Lanka Cavaliers promote cricket in Anuradhapura

Daily News

Friday 29, August 1997


Lanka Cavaliers led by Bandula Warnapura, Sri Lanka's first Test Captain, including several former national players travelled to Anuradhapura recently to launch their Outstation Cricket Program which is the first of 12 such programs which will follow each month.

The local organisation of these programmes are handled by the respective District Cricket Associations.

A coaching clinic was conducted for around 100 students in the area which included also girls from the Anuradhapura Women's Team ``Shakthi''. The clinic started with a lecture delivered by Warnapura which included several key aspects of the game which were not known to them before and they were put into practice during the training session which lasted till late evening.

The Cavaliers also played a 35-over match against a team selected by the Anuradhapura DCA.

Batting first, local side scored a formidable 213 for 8 wickets and the main scorers were A. Dasanayake - 93, Mallepahirathna 25, N. Bandara and M. Dharmasena - 17 each. Wicket takers being Kirthi Gunaratne and Zareen Hameed 2 wickets each, K. H. Nandasena, Basil Perera and Daya Sirisena one wicket each. In reply, Lanka Cavaliers reached the target with 2 overs to spare losing six wickets. C.P.P. Raj opening batting made a flamboyant 61 which included 4 sixes and 6 fours. Jerry Wouterzs made sure of the Cavaliers' victory with a stylish 62 not out, which included 3 sixes and 8 fours. Others who entered double figures were chitral Mendis - 24, Daya Sirisena - 26 and Basil Perera 16. Bowling, Ariyatillake and N. Wijesinghe - 2 wickets each while M. Dharmasena and Gunasinghe took a wicket each.

The entire two-day programme was excellently organised by the Anuradhapura DCA spearheaded by its dynamic secretary Nihal Leuke. At the end of the programme, after the match, the Cavalliers presented cricket material to the Anuradhapura DCA to be used in their promotional work.

According to Lakith Peiris, President of Lanka Cavaliers, this maiden cricket program undertaken by them had turned out to be highly successful and given the players a level of extreme satisfaction as they were able to achieve their objectives of imparting knowledge and fostering goodwill to the outstation cricketers. He also said that this would undoubtedly motivate them in conducting future programs.


Source: The Daily News

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Date-stamped : 25 Feb1998 - 18:56