KSC Cricket Sixes Will Long Be Remembered In Sri Lanka (29 Nov 1996)

29 November 1996

KSC Cricket Sixes will long be remembered

By A. C. de Silva

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1996, will be remembered for many years to come by members of Kurunegala Sports Club. That day was their second annual six-a-side cricket tournament and what gave the committee of the club some comforting moments was the large turn over of spectators to witness the matches.

It was undoubtedly the largest turn out of spectators for any six-a- side cricket tournament in Sri Lanka to date and the committee of Kurunegala Sports Club headed by its energetic president Irwin Jayawardena should be happy at the turn out.

At a press conference before the tournament, Irwin Jayawardena said that spectator interest for cricket was on the wane and it was his idea to make the second annual KSC cricket sixes brighter with some big names thrown in.

Many Sri Lanka Test players were expected. Though some kept away for various reasons, there was Romesh Kaluwitharana and Chaminda Vaas of the Colts, Upul Chandana of Tamil Union who made the trip to Kurunegala and Kaluwitharana thrilled the crowd with some lusty hits, while Chandana was most impressive with his fielding. Vaas came in for stick while bowling, but he was a big draw too.

After Saturday night`s downpour in Kurunegala, the ground was wet and soggy at some places in the outfield, while a matting was put on turf so that the games would be able to go on.

Though conditions were not ideal, there were no complaints and the teams played in the true spirit of the game.

Arnold

For champions NCC, Russel Arnold turned out to be their leading player and he had a great day, scoring many runs, and in the final against Bloomfield, took three wickets for 7 runs to keep Bloomfield to 51 for 4 wickets. NCC hit off the runs without losing a wicket, making 53 runs. Ruvin Pieris, too, played a big role, getting good scores.

The semi-finals were really interesting. SSC who incidentally hit the highest team total of 90 for no wicket in their quarter-final against Sebastianites, were beaten in the semi-finals by Bloomfield, who made 70 for one wicket to SSC`s 66 for 3 wickets.

Bloomfield`s Nilantha Bopage was the top scorer of the day, getting 55 not out in this game, while earlier, SSC`s Nisal Fernando scored 50 not out in the quarter-final against Sebastianites.

Kurunegala Sports Club, though not having any stars in their team, did well to come to the semi-finals and they lost to the ultimate champions _ NCC. Kurunegala`s P. K. Aluvihare just missed out on a halfcentury, being dismissed for 45 in a total of 61 for 4 wickets.

All in all, it was a good tournament for a good cause _ to collect funds to set up a Benefit Fund to help the needy cricketers of Kurunegala. Well done, Kurunegala Sports Club!

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)