Sri Lanka News Round-up (24 Oct1997)

Friday 24, October 1997

SRI LANKA SPORTS NEWS AT-A-GLANCE

Compiled by Dinesh Weerawansa.

* For the first time in women's cricket history a Sri Lanka team will participate at a World Cup cricket competition in India from December 5 to 30. Since Sri Lanka became world champions the enthusiasm has been extremely high even among the fairer sex. The women's team has been preparing for the big event for the last two months under the guidace of former Test wicket keeper batsman Guy de Alwis who is a happy man coaching the girls.

The Lankan women's team is led by Venessa Bowan from the Colombo Colts Cricket Club and her deputy is Rose Fernando from Katuneriya BV Wennappuwa. She is the only school girl in the side. Sri Lanka has been drawn in group `B' along with New Zealand, Canada, India, Netherlands and the West Indies for the 1997 Women's World cup cricket tournament to be worked off in India in December. The Group `A' comprise England, South Africa, Australia, Ireland, Pakistan and Denmark.

The opening ceremony will be held on December 5 and the preliminary round matches will commence on December 10 where Sri Lanka will take on the hosts India in Gauhati. Sri Lanka's other preliminary round matches will be played on December 12 (vs. West Indies in New Delhi), December 14 (vs. New Zealand in Jalandhar), December 16 (vs Canada in Jaipur) and on December 18 (vs. Netherlands). The quarter finals will be played from December 21 to 23 and the `semis' on December 24 and 26. The final will take place on December 28.

The champion team will be awarded Rs. 30,000 and the runner-up, Rs. 20,000. Individual awards in the final include Rs. 10,000 for the Man of the Match, and Rs. 5,000 each for the Best Batsman and Best Bowler. Galle CC booked a place in the final beating Kalutara PCC by ten wickets. Wennappuwa took first innings points from Old Dharmapalians in their match played last weekend at Pannipitiya. Wennappuwa hit a challenging total of 344 for 8 declared.

* The Colombo Municipal Council felicitated the Sri Lanka cricket team on becoming the world champions in one-day cricket, the Sri Lanka netball team, who became the Asian champions, at a reception at the Mayor's Centre `Siri Nivasa' in Greenpath. The CMC, also felicitated late M. J. M. Lafir who won the World Billiard Title in 1971 in India. Susanthika Jayasinghe, Silver Medallist - 200 metres did not show up for the ceremony.

The Mayor of Colombo Deshabandu Karu Jayasuriya said `we as Sri Lankans should be very proud of the Sri Lanka cricket team who with devotion won the world championship'. The CMC also congratulated the Sri Lanka team under the leadership of P. D. Prasadi, who became Asian Netball Champions. The cricketers and netballers were presented with gold medals, while Mrs. K. Misiriya, wife of late M. J. M. Lafir, was presented Rs. 10,000 by the Mayor of Colombo, Deshabandu Karu Jayasuriya.

Galle-Wennappuwa clash in under-24 segment B final

For the first time in the short history of the Under 24 cricket tournament, two outstation clubs have qualified to play in the final.

Galle CC and Wennappuwa CC will meet on Saturday and Sunday at the Sara Stadium to decide on the Segment `B' champions.

The winning team will receive Rs. 30,000 and the runner-up, Rs. 20,000. Individual awards in the final include Rs. 10,000 for the Man of the Match, and Rs. 5,000 each for the Best Batsman and Best Bowler.

Galle CC entered the final by defeating Kalutara PCC comprehensively by ten wickets.

Wennappuwa took first innings points from Old Dharmapalians in their match played last weekend at Pannipitiya. Wennappuwa ran up a massive total of 344 for 8 declared largely through a fine century from M. Siyabalapitiya and a splendid all-round performance from Keerthi Fernando, who scored 40 runs and took six wickets for 79 to dismiss Old Dharmapalians for 206.

Scores: WENNAPPUWA CC 344 for 8 decl. in 93.2 overs (M. Siyambalapitiya 110, C. Susantha 20, T.A. Fernando 39, K. Fernando 44, T. Perera 36, C. Jayasuriya 28, Keerthi Fernando 40, R.D. Nishantha 2 for 55, C. Perera 2 for 25)

OLD DHARMAPALIANS 206 in 56 overs (P. Abeysiriwardena 49, M. Ratnayake 25, H. Gunawardena 35, A. Siriwardena 20, R.D. Nishantha 23, C. Perera 30, Keerthi Fernando 6 for 79, K. Fernando 2 for 46) - [S.T.]

In a Mercantile H division cricket tournament match, Thorn Group beat Hongkong Bank at the MCA grounds.

Thorn Group 133 (S. Muthuporathota 56, C. Fernando 4 for 10).

Hong Kong Bank 76 (J. Fernandopulle 29, C. Dilruk 3 for 19, A. Fernanddo 2 for 17). CT & FC meet on Oct. 25 & 26

Basilica College - two wins

By Boniface Taylor

Basilica College, Ragama, registered two first innings victories in their under- 13 division three Horlicks Trophy Cricket tournament match played recently.

Beat De Mazenod College Kandana at Ragama

Tharaka Sampath Basilica College took a matchbag of 8 wickets for 19 runs and Mevan Prasnna top scored with 93 runs.

Basilica College 212 for 7 in 45 Overs. (Mevan Prasanne 93, Chamara Kalum 38, Tharaka Sampath 19, Thiline Jayasundara 16, M. Nipuna 2 for 55.)

De Mazenod College all out 46. (Tharaka Sampath 4 for 2, H. Aravinda 3 for 16, C.Kalum 2 for 18.) and 47 for 5 wickets. (Tharaka Sampath 4 for 17.)

Beat St. Anthony's College Wattala at Wattala.

Two half centuries by Basilica's Buddika Dissanayake (70 no) and Thilina Jayasundara (55 no) were the highlights.

Basilica College 235 for 4 wickets. (Buddika Dissanayake n.o. 70, Thilina Jayasundara n.o. 55, Mevan Prasanne 35, Tharaka Sampath 28, I. Richard 2 for 35)

St. Anthony's College all out 57. (I. Richard 10, Tharaka Sampath 3 for 25, Heshan Aravinda 2 for 5, Chamara Kalum 2 for 6.)

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