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Hitting the top spot
Chilaw Marians, the young outfit that won the U-23 Premier League tournament
has put some of the leading Clubs enjoying all facilities in the shade....
By Bernie Wijesekera
Chilaw Marians has hit a purple patch in the local cricket circuit. The young outfit with their sheer devotion and dedication plus total commitment has put some of the leading Clubs with all facilities to shame. It speaks well for their consistency. Last year they were runners-up to Bloomfield in the under-23 final, but this year there was no looking back to the young team led by Janaka Gunaratne.

They thrashed the Reid Avenue Club in the semis, with a massive first innings score of over 700 runs at the NCC grounds - on a pitch that resembled the Fenners (Cambridge University Grounds, London). It was an orgy of run getting against a mediocre Bloomfield attack who were sent on a leather hunt.

Outclassed
In the final they outplayed and outclassed SSC on a rain-affected pitch displaying their all-round skills. Only SSC's Damith Indika brought forth some respectability to the total with a defiant 51. Rest of the batsmen failed to play a long innings. On 15 occasions Marians have found their way to the final round in the domestic tournaments organised by the BCCSL, according to their coach Mahesh Weerasinghe an old boy of Dharmapala, - Level II full-time coach.

Since he took over the reins as coach of Chilaw Marians they have been in the forefront. Mahesh said that the club has given incentives to quite a number of under-privileged youngsters to improve their skills at grassroots level.

The cog-in-the-wheel is cricket-loving Manager-cum-Secretary, Godfrey Dabrera. He spends a lot of his time and energy for the promotion and development of the game.
Marians had one Sri Lanka player who has made the mark - all rounder Hasantha Fernando. He made the S. African tour with the present team.

Two players have found their way to the Sri Lanka 'A' team in the forthcoming tour of S. Africa. Janaka Gunaratne made 166 against Bloomfield. The other is lively fast bowler Omesh Wijesiriwardena. In the semifinal against Bloomfield and in the final against SSC, Omesh proved very troublesome to the batsmen. There are quite a number of young prospects who could make the grade before long and play in the big league. Malintha Gajanayake, a product of DSSMV (son of Police SC all rounder C.K. Gajanayake).

He is the chip of the old block. He has clobbered three 100s this season and has been picked to lead in the forthcoming emerging nations under-23 triangular against India and Pakistan.

There is another emerging star in 19-year-old Shan Wijeratne, another fine product of Prince of Wales who hit a career best 234 against Bloomfield. Interviewed by The Sunday Times said he was grateful to his two coaches at the school Bandula de Silva and Jayantha Perera, who taught him the skills initially.

It was they who put me on the track. Incidentally Wijeratne won the Prince of Wales award offered by the British High Commissioner here. He is a sedate little batsman with sound technique. He was the Schoolboy Cricketer of the year 2002 and best all rounder in schools. Gunaratne, too is a product of Prince of Wales.

The coastal belt school has produced some outstanding cricketers in the past to serve the game at national level. If they continue in same vein the duo should be able to hit the top before long. There is a young left-arm spinner in Ranil Dhammika, who spun a web on a shirt front pitch at the NCC against Bloomfield - 4 for 13 - had the Reid Avenue Club’s middle batting in disarray.

He had to be nursed and nurtured with care. The likes of D.S. de Silva, Lalith Kaluperuma or Ajith de Silva (left-arm) could assist the lad, but not ones with paper qualifications.

Shows promise
There is another lad of promise from De Mazenod Kandana, Charith Sylvester, who shows promise. He cracked a 100 against Bloomfield. There are others (Seniors) like Gayan Wijekoon, Chinthaka Jayasinghe and keep-fit Ruchira Palliyaguru, an ideal all rounder for an overs game, but his talent is overlooked.

The Chilaw Marians have a cricket consultant, namely, Ranjan Paranawithane, who is also a sports journalist. A keen student of the game, he once coached Kalutara MV. One of his products was Dulip Liyanage - a former Sri Lankan fast bowler, who now turns out for Colts CC.

Where are you practicing asked coach Weerasinghe. At the CCC grounds. The club is grateful for Shammi Silva, a diehard supporter of cricket. The players are afforded with a good pitch to train thanks to Shammi and the hierarchy of CCC.

Who is supporting the Club financially? Sports benefactors. Thilanga Sumathipala is one of them, said Weerasinghe. What about Marians getting talent from the district rather than depending on players from the metropolis?

The game has to be developed at district level. This is where the district associations must get their act - together rather than languishing and just wait for the year end voting. This is a bane in this country not only cricket.

With better facilities Chilaw Marians are sure to hit the top. This speaks of their self belief and total commitment (administrators and players) alike.

KV Ladies emerge Singer Sri Lanka women's champs
The Kelani Valley Club Ladies rugby team emerged the women's rugby champs at the Singer Sri Lanka 7's rugby tournament when they outplayed arch rivals Army Ladies by 17 points (1 goal, 2 tries) to 12 (1 goal, 1 try) in the rugby encounter played at the Bogambara Stadium last Sunday. At lemons the KV Ladies led 12-7.

The well knit KV Ladies dominated the proceedings from the start and drew first blood in the early stages of the game through a brilliant try planted by Subashini Karunaratne. Motivated by the early break through the KV lasses increased the tally when Niranjala Priyadharshani went over for a try under the post and skipper Rukshani Ariyawansa made no mistake with the conversion.

The Army Ladies not to be outdone succeeded in getting through KV gap when their winger Priyani Herath touched down the corner flag with Sandya Kumari converting it. The sides changed with KV leading 12-7.

Resuming in the second half Army went into action immediatley with Sandya Kumari touching down for an unconverted try which equalled the score. With no quarters asked or given and the game being played at a hot pace many scoring chances went abegging.

With few minutes for the long whistle the KV Ladies making sporadic moves succeeded when skipper Rukshani Ariyawansa who is also the national team captain ran through the Army defence to score the crucial try for her team to clinch the Singer Sri lanka ladies rugby title. Referee - Preethi Kumar. -MSA

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