By S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy south group correspondent
Kingswood College held Richmond College, Galle to a thrilling draw in their Coca-Cola Bottlers Trophy cricket tournament match concluded at Police Grounds, Kandy yesterday.
Kingswoodians in the second essay were struggling at 91 for 9 at one stage, were sound from defeat by a last wicket stand of 75 between Chamara Seneviratne 38 not out and Namal Pushpakumara 38.
Richmond who were set for an victory target of 187 were 25 for 4 at one stage before they recovered to score 112 for 4 at close.
Kingswood College 188 all out in 54 overs (Roshan Perera 69, L. Ekanayake 28, M. Mallawarachchi 26, C. Amunupura 13, N. Pushpakumara 18, O. Weerasuriya 13, O. Wijesiriwardena 2 for 39, O. Sumathipala 3 for 22, A. Rideegammanagedera 3 for 37) and 167 all out in 46.3 overs (L. Ekanayake 15, R. Perera 26, C. Amunupura 14, T. Madanayake 16, C. Seneviratne 38 not out, N. Pushpakumara 38, R. Abeysekera 5 for 62, O. Wijesiriwardena 2 for 25).
Richmond College 159 all out in 65 overs (P. Buddhika 18, P. Lorenshewa 26, N. Ratnayake 37, M. Chathuranga 17, A. Rideegammanagedera 34, R. Perera 3 for 33, Sanjeewa Gamage 4 for 46, T. Madanayake 3 for 33) and 112 for 4 in 26 overs (P. Buddhika 14, P. Lorenshewa 58, N. Ratnayake 31 not out).
Sri Rahula shot out for 75
Sri Rahula College, Katugastota were shot out for 75 in their inter-school cricket match against Lumbini Maha Vidyalaya, Colombo which began at Peradeniya yesterday.
At close Lumbini had scored 30 for 1. The match will be continued today at 9.45 a.m.
Sokians win
Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda beat President's College by four wickets in their division one school cricket match played at Ambalangoda yesterday.
President's College 137 (N. Perera 26, R. Sampath 26, H. Lakmal 5 for 32, Chathuran Sanjeewa 2 for 8, H. P. Gayan 2 for 32) and 146 (N. Perera 70, M. A. Farcy 22, H. P. Gayan 4 for 25, Lakmal de Silva 3 for 66).
Dharmasoka 182 (Chathuran Sanjeewa 49, D. Kumara 20, G. Mendis 27, L. Danushka 21, C. Jayasekera 4 for 37, P. Munasinghe 3 for 33) and 102 for 6 (C. Kumara 37, E. Mendis 18, C. Jayasekera 3 for 31).
* The Colombo South Cricket School based at Moratuwa has now started coaching classes for the new year. Classes are conducted on Saturday morning and evening and Sunday evening. Reputed coaches including Lasantha Rodrigo, Crysanthus Fernando and Sarath Perera are conducting the coaching sessions helped by two assistant coaches. Colombo South Cricket School which commenced mid last year, is very popular among the youngsters of the area.
* Cricket has now gone to Hungary with a Sri Lankan playing the leading role in introducing this game to this country. It all started in April 1996 when Dr. Padma Gannoruwa, the present Sri Lankan Consul in Hungary and an old Kingswoodian who had played for his College first XI in the 1960's.
There has been no letting up since then. A cricket team with Dr. Gannoruwa himself being elected unanimously as the captain and comprising players drawn from Hungary and foreign nationals employed in this country from cricket playing nations like England, Australia and New Zealand was formed and the team has already had several cricket fixtures with teams from, Germany, Austria and recently with a British Club too.
The Hungarian Cricket Association has arranged for weekly cricket practice at the Budapest University Sports Grounds and it is open to anyone who is interested in playing cricket. In the winter season indoor cricket coaching camps are held in the Budapest Sports Stadium. There are also moves to take this game to the Universities and central schools in the country too.