Sri Lanka News Round-up (21 January 1999)

21 January 1999

Sri Lanka News Round-up

The Daily News

Three experienced Sri Lanka fast bowlers, Sajeeva de Silva, Erik Upashantha and Mario Villavarayen will leave for training at the MRF Pace Foundation in Madras today.

The three pacies will be put through their paces and their skills further honed by former Australian fast bowling legend Dennis Lillee who will be in Madras at the time.

Former Sri Lanka fast bowlers Rumesh Ratnayake and Ashantha de Mel will accompany them. The training will be for a period of 10 days.

The three bowlers were selected by the foundation's chief coach T.A. Sekhar who was in Sri Lanka recently.

Sri Lanka Cricket Board sources said that experienced bowlers were selected on this occasion with the World Cup in mind. Sri Lanka will defend the world title in England in May this year. - (S.T.)

S M Jiffry Abdeen

A brilliant knock of 62 with 4 fours and a six compiled in 81 balls under difficult conditions by Chanaka Wijesinghe, for St. Sylvester's College was the highlight of their inter-school cricket match against St. Aloysius College, Galle which began at University grounds, Peradeniya.

There was rain before and during the match which made conditions difficult for batting. But Chanaka Wijesinghe batted elegantly to help Sylvestrians to get 120 for 5 when rain stopped play at 5.30 pm.

St. Sylvester's were 78 for 4 at one stage.

St. Sylvester's College 120 for 5 at close in 40 overs ( Chanaka Wijesinghe 62, Z. Hajireen 15, J. Weerasinghe 22 not out, R. Dissanayake 12, N. Nanayakkara 3 for 29, N. Kudagama 2 for 77).

By our Kandy South group Correspondent

There was no play on the first day of the inter-school cricket match between Kingswood College and Richmond College Galle at Police grounds Kandy. Heavy rain made the outfield unfit for play.

Dilwin Mendis

Former St. Anthony's College, Katugastota cricketer Vindya de Mel (23) was shot dead by three unknown assailants when he was returning home after attending a private party at Egoda Uyana, Moratuwa on Monday night.

Vindya's brother Vinod, a former St. Anthony's College rugby player was also shot at along with two of their cousin brothers Shehan Silva and Sashi Fernando. All three are lying critical condition at the Colombo General Hospital.

Vindya's funeral takes place at the Roman Catholic Church, Willorawatta, Moratuwa at 4 p.m. today.

One of the assailants have already surrendered to the Moratuwa police. The other two are absconding. The motive for the killing has not been established yet.

Hatton National Bank, led by Waruna Waragoda, clinched the National Paints Gold Cup when they beat Emirates by seven wickets in the final of the Sharjah Ramadan festival of cricket in Sharjah on Tuesday night.

Emirates batting first made 141 for 8 in 35 overs with Mohammed Imran (23) and skipper Murali Sockhalingam (14) making the chief contributions. Russel Arnold bagged two for 36 off seven overs.

In reply, Hatton National Bank reached the target with seven wickets in hand. Opener Russel Arnond made a blistering 68 while Nimesh Perera (23) and Kumara Dharmasena (24 n.o) chipped in with two good innings.

S M Jiffrey Abdeen

Young Trinity College cricketer Pasan Weerarathne had to be rushed to the Kandy General Hospital after being struck on the temple by a rising delivery from St. Sylvester's College medium pacer Chanaka Wijesinghe during their inter-school cricket match played at the Asgiriya Stadium on Saturday.

Pasan Weeraratne whose brother Kaushalya leads the Trinity College cricket team had batted without the protective helmet and when struck by the ball appeared to be in unbearable pain and had vomitted on his return to the pavilion.

Since there was no improvement in his condition, he was rushed for medical attention and had to be warded at the Kandy General Hospital where he is kept under observation with the likelihood of surgery being performed on him to overcome any ill effects of this serious injury.

This should be a lesson to cricketers who opt to bat without the protective helmet especially against fast bowlers where the risk of injury is greater.

S M Jiffrey Abdeen

Centuries by prolific run getter Pubudu Senaviratne 116 (6 fours, 223 balls) and Asanka marapona 126 (14 fours, 1 six) for Dharmaraja College was the limelight in their inter school cricket match against St. Anthony's College, Katugastota which ended in a tame draw at Katugastota on Sunday.

Asanka Marapona was the more aggressive of the two and his innings took only 185 balls and this pair put on 224 for the third wicket. This was also the first time where two Rajans had scored centuries in the same innings at Katugastota. Pubudu Seneviratne during the course of his knock became the first schoolboy cricketer from the hill capital to pass the 650 run mark this season. This duo also bowled well to restrict the Antonians to 212 with Marapona taking 3 for 60 and Seneviratne 3 for 37.

St. Anthony's College 212 all out in 55.3 overs (R. Wickremapala 47, K. Jayaratne 13, R. Deen 12, N. Nizam 25, S. Burke 46, M. Pawas 33, J. Arnolda 11, P. Jayawardena 12 not out, A. S. Marapona 3 for 60, P. Senaviratne 3 for 37, N. Ekanayake 2 for 17) and 71 for 2 wickets in 19 overs (Ravi Wickremapala 27 not out, Romesh Deen 12, Amila Pinnaduwa 25 not out).

Dharmaraja College 288 for 7 decl. in 65 overs (Pubudu Senaviratne 116, Asanka Marapona 126, Haresh Ratnayake 25 not out, A. S. Pinnaduwa 4 for 54).

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