Sri Lanka News Round-up (12 Mar 1998)

Thursday 12, March 1998

SRI LANKA SPORTS NEWS AT-A-GLANCE

Compiled by Dinesh Weerawansa.

* Experienced middle order batsman Hashan Tillakaratne, struggling to regain his form, stands a good chance of playing for Sri Lanka in the first Test against South Africa which starts in Cape Town on March 19, according to team sources in Fochville. The Lankan team is here to play a day /night limited over match.

However, Tillakaratne who made an unbeaten half century in the tour opener, will be given another chance to re-establish his form when Sri Lanka play their last three-day warm-up game before the Test series - against Boland in Paarl from Saturday. Team manager and chairman of selectors Duleep Mendis said they have to wait for another week before finalising the Test X1. He said everyone will be given an equal chance in the side games before selecting the Test line-up. (Home):

* It all points to a thriller when Trinity College take on their traditional rivals St. Anthony's College in the 82nd Kandy Battle of the Blues which will be played at Katugastota on Friday and Saturday. Play commences on the first day at 9.45 a.m. and at 9.30 a.m. on the second day.

The Antonian coach H. M. Muthalib said that they will strive hard to achieve victory to celebrate Antonians 70 years at Katugastota. Trinity's coach the famous Antonian Bernard Perera said that they will play positive cricket with a result in mind.

* Galle Cricket Club beat Kurunegala Sports Club by an innings and 32 runs in a Division One Segment 'B' cricket match concluded at Katunayake.

Chief scores: Galle CC - 298 (Duminda Wickremasinghe 95, Banuka Ratnayake 90, Chamila Perera 17, Y. Randika 6 for 33, C. Ratnayake 3 for 72); Kurunegala SC - 102 (R. Kuruppuarachchi 18, Chamila Perera 2 for 8, Dileepa de Silva 3 for 9, Saman Fonseka 2 for 13, Nayantha Weeraman 2 for 5) and 164 (I. Jayasundera 61, Nayantha Weeraman 4 for 22, Saman Fonseka 2 for 45, Hasitha Rajapakse 2 for 32).

* The annual limited over cricket match between the Old Royalists and Old Thomians (over 40's) will be played on March 14 at the SSC grounds.

The Old Royalists Team will be captained by Ajith Pasqual while Ranil Abeynaike will lead the Old Thomians.

* This year's 64th annual 'Battle of the Saints' between St.Joseph's and St.Peter's should turn out to be an interesting affair as the two teams are evenly matched. The two-day annual cricket encounter begins at the P.Saravanamuttu Stadium on Friday.

Both teams are packed with some talented players and they are determined to prove themselves in this important encounter. For the record the Peterites have registered seven victories while the Josephians have three wins to their credit in the current season. But the number of victories alone does not give a clear indication of the teams capabilities as St.Joseph's certainly do have more senior players in their ranks. Unlike the Peterites, they have been up against some tough opponents.

* The inter school cricket encounter between St.Anthony's College Wattala and Maris Stella College ended in a draw at Negombo. R.Aravindan (97) and T. Maheshkanthan (82) scored two good half centuries for the Antonians while Chanaka Gunawardena captured 5 for 71 for Maris Stella.

Chief scores: St.Anthony's: 299 (R.Aravinthan 97, T.Maheshkanthan 82, J.Shivanesharaja 41, Chanaka Gunawardena 5 for 71, Lalin Anthony 3 for 43, C.Croos 2 for 65) and 165 for 5 (J.Sivanesharaja 74 n.o, D.Perera 27, L.Anthony 2 for 42); Maris Stella: 271 (Kasun Bulathsinghala 68, Mevan Fernando 42, Lakmal Fernando 42, O. de Silva 25, Lalin Anthony 20, Dilan Rodrigo 16 n.o, S.Perera 5 for 74, N.R.Asoka 3 for 57).

* St.Joseph's College with five coloursmen and a number of senior players in their ranks are confident of putting up a good performance when they meet their traditional rivals St.Peter's College in the 64th annual 'Battle of the Saints' cricket encounter on March 13 and 14 at the P.Saravanamuttu Stadium.

The Josephians have really proved themselves and have turned out to be a formidable outfit having notched up three impressive victories during the current season. They began their campaign for the Coca Cola Division one inter school League title in great style by outplaying Dharmaraja College Kandy by ten wickets. They followed this up by defeating Joseph Vaz College Wennapuwa by ten wickets and also recorded a memorable win over S.Thomas' College Mount Lavinia. The side is captained by fourth year coloursman Monto Perera.

* Nalanda, despite failing to make an impact in the current season, are determined to put up an improved performance when they take on their arch rivals Ananda in the 69th annual 'Battle of the Maroons' cricket encounter to be played at the R.Premadasa Stadium on March 14 and 15.

The Nalandians recorded only a solitary win from 15 outings and also lost to St.Peter's by nine wickets. Even then they have a good side on paper but unfortunately they have failed to deliver the goods at some vital stages. The team is studded with four coloursmen and is also backed up by a couple of senior players. The Nalandians registered their last win in the series way back in 1953 under the captaincy of W.W.Silva.

Pubudu passes 1000-run mark

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

Run-getting prodigy Pubudu Seneviratne smacked an unbeaten 66 (12 fours) for Dharmaraja College to become the first schoolboy from Kandy to reach 1000 runs this season in their inter-school cricket match against Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya which ended in a draw at Lake View grounds, Kandy yesterday.

Pubudu Seneviratne who hit 140 in the first innings brought his aggregate for the season to 1055 runs. He has hit four centuries and his two knocks in this match will be a morale booster for him for the big match which commences this Friday.

Harshana Gunawardene of Dharmapala Vidyalaya also reached his 1000 runs this season during his innings of 47 yesterday. He has also scored four centuries this season.

This match turned out to be a tall scoring affair with 810, runs being scored for the loss of 14 wickets in the match.

Dharmaraja College 269 for 4 decl. and 140 for 1 in 23 over 65 mts. (Pubudu Senaviratne 66 not out, Lakmal Wijesekera 20 retired hurt, Waruna Herath 29 not out, H. Gunawardena 1 for 11).

Dharmapala Vidyalaya 108 for 1 contd 411 for 9 decl. in 103.3 overs 390 mits (S. Devapura 31, S. Dinesh 55, H. Gunawardena 47, C. Seneviratne 65, C. Perera 68, S. Baladewa 68, A. Marapana 3 for 112, P. Seneviratne 3 for 87).

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