Sri Lanka 'A' left-arm spinner Niroshan Bandaratilake took a match bag of 8 for 85 to give Tamil Union an outright win by 166 runs over Singha SC in their division I Sara trophy (Segment 'A') match concluded at the Sara Stadium yesterday.
Singha SC left with the task of making 345 runs for victory in 86 overs were dismissed for 178 with Bandaratilake taking 5 for 48 and fast bowler Mario Villavarayen 4 for 58.
Tamil Union 233 and 258 for 9 decl. in 62 overs (I. Galagoda 31, N. Shiroman 33, V.S.K. Waragoda 44, V. Wijegunawardena 39, D. Nadarajah 35, S. Sanjeeva 3 for 89, Malaka de Silva 4 for 40)
Singha SC 147 and 178 in 47.4 overs (S. Jayantha 24, H. Premasiri 65, S. Sanjeeva 23, Malaka de Silva 22, M. Villayarayen 4 for 58, M.R.C.N. Bandaratilake 5 for 48) - [S.T.]
Nimesh spins Sebs to victory
Leg-spinner Nimesh Perera spun Sebastianites to a 176-run outright win over Matara SC by capturing 11 wickets for 141 runs (7 for 66 in second innings) in their division I Sara trophy (Segment 'A') match played at Braybrooke Place yesterday.
Sebastianites 268 and 272 for 4 decl. in 53.4 overs (Nimesh Perera 78 n.o., B.C.M. Mendis 76, V. Abeywardena 72)
Matara SC 212 in 76 overs (T.D. Munasinghe 57, S.M. Foumy 57, L.S. Suwandaratne 31, Nimesh Perera 4 for 75, V. Abeywardena 3 for 27, C. Liyanage 2 for 33) and 152 in 50 overs (S.W.N.D. Chintaka 27, S.M. Foumy 23, S. Kulatunga 22, I. Priyantha 21, Nimesh Perera 7 for 66). [P.J.]
Panadura on 1st innings
Panadura SC took first innings points from Police SC in their division I Sara trophy (Segment 'A') match concluded at Panadura yesterday.
Panadura SC 287 (P. Wijesuriya 28, D. Wickremanayake 30, M. Silva 36, S. Kumara 33, M. Jayasena 76 n.o., Piyal Salgado 24, S. Liyanage 24, P.K. Serasinghe 3 for 73, N. Soysa 2 for 69, V. Ranaweera 2 for 75, C. Silva 2 for 32) and 202 for 6 at stumps (N. Jayalath 38, D. Wickremanayake 42, S. Kumara 40 n.o., K. Silva 40 n.o., N. Soysa 2 for 75, P.K. Serasinghe 2 for 65)
Police SC 207 (N. Soysa 57, C. Silva 30, R. Wimalasiri 72 n.o., C. Perea 2 for 31, S.D. Anurasiri 3 for 59, N. Jayalath 2 for 39).
Hashan's team wins Kreeda Trophy
By Dinesh Weerawansa
Sri Lanka Test batsman Hashan Tillekeratne did not produce anything outstanding, but his team still merged champions at the 'Kreeda' six-a-side cricket tournament played at SSC grounds yesterday. The tournament, which featured all Sri Lanka national cricketers on the eve of their departure to a maiden Test tour of South Africa, was organised by the Ministry of Samurdhi, Youth Affairs and Sports to mark the launch of a new lottery 'Kreeda' to foster sports activities in the island.
Tillekeratne's team had an exciting win over Sanath Jayasuriya's side in the final. Two good knocks by Aviska Gunawardena and Russel Arnold helped Tillekeratne's VI to make a commanding 84 for one in their allotted five overs. Gunawardena hit 27 runs off Kumara Dharmasena's over. Jayasuriya's team fell short of their target by eight runs with two wickets in hand. Kumara Dharmasena (23) and Mahela Jayawardena (28) fought back after they lost skipper Jayasuriya for six.
Despite emerging champions, Tillekeratne's team were lucky to enter the final after a 72-run tie in the semi finals against Arjuna Ranatunga's side. But in the decisive wicket keepers' overs Tillekeratne's side had a close call. Aravinda de Silva's team lost the semi final against Jayasuriya's team by four wickets. Despite, skipper Aravinda de Silva made an unbeaten 50. In reply to De Silva's team's 73 for no loss, Jayasuriya's side made 74 for one in 4.5 overs.
In the loser's final, Ranatunga's team (54 for 2) lost to De Silva's team (57 for no loss) by five wickets. Here too, De Silva made an unbeaten 34 to win the best batsman's award. But he set an example by returning the Rs. 15,000 cheque back to Mrs. Thamara Dissanayake to be credited to the sports fund and all other's followed him. Indika de Saram (Best bowler). Muttiah Muralitharan (best fielder), and Avishka Gunawardena (most No. of sixers) too won special awards. The winning team won the Kreeda trophy and Rs. 75,000, runners-up Rs. 40,000, 3rd placed team Rs. 25,000, and the 4th team Rs. 15,000.