TRADITIONAL rivals SSC and NCC have found a new avenue to make their cricket encounters more stiffer in future as they meet each other in a limited over game on October 26th for the J.R. Jayewardene Trophy.
This game is a beginning of an annual encounter that will draw crowds to watch top Test players in action.The two sides will be at full strength as a cricket match between the two sides have always generated lot of interest.
Sri Lanka's Test skipper Arjuna Ranatunga (SSC) and Hashan Tillekeratne (NCC) will lead their respective teams just before leaving for Pakistan to participate at their Independence Cup Trophy.
The president of the NCC Chanaka de Silva said at a press briefing at the NCC pavilion that the match was organised as a tribute to the late president of the country J.R. Jayewardene who was also the president of the SSC.The matches will be played in alternative venues and free of charge.
The two cricket secreteries of the clubs Leslie Hewage(NCC) and Mohan de Silva (SSC), Sarath Kodagoda (gen. secretery SSC), Prabodha Kariyawasam (chairman cricket house committee SSC), were also present at the press briefing.
Indian cricketers open tour today
THE Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Trust, an organisation in India committed to the promotion of sports amongst youth internationally, will be sending a cricket team to Sri Lanka.
The tourists will be pitted mostly against school teams.
They are scheduled to play their first game against St. Joseph's College at Darley Road today.
The tour is organised by the Rotary Club of Colombo West under their International Youth Exchange Program.
The president of the club S. Shamuganathan, the Managing Director of Union Bank of Colombo, Razik Zarook, Nihal Bogahalanda, Ranjith Fernando, and Annomal de Soysa are involved in the organisation of the tour.
The rest of the matches.
20th vs NCC at NCC, 21st S. Thomas' College at Mount Lavinia, 23rd St. Servatius College at Matara, 26th St. Sebastians at Moratuwa, 27th Gampaha District Under 19 at De Mazenod, Kandana, 28th Nalanda College, Campbell Place, 29th Cricket Foundation XI at Colts grounds. - (R.A.)
S. Thomas' in command
S. Thomas who settled for a modest 187 for 8 dec. came back strongly to claim eight Mahinda wickets for 97, in their cricket encounter which began at Mt. Lavinia yesterday.
Having been sent into bat, S. Thomas' did not begin well, losing wickets cheaply to be 85 for 5. But, the batting steadied itself for a while, mainly through skipper Upeka Fernando and Lakmal Fernando, which enabled the Thomians to effect a recovery of sorts to be 151 for 7. They eventually declared at 187 for 8 wickets made off 57 overs and in 225 minutes.
Off-spinner Thushara Rupasinghe spun well, to restrict the Thomians to take 4 for 47 for Mahinda.
In reply Mahinda did not fare well either, being 97 for 8 just managing to avoid the follow on, through a breezy knock of 31 not out by Rupasinghe, who did well with the ball earlier.
Suranga Peiris and Naven Ratwatte were among the wickets for the Thomians.
S. Thomas': 187 for 8 wickets dec. (U. Fernando 45, L. L. Fernando 37, D. Gunewardene 23, N. Peiris 22, T. Rupasinghe 4 for 47, N. Tharanga 1 for 27, M. Ranasinghe 1 for 21, H. Wijesinghe 1 for 47).
Mahinda: 97 for 8 wickets. (H. Dharshana 21, M. Rupesinghe 31 n.o., S. Peiris 2 for 5, N. Ratwatte 2 for 24, N. Peiris 1 for 8, U. Fernando 1 for 4).
Antonians keep Jayaweera trophy
THE inter-school cricket encounter betweeen Wesley and St. Anthony's Katugastota ended in a draw when rain ended play around 4.10 pm, but the Antonians retained the L. V. Jayaweera Trophy by obtaining first innings points at Campbell Park yesterday.
Wesley: 179 (I. Ranasinghe 13, D. Jayakody 19, P. Amarasekera 42, M. de Silva 47, D. Medagedera 10, B. Senadeera 17, M. Palihakkara 4 for 67, P. Agalakotuwa 2 for 15) and 57 for no loss (D. Jayakody 39 n.o, I. Ranasinghe 17 n.o)
St.Anthony's Katugastota: 184 (R. Wickremapala 29, K. Jayaratne 20, M. Palihakkara 31, A. S. Pinnaduwa 41, N. Nizam 19, B. Senadeera 4 for 45, D. Jayakody 2 for 62, M. de Silva 2 for 19.)
Rain deprives Joes of victory
RAIN came to the rescue of Sri Pagnananda MV (Raddoluwa MV) when they were struggling at 121 for 7 needing 18 runs more to avoid an innings defeat against St. Joseph's at Darley Road yesterday.
Helped by two fine innings by Ian Daniel (75) and Roshan de Silva (68) who also took 4 for 13, Joes declared their first innings at 231 for 9 on the first day.
The visitors who were 71 for 5 overnight could not make much headway were dismissed for 93. Following on with a defecit of 138 runs the Raddoluwa school was 121 for 7 when rain saved them. Shenal Warnakula had the best bowling figures (3 for 27) while S. Arangalla (53) batted with authority while following on.
St. Joseph's: 231 for 9 declared (Ian Daniel 75, Monto Perera 27, Roshan de Silva 68, P. Walhenage 3 for 36, N. Gunatileka 2 for 22).
Sri Pagnananda MV, Raddoluwa: 71 for 5 overnight 93 (D. A. Chamara 12, I. Fernando 12, P. Vithanage 21, V. Rajapakse 20, Aminda de Mel 2 for 13, Roshan de Silva 4 for 13, Shenal Warnakula 3 for 27) and 121 for 7 (D. A. Chamara 34, S. Arangalla 53, Aminda de Mel 3 for 21, Shenal Warnakula 3 for 30).
Delshan Rupasinghe bowls Peterites to victory
OFF SPINNER Dilshan Rupasinghe with a match bag of (9 for 39) helped St. Peter's to register their second win for the season beating De Mazenod College, Kandana by an innings and 8 runs at Bambalapitiya yesterday.
St.Peter's 229.
De Mazenod 48 for 3 overnight 108 (S. de. Alwis 32, Dilshan Rupasinghe 5 for 14, A. Samsudeen 2 for 17) and 112 (S. de. Alwis 31, D. Silva 23, U. Obeyratne 14, Dilshan Rupasinghe 4 for 25, D. Hettihewa 3 for 24, A. de. Silva 3 for 24).
No play
THE under 24 segment 'A' semi-final between SSC and NCC was not played due to heavy overnight rain drenching the P. Sara Stadium yesterday.
The umpires M. M. Mendis and D. N. Pathirana inspected the grounds at 4.15 p.m and ruled out play. Today is the second day of the match.