By A. C. de Silva
SRI Lanka's stars will take centre stage at the inaugural clash between SSC and NCC for the J. R. Jayewardene Memorial Trophy to be played at the NCC ground today at 9.30 a.m.
This will be the last occasion that the Sri Lanka cricketers will be seen in action before they go across to Lahore tomorrow for the Pakistan Independence Cup invitation cricket tournament.
In the SCC side will be Sri Lanka skipper Arjuna Ranatunga, Mavan Atapattu, Sanjeewa Ranatunga, Hemantha Wickremaratne, Jayantha Silva, Pramodya Wickremasinghe, Nuwan Soysa.
The star players in the NCC side are: Aravinda Silva, Hashan Tillekeratne, Russel Arnold, Sajeeva de Silva, Ravindra Pushpakumara, Anushka Gunewardena.
Entrance is free and cricket fans are assured of a fine day's cricket if the weather keeps fine.
Minister of Samurdhi, Youth Affairs and Sports S. B. Dissnayake will be the chief guest.
Meanwhile the Sri Lanka team going to Pakistan: Arjuna Ranatunga (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Mavan Atapattu, Roshan Mahanama, Aravinda de Silva (vice captain), Hashan Tillekeratne, Lanka de Silva, Kumar Dharmasena, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Sajeeva de Silva, Dulip Liyanage, Upul Chandana, Russel Arnold.
Cambrians beat Kingswoodians by 6 wkts
PRINCE of Wales College, Moratuwa raced against time to snatch an exciting six-wicket win over Kingswood college with one over to spare in their Coco-Cola Bottlers Trophy cricket match concluded at police park, Kandy yesterday.
The Cambrians were set a victory target of 114 in 22 overs and Pubudu Ranaweera finished off the match with a six to square leg.
Match winners for the Cambrian were Kelum Fernando who top scored with 88 which included 9 fours and faced 130 balls. Earlier Hasantha Fernando bowled his medium pacers to a good line and length to capture 5 for 37 and he was well supported by lift arm spinners T. Silva and P. Ranaweera.
Kingswood College 111 all out in 49.4 overs (L. Ekanayake 11, M. Mallawarachchi 12, R. Perera 30, O. Weerasuriya 28, N. Rupasinghe 11, H. Fernando 5 for 37, T. Silva 2 for 18, P. Ranaweera 3 for 19) and 174 all out in 53 overs (M. Mallawarachchi 30, T. S. Madanayake 30, O. Weerasuriya 16, N. Rupasinghe 27, C. Senaviratne 27, S. Gamage 22, P. Ranaweera 2 for 40, T. Silva 3 for 6).
Prince of Wales College 171 all out in 58.2 overs (Kelum Fernando 88, H. Fernando 19, D. Nayanakantha 14, D. Perera 14, J. Wannakuwatte 10, V. Seneviratne 4 for 25, N. Rupasinghe 3 for 44 and 118 for 4 in 27 overs (K. Fernando 24, I. Hiththatiya 18, N. Ratnayake 14, H. Fernando 27 not out, P. Ranaweera 24 not out).
Thurstan force draw
THE inter-school cricket encounter between St. Joseph's and Thurstan ended in a draw at Darley Road yesterday.
Thurstan were made to follow on after making 157 runs in their first innings in reply to the Joes score of 275 for 8 declared. Following on Thurstan were 216 for 4 when the match was stopped after 12 mandatory overs due to bad light.
St. Joseph's: 275 for 8 declared.
Thurstan: 40 for 3 overnight 157. (T. Wickremasinghe 83, I. Wickremasinghe 16, N. Randika 17, Shenal Warnakula 2 for 32, Aminda de Mel 2 for 17) and 216 for 4 (M. Wedage 58, A. Dayananda 60, D. Premadasa 41, T. Wickremasinghe 43, S. Warnakula 2 for 49). - (RA)
Isipatana-Wesley drawn
Isipatana vs Wesley inter-school cricket match ended in a no decision played at Campbell Park yesterday.
Isipatana 218 for 9 decl and 170 for 7 at close (S. Wijesekera 22, P. Nishan 14, B. Wijewickrema 19, M. Fernando 35, B. Senadheera 4 for 46).
