All the leading schools in the Southern Region will participate in the Rahula College, Matara diamond jubilee under 19 limited-over cricket tournament which commences at the college grounds today.
The tournament which will conclude on November 14 sees the following schools participating: From Matara - Rahula, St. Thomas', St. Servatius, From Galle - Mahinda, Richmond, St. Aloysius, Vidyaloka MV, Meepawala Amarasooriya MV, From Ambalangoda - Dharmasoka, Devananda MV, from Balapitiya - Rewata MV, From Tissa - Debarawewa MV and, from Kataragama - Kataragama MV.
The chief guests on the final day are President's secretary K. Balapatabandi, Defence Ministry secretary R.K.Chandrananda Silva and Souther Province chief minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.
The tournament is organised by Diamond Jubilee cricket tournament chairman Sunil Mohotti.
S. Thomas' poised for victory
By Richard Dwight
In the rain curtailed opening day of the cricket encounter between S. Thomas' and Thurstan - S. Thomas' did well to dismiss Thurstan for a paltry 54 runs and then go on to make a decisive 180 for 7 at Mt. Lavinia yesterday.
It was a late start due to intermittent early showers, with the match commencing at 11.15 a.m. and the Thomians quite rightly, sending Thurstan to bat first. Making amends for last time, S. Thomas' made short work of the Thurstan batting, dismissing them for 54.
This was mainly due to a fine opening spell of medium pace bowling by the Fernandos, Lakmal and Gihan. The Thomians batting in reply was propped by a superb 84 by in-form Upeka Fernando, to enable S Thomas' to be in winning position at 180 for 7 with left armer G. D. Silva claiming 4 for 38.
Thurstan 54 - I. Jayaratne 16 n.o., L. L. Fernando 3 for 11, G. A. Fernando 2 for 4, U. Fernando 2 for 1. S. Thomas' 180 for 7 - U. Fernando 84, N. Ratwatte 24, S. Caldera 15, G. Fernando 15, L. L. Fernando 10 n.o., G. D. Silva 4 for 38.
Wickramaratne 6 for 26
by S M Jiffrey Abdeen
A devastating spell of medium pace bowling by Nimal Wickremaratne who captured 6 for 26 put Dharmaraja College Kandy, on top at the end of the first day's play in their Coca Cola bottlers trophy cricket tournament match against Dharmapala Vidyalaya Pannipitiya which began at Lake View grounds, Kandy yesterday. The match will be continued today at 9.30 am.
Dharmapala Vidyalaya 130 all out in 62 overs, 253 pts (Chamila Jayasinghe 38 n.o., Shantha Jayasinghe 22, S. Dinesh 20, Nirmal Wickremaratne 6 for 26).
Dharmaraja College 160 for 3 in 30 overs 130 mts (Pubudu Seneviratne 46 n.o., Yasas Jayasundera 35, Sunil Ranasinghe 24, Asanka Marapana 37 n.o., Chamila Jayasinghe 2 for 50).
Ananda in action
Ananda open their inter-school cricket season against St. Sebastian's at the Col. G. W. Rajapakse, Ananda Mawatha, on Monday and Tuesday.
Film stars at cricket
A benefit cricket match will be played at the Bloomfield Club ground tomorrow to mark Remembrance Week.
Entrance is free and open to the public.
However donations will be greatly appreciated as the collections during Remembrance Week will be used to offer financial and medical help to support families who have lost their main breadwinners and grant educational opportunities to children of war victims.
The film stars taking part are Ravindra Randeniya, Lucky Dias, Malini Fonseka, Kamal Addararachchi to name a few. The ex-national cricketers team will include Dammika Ranatunga, Thilanga Sumathipala, Asantha de Mel, Brendon Kuruppu and others.
A large number of cricket and film fans are expected to support this event beside supporting a worthy cause.
Ishan excels in drawn game
A match bag of nine for 16 (7 for 7 and 2 for 9) by Ishan Hettiarachchi was the highlight of the inter-school cricket match between St. Joseph's and Mahinda which ended in a draw at Darley Road on Thursday.
Mahinda, who were forced to follow on after trailing by 211 runs on the first innings, were 94 for 6 at close in their second innings of the rain-hit game.
Chief scores:
St. Joseph's 242 for 9 decl.
Mahinda 31 (Ishan Hettiarachchi 7 for 7) and 94 for 6 at close. (R. Nalinda 19, Ishan Hettiarachchi 2 for 9).