by VT Raj, our Badulla Sports Correspondent
Cricket fans in Badulla will get an opportunity of witnessing some foreign teams in action when a turf wicket is constructed shortly by the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka.
The secretary of the Regional board 5 of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka Mr. R.M.U. Ratnayake told the Sunday Observer that the BCCSL has given the green light for the construction of a turf wicket at the Badulla Esplanade.
The Badulla District Cricket Association has completed the major portion of the work and the work was held up due to lack of funds. The rest of the work will be completed by the BCCSL for which the cricket loving fans in Badulla and cricket clubs have expressed their gratitude to the president of the BCCSL Mr. Tilanga Sumathipala for his assistance in this regard.
Mr. Ratnayake further said that presently the Badulla League Cricket Tournament is being conducted and is expected to be completed by mid-August this year, and the work on the turf wicket will commence immediately thereafter. Once this is completed, arrangements will be made to get down some of the foreign teams visiting Sri Lanka to play in Badulla added Mr. Ratnayake.
Old Uvites 3rd win
Old UVites Sports Club scored their third consecutive victory in the Badulla League limited over cricket tournament when they beat the last year knock out champions Badulla Cricket club by 6 wickets, played recently at the Badulla Esplanade.
In spite of two half centuries by Kelum Konara and Ranjith Fernando, Badulla c.C. were able to score only 172 runs in 31 overs.
In reply Old Uvites SC scored the required runs in 29.4 overs losing 4 wickets when Thushara Subasinghe scored a half century. This victory enabled Old Uvites SC to qualify for the semi-finals of this tournament.
Scores:
Badulla CC 172 (Kelum Konara 56, Manoj Kariyapperuma 27, Ranjith Fernando 57, Asanka Deepal 2 for 30 and M.R. Weerasinghe 3 for 35).
Old Uvites 176 for 4 (Thusara Subasinghe 53, S Ratnayake 32, T.H. Hettiaracchie 29, M.R. Weerasinghe 10 n.o. L. Nilanga 15 n.o. and K. Somacyril 2 for 23).
Badulla Maroons get 2nd wins
Badulla Maroons Cricket Club scored their second successive victory in the Badulla League limited over cricket tournament when they beat the Sri Lanka Air Force, Diyatalawa by 6 wickets, played on Saturday at the Badulla Esplanade.
Sri Lanka Air Force batting first scored 153 runs in 31 overs. An unbeaten 57 by S. Iriyawela enabled the Badulla Maroons CC to score the required runs in 24 overs losing only 4 wickets.
Scores:
Sri Lanka Air Force: 153 (S. Perera 15, Wimalananda 26, S. dissanayake 24, A. Nimesh 26, Pardeep Ratnaweera 3 for 32 and S.P.K. Gallage 3 for 20).
Badulla Marons Cricket Club 154 for 4 (Lesslie de Silva 40, S. Iriyawela 57 n.o. A. Bandara 23 and S. Kariyawasam 2 for 38).