By S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy South Group Corr.
DHARMARAJA COLLEGE, Kandy became champions at the Kandy Schools six-a-side cricket tournament organised by the Kandy District Sports Foundation in connection with the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Independence when they beat Trinity College by just one run in a thriller with the respective wicket-keepers bowling the deciding over in the final played at the Asgiriya Stadium.
The final turned out to be a thriller with both teams scoring 42 runs and the match ending in a tie. In order to break this deadlock, the respective wicketkeepers were called upon to bowl. S. Ranasinghe of Dharmaraja College gave away 8 runs in his over but his third delivery was a dot ball and also captured a wicket in his last delivery. Rodney de Raffayal of Trinity started his over with a dot ball but gave away the deciding single in his last delivery which tilted the game in Rajans favour.
Pubudu Senaviratne of Dharmaraja College who batted, bowled and fielded well was named 'Man of the Match' in the finals.
Vidyartha College who scored a shock victory over the favourites St. Anthony's College in their opening match beat Sri Rahula College to clinch the third place in the losers finals. St. Sylvesters College and Kingswood College did not participate in this tournament.
The results
Vidyartha beat St. Anthony's by one run. Vidyartha 48 for 1 in 5 overs (D. K. Ranaweera 31 not out) St. Anthony's 47 all out in 4.4 overs (M. Pallihakkara 17, A. Pinnaduwa 12, C. Kumara 2 for 3, L. Bandara 2 for 6).
Sri Sumangala beat Madeena Central by four wickets. Sri Sumangala 43 for 1 in 5.4 overs (C. Fernando 20, D. Tennakoon 14) Madeena Central 41 for 2 in 5 overs (M. Aslam 18).
Dharmaraja College beat Sri Rahula College by 6 runs. Dharmaraja 60 for 1 in 5 overs (P. Senaviratne 24, C. Werake 26), Sri Rahula 54 for 1 in 5 overs (C. Wijeratne 17 n.o., S. Bandara 23).
Dharmaraja College beat Sri Sumangala MV by 9 runs. Dharmaraja College 54 for 2 in 5 overs (P. Senaviratne 12, W. Herath 19 n.o., A. Marapona 14 n.o.) Sri Sumangala MV 45 for 2 in 5 overs (C. Fernando 11, D. Tennakoon 14 n.o.).
Trinity beat Vidyartha by 3 wickets. Vidyartha 30 for 4 in 5 overs (D. K. Ranaweera 10, S. Gamage 2 for 5). Trinity 34 for 2 in 3.5 overs (S. Gamage 10, R. de Raffayal 11).
Play off match: Vidyartha beat Sri Rahula by 3 runs. Sri Rahula 44 for 2 in 5 overs (S. Bandara 19, G. Piyadigama 17 not out) Vidyartha 47 for 2 in 5 overs. (K. G. Ranjith 11, D. K. Ranaweera 22 n.o.)
Final Dharmaraja beat Trinity by one run. Dharmaraja 42 for 3 in 5 overs (A. Marapona 17 n.o.) Trinity 42 all out in 5 overs (S. Moratota 11, D. Weeraratne 11, P. Senaviratne 2 for 2). Match ended in a tie. Wicket keepers over. Trinity 8 runs, for no loss. Dharmaraja 9 runs for no loss.
Golden Oldies meet Golden Baldies
By V. T. Raj - Badulla Sports Corr.
THE CREAM of former Sri Lanka 'caps' will be in action at St. Thomas' College, Gurutalawa grounds on February 7th to mark the program for the Festival of Cricket to coincide with the inauguration of the turf wickets.
C. T. A. Schafter will lead the 'Golden Oldies' team while Michael Tissera will lead the 'Golden-Baldies' in this Masters limited 40 over exhibition cricket encounter.
St. Thomas' College Board of Governors have organised a luxury bus which will leave Colombo from Ladies College, Colombo 7 on February 6th to Gurutalawa via Ginigathena.
A picnic lunch has been organised by the Young Old Boys of STC at Nuwara Eliya. A cultural Program which includes Kandyan dancing and Ballet will also be conducted on this day at 6.30 p.m.
The turf wicket will be declared open on 7th at 9 a.m. with the blessings of the Bishop of Colombo and this will be followed by an exhibition cricket match between the 'Golden Oldies' and Golden Baldies.
The two teams will be picked from the following: C. T. A. Schafter, Michael Tissera, Anura Tennakoon, Mevan Pieris, Rohan de S. Wijeyeratne, Lalith de S. Wijeyeratne, Mahinda Wijesinghe, Vernon Tissera, Ralston Tissera, Guy de Alwis, R. L. de Alwis, Bradman Weerakoon, Marion Cooray, Ismeth Cassim, Ananda Medonza, Kumar Boralessa, Sylvester Dias, Arjuna Dias, Asoka de Silva, Maurice Perera, Geoff Wijesinghe, Mahesan Selvaratnam, Huzam Cader, Sheran Wickremasekera, Wathma Wickremasekera and Lalith Jayasundera.
Match referee: P. I. Peiris
Adjudicators: Messrs Bertie Wijesingha and Vernon Prins, co-ordinator: Ismeth Cassim.
Arrangements have also been made to play another exhibition cricket match on Sunday February 8 between the staff and present boys at the same venue.
Observer-Bata School Cricket Contests on again
The Observer-Bata School Cricket Contests are on again. The prelude to the selection of the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year and winners of the allied contests, the Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year and the Most Popular Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contests for 1998 start today. The first coupon for these two contests appear on page 10.
As in former years, the Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year and Most Popular Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contests carry readers prizes as well. Each week, Bata has offered two prizes each for the two contests, the first for Rs. 500 and the second for Rs. 300 for readers voting in the two contests.
Coupon No. 1 of the two contests will be valid till Saturday, January 31. The coupons will appear in The Observer (that's the daily) from Monday till Friday, January 30 and the results will be announced on Friday, February 6 in The Observer. The delay in announcing the first week's result is due to the intervening holidays. The results will be repeated in Sunday Observer of February 8.
Any amount of coupons can be sent for one cricketer in one envelope in any one contest.
Meanwhile the awards ceremony for the 1997 contests will be held shortly.