By V. T. Raj, Badulla Sports Correspondent
THE Badulla Regional Board Office of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka will be declared open at Badulla tomorrow (Monday 15th) at 11 a.m. by the Mayor of Badulla Municipal Council Mr. M. D. Hemachandra along with former Sri Lanka Test player Sidath Wettimuny.
The Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka has decided to expand cricket in rural areas and arrangements are being made to open regional boards in several parts of the country. The Badulla Regional Office is situated at No. 84, Race Course Road, Badulla and this region will comprise of Moneragala and Ampara District Cricket Associations.
The president of the Badulla Region Mr. S. B. M. Premaratne and the secretary Mr. R. M. U. Ratnayake have finalised all arrangements for this opening ceremony. Mr. Malcom Perera, Director Coaching and the secretaries of Moneragala and Ampara District Cricket Associations are also expected to be present on this day.
A coaching program for boys under 15 is also expected to be conducted on this day at the Badulla Esplanade where well over 150 are expected to participate.
Arrangements have also been made to declare open the concrete wickets constructed at Hali Ela on this day.
Colombo Ladies are softball champions in limited overs tourney
By Leslie Fernando
COLOMBO LADIES lifted the club softball title, defeating Young Ladies by 5 wickets in the inaugural women's limited overs cricket tournament played at the Vihara Maha Devi Park Grounds yesterday.
The tournament is conducted by the Colombo District Women's Cricket Association and sponsored by Pure Beverages Company Limited.
It was a comfortable victory for Colombo Ladies in the final. Young Ladies batting first were bowled out for a paltry 8 runs in 1.5 overs. Roshini Nanayakkara claimed 2 for 7 and Pani Ranthilini took 2 for 1. Colombo Ladies hit the required runs 14 for no loss in 2.1 overs with Sunethra Priyadarshani unbeaten with 13 which included two huge sixes.
Sixteen clubs participated and in the semi-finals, Colombo Ladies (61 all out) beat Slimline SC, Pannala (49) by 12 runs while Young Ladies (45 for 1) beat Nomads SC 'A' (43 for 2) by 4 wickets.
Schools Softball final
Girls High School, Mt. Lavinia will play Presbetarian Girls High School, Dehiwela in the final of the schools softball tourney today at 3.30 p.m.
Girls High School, Mt. Lavinia dismissed Methodist College, Colombo for no score (all out 0) in the semi-final, an all-time record in the softball cricket scene and Girls High School in reply, made 4 for no loss. Dulani Sanjeewani 3 for 0 and Sumudu Isaru Fernando 1 for 0 were the pick of the bowlers. meanwhile Presbeterian Girls High School (87 for 1) beat Mahamaya College, Kandy (57 for 3) in the other semi finals.
Today ten leading club teams will vie for honours in the leatherball cricket tournament commencing at 9.00 a.m.
The champion Colombo Ladies team were represented by Janakanthi Mala (captain), Vajira Premaratne, Roshini Nanayakkara, Pani Ranthilini, Inoka Galagedera, Sunethra Priyadarshini, Shyamali Kitchil, Deepshika Malkanthi Perera.
Yesterday S. R. Pathiravitharana, Special Events Manager, Pure Beverages Company Ltd. was the chief guest while Jagath Pattiarachchi, External Resources Manager, Pure Beverages will be the chief guest today and SSP, T. B. Kehelgamuwa will be the guest of honour.