Sri Lanka: Colombo Central meets Matara in U-15 final (31 Aug 1997)

Sunday 31, August 1997

Colombo Central meets Matara in inter-district U-15 final today

By S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy South Group Cor.

COLOMBO CENTRAL District will meet Matara District in the finals of the annual all island inter district under 15 cricket tournament for the `Late Dr. C. D. L. Fernando Challenge trophy' organised by the Kandy District Cricket Association in conjunction with the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka and sponsored by Nestle's Limited which will be played at the Asgiriya Stadium today (Sunday August 31) at 10 am.

Both teams put up some good performances to enter the finals of this prestigious tournament.

Matara who put the rare achievement, unparalleled in the history of limited over cricket when they beat Nuwara Eliya District after batting for just two overs, came up with another stirring performance when they beat Galle and Kandy Districts.

Colombo Central beat Polonnaruwa District, Colombo South and Puttalam district.

Both teams are well balanced and a keen contest is expected on this Asgiriya wicket with a slow outfield.

The organisers have decided not to charge a gate for the finals to enable the school children witness this, which will be the finale to one of the biggest ever tournaments organised outside Colombo. There will be also prizes for the spectators from time to time from the sponsors Milo.

The National Sales Manager of Nestle's Mr. Sunil Wickremasinghe will be the Chief Guest and a number of Cricket Board Officials including the Chief Executive Officer Mr. Dhamikka Ranatunga will grace the occasion as the Guests of Honour.

The Sponsors Milo have thrown in a lavish cash sponsorship and about 20 districts participated in this tournament and the teams were provided with meals, accommodation and local travelling by the organisers headed by the soft spoken Senaka Niyangoda. The Cricket Board in order to promote the game in the outstations has thrown in a lot of money into this tournament. They have donated 15 cricket bats, 48 cricket balls and also Rs. 5,000 per team will be given for travelling and to make other preparations for the matches.

The winners will be presented with 11 cricket bats, caps and Tee-Shirts, and also cash Rs. 10,000 in addition to the `Late Dr. C. D. L. Fernando Challenge Trophy'.

The runners-up will receive two cricket bats, cash Rs. 5,000 and a trophy from Milo.

The two losing semi-finalists were presented with two cricket bats and cash Rs. 2,000. The umpires who officiated were also presented with Milo hats. The teams

Matara District (from): P. Ravin Nirmal (captain), I. Lokuge, A. T. Binara Yohan, S. Nirmala, Nadeesh Wickremasinghe, B. Amadoru, S. Gayanthika, P. K. Manawadu, Y. A. N. Mendis, U. P. Saminda, S. Dissanayake, Gayan Sahabandu, Duminda Chanaka, C. W. Ranasinghe.

Colombo Central District XI: Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Jehan Jayasuriya, Donovour Faux, Safraz Saldin, Malinda Thotuwilage, Kanishka Edirisuriya, Sahan Wijesekera, Rohan de Silva, Malinda Abeyratne, Imran Samsudeen, Prabath Perera, Dhushantha Sanduruwan, Sajith Dilantha, Harsha Cooray.

Messrs Lalith Kapugedera and Lalith Chandrasena of the Central Province Cricket Umpires Association will officiate.

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