Nalanda Old Boys claim 24th Olcott 6s
View(s):Nalanda College won the Col. Henry Steel Olcott Memorial Old Boys Cricket 6s Tournament, beating Mahinda College by 7 runs in the final played at Ananda Mawatha. Hosted by Ananda College Old Boys’ Association and conducted by the Col. Henry Steel Olcott Sports Foundation for the 24th occasion, eight teams competed in the annual event.
The Group ‘A’ consisted Mahinda College, Maliyadeva College, Dharmasoka College and Rahula College, Matara while Ananda College, Dharmaraja College, Nalanda College and Dharmapala College, Pannipitiya competed in Group ‘B’ in the first round of the Old Boys’ competition.
The victorious Nalanda College OB team
Mahinda College and Nalanda College reached the final as the unbeaten group champions from the first round, after Mahinda recorded wins against Maliyadeva, Dharmasoka and Rahula convincingly. From the other group, Nalanda beat Ananda, Dharmaraja and Dharmapala to reach the final.
In the final Nalanda hung on their nerves to record a close 7-run win against Mahinda in the battle between two undisputed sides. Batting first, Nalanda posted 95 runs for the loss of four wickets in eight overs, with Duminda Somaweera top scoring with 33, Supun Leelarathne remained unbeaten on 24 when Nalanda was nearing the three-figure mark, while Hiranttha Wijesinghe claimed 2 for 19.
Despite a fighting knock of 31 runs from former Sri Lanka cap and current fielding coach Upul Chandana, the Mahinda old boys fell short by of their winning target after losing quick wickets. Eventually they were restricted to 88 runs for the loss of six wickets in eight overs. Tharanga Maharamba chipped in with 16 runs for Mahinda while Ravinath Jayawickrama picked two wickets for 34 runs.
Hirantha Wijesinghe of Mahinda College OBA was named the Player of the Tournament and as well as the Best Batsman of the Tournament while Nalandians Ravinath Jayawickrama was named the Best Bowler of the Tournament along with Sampath Hettiarachchi as the Best Fielder of the Tournament.
Nishantha Ranatunga, former national cricketer, cricket administrator and Old Anandian, graced the awards ceremony as chief guest, while the Principal of Ananda College, D.M.L.P. Dissanayake, Ananda OBA members Samitha Seneviratne (Executive President) and Mahesh Rathnayaka (Vice President), and the Patron of Col. Henry Steel Olcott Foundation Jayantha Seneviratne, made
their presence at the awards ceremony.