Wesley 89 for 5 overnight 167 all out (W. Heshan 20, A. Jaldi 29, Z. Ishan 30, B. Serathan 26, M. Fernando 2 for 52, T. Samarasekera 3 for 53).
Maliyadeva-SACK drawn
MALIYADEVA College, Kurunegala held St. Anthony's College, Kandy to a draw in their Coca Cola Bottlers Trophy schools cricket tournament match played at Katugastota yesterday.
Maliyadeva College 138 all out (F. de Silva 43, M. Pallihakkara 4 for 48, A. Pinnaduwa 2 for 30) AND 126 for 5 (I. Hameem 49, I. de Silva 32, M. Pallihakkara 2 for 26).
St. Anthony's College 226 for 7 decl. (Ravindra Wickremapala 100, Nafees Nizam 66, G. Samarawickrema 3 for 35, I. de Silva 3 for 62).
Tame draw at Negombo
MARIS Stella vs St. Benedict's schools cricket match at Negombo ended in a tame draw yesterday, but the game was livened up by a fine 81 by Benedictine A. Tissera, while another Ben Asiri Gunatilleke had the best figures of 5 for 24 in Maris Stella's first innings total of 136. The Bens made 186 in their first innings and in the second were 191 for 9 at close.
St. Benedict's 186 and 191 for 9 at close (Pradeep Hewage 44, A. Tissera 81, Lakmal Fernando 3 for 36, J. Livera 2 for 18, M. Fernando 2 for 18).
Maris Stella 136 (M. Fernando 44, Asiri Gunatilleke 5 for 24, Shehan Perera 3 for 27, Pradeep Dassanayake 2 for 12).
Badulla by 41 runs
BADULLA District beat Amparai District by 41 runs in their under 19 ''Celltel Trophy'' limited over cricket encounter played at Pelwatte grounds recently.
Badulla, batting first, scored 195 runs in 31 overs with O. L. M. Rishard top scoring with 71 runs in this tournament organised by the Board of Control for Cricket. In reply Amparai District were able to score only 154 runs in 30 overs, Y. Dharshana captured 4 wickets for 16 runs.
Badulla District: 195 (O. L. M. Rishard 71, T. Prasanna 28, C. Harshajeewa 15, S. Basnayake 11, R. Kumara 3 for 22 and S. Seneviratne 2 for 29)
Amparai District 154 (S. Balasuriya 32, R. Kumara 32, S. Siriwardena 23, and Y. Dharshana 4 for 16).
Good double by Faiz
A fine double by M. S. M. Faiz enabled S. Thomas' College Gurutalawa to gain a first innings lead over De Mazenod College, Kandana in their under 19 Cocacola Trophy cricket encounter played at Gurutalawa grounds. M. S. M. Faiz scored 60 runs in their first innings total of 161 runs in 44.5 overs and later captured 6 wickets for 48 runs to restrict De Mazenod scores for 145 in 31.5 overs. When rain interrupted play at 2.30 p.m. STC Gurutalawa were 150 for 2. where N. S. Weerasuriya scored an unbeaten century.
Chief Scores: S.Thomas College, Gurutalawa 161: (M. S. M. Faiz 60, R. P. Fernando 39 n. o, S. Harsha 5 for 51, A. Naline 3 for 13) and 150 for 2 (N. S. Weerasuriya 104 n. o); De Mazenod' 145 (S. Nuwantha 29, A. Naline 28, M. S. M. Faiz 6 for 48, R. P. Fernando 3 for 43).
* Arch rivals India and Pakistan have been invited to take part at the Bangladesh Silver Jubilee Independence Cup one day international tournament to be worked off in Dhaka in January next year. Pakistan has already confirmed their participation and will travel to Dhaka after their three -Test home series against the West Indies.
All Asian cricketing nations, except for the World champions Sri Lanka, are taking part in the tournament. Sri Lanka, which won the recent Asia Cup beating all these three teams, are unable to play in Dhaka as they will be hosting Zimbabwe for a Test series during the same time. The three teams will play on a league basis and the two teams will play in best-of-three finals to be played on January 14, 16 and 18. Hosts Bangladesh will meet India in the 'curtain raiser' to be played on January 10.