Dharmasena helps HNB to knock-out cricket title
By Marlon Fernandopulle

Kumar Dharmasena struck an unbeaten 71 to guide Hatton National Bank to a three wicket victory over John Keells in the Mercantile A Division knock-out final at NCC grounds yesterday. The win gave the bankers a fine double after they won the league tournament earlier.

Dharmasena anchored the HNB innings with a stubborn knock and ensured that the reigning champions took custody of the knock-out trophy. The all-rounder faced 76 balls and hit four boundaries as he helped HNB reach 222 for 7 wickets in reply to the John Keells total of 220 all out.

Sent into bat John Keells were restricted to 220 all out in 50 overs. Despite two half century partnerships the John Keells innings never gathered momentum. Left hander Jehan Mubarak(49) top scored for Keells and added 51 for the third wicket with Sumalka Perera (18) while Ruwan Dissanayake (33) and Dilshan Witharana(31) were associated in a 58 run stand for the seventh wicket that helped Keells to a challenging total.

Needing to score at 4.5 runs per over, HNB lost an early wicket but were helped by a fine half century from Sanjeewa Silva (57) who gave the Bankers a good platform to launch their victory. Silva who was fortunate to be dropped by Micheal Van dort when on 18, made good use of the opportunity to strike five boundaries and a six in his 69 ball knock.

Although the Bankers lost their way mid way in the innings, Kumar Dharmasena used all his experience as he held one end up and accumilated runs freely to take HNB to victory in the penultimate over.

John Keells - 220 all out in 50 overs (J. Jayasuriya 16 Sumalka Perera 18, Jehan Mubaraq 49, P. Abeyagunasekera 22, R. Dissanayake 33. D. Witharana 31; Chithaka Jayasinghe 2/23, Saman Jayantha 2/29)

HNB - 222/7 in 48.2 overs (D. Hunukumbura 20, Sanjeewa Silva 57, Kumar Dharmasena 71 n.o; Ruwan Dissanayake 2/32)

Isipatana thrash Trinity
Isipathana ran rings round Trinity as they annihilated them by 45 points (5 goals, 2 tries) to eight (a try, and a penalty) at Pallekele last evening.

The Pathans were a delight to watch as they kept moving the ball around, with the forwards hovering around in support. It seemed as though they had plenty of time to think about the best attacking option.

Trinity started with an early flourish with fly half Inaaf putting over a penalty for that early lead. But the euphoria was short lived. Winger Dinesh Kumara rounded off a good move by coming round to touch down under the posts. Prop Senthil Premanath converted, shortly after, a lapse by the full back resulted in a Gayan Fernando try (12-3).

Number eight Anuruddha Dharmatilleka touched down next, and he was followed by Senthil Premanath who intercepted the ball in the Trinity twenty-five and ran through. The score at half time was 26-3.

Trinity attacked at the start of the second half and were just outside the Pathan 25 for a good 15 minutes. Duminda de Silva who had just returned from the sin-bin, touched down (26- 8).

The winners put a stop to any further threats by re-establishing their authority. Premanath touched down to make it 31-8. Dinesh Kumara zig-zagged his way through and when challenged skipper Aruhanga Walpola took over and scored (38/3). The Pathans final try came from Duminda Priyadarshana. This too was converted.

This is Trinity's fourth straight defeat and they can hardly relish the prospect of meeting the Thomians and the Royalists in their next two outings. The tackling certainly needs to be improved.- Referee - Aruna Jayasekera. Isipathana beat Trinity 10 - 5 in the 2nd XV game.--A.K.

Six new records at schools swimming
Six new records were established at the Sri Lanka Schools Swimming and Diving Championships 2002 ciurrently being conducted at the Sugathadasa Stadium swimming pool.

At the time of going to press Minuruwani Samarakoon of Hillwood College, Kandy established three new meet records. Others amongst the records were Unia Kavya Dharmadas of Musaeus College, Chathuri Abeykoon of Ladies College, Prabha Dharmawardena of Musaeus College and Shirantha Ariyawardena of St. Peter's College.

At the end of Friday's events Ladies College and S. Thomas' College Mt. Lavinia were leading the senior age groups. In the junior age groups Mahamaya College, Kandy and Trinity College, Kandy are in front.

The winners will be decided today as the meet enters its last day and the relay events are worked off. The meet considered the main event of the Sri Lanka Schools calendar is sponsored by Milo.

St Joseph's in thrilling win
In the match preceded the Wesley-Kingswood game. St Joseph's registered a thrilling 7 points (one goal) to nil win over Science College. At he breather the score was nil all.

The try for the Josephians was scored by No 8 Misha Wijesundara with the conversion being put over by full back Pradeep Priyantha. Referee: Ranil de Silva.-MSA

Police crush Galle RFC 101-6
By M.Shamil Amit
Police made humble pie of the Galle RFC when they annihilated them by 101 points (eight goals nine tries) to 6 (one penalty one drop goal) in the Caltex 'A' division inter-club rugby encounter played at the Koggala FTZ grounds yesterday. At 'lemons' Police led 72-0. The score was two points short of the highest this season when Kandy SC beat Old Zahirians at Bogambara.

The try scorers for the winners were Wijeweera (3), Galewala (3), Nilusha Fernando (2), Ayaz (2) with Welagedera, Samaranayake, Wilson, C.Silva, Priyantha, Susantha and Udaya Dissanayake one each. While for the losers Ravi Kumarage put over the drop goal and Amila Ganegoda the penalty.

Referee: D.Nimal *TODAY - Old Zahirians take on Air Force at Longden Place. Old Zahirians hold the edge over the Airmen with several schoolboys in their fold. Kick-off at 5 p.m.

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