next AHF Cup Division Two tournament and should they land it, it will be a big boost for the game in the country.

Return to Sports Contents Page