Sri Lanka News Round-up (25 Mar 1998)

Wednesday 25, March 1998

Sports in brief

Daily News

Tennekoon Dubai-bound

Burgher Recreation Club's Sara Trophy cricketer, Sidath Tennekoon left for Dubai recently to assume duties in a bank in the Middle East.

A product of Dharmaraja College, Kandy, Tennekoon completed 1,000 runs during his final school season and turned out for BRC in the Sara Trophy division I tournament since 1993. He plans to play for Lanka Lions during his banking stint in Dubai. D.W.

Charith to lead Mombasa SC

Former Sri Lanka Test opener Charith Senanayake has been appointed the captain of Mombasa Sports Club.

Senanayake, a left-hand opening bat played for the club last year and helped them pull upsets in the Coast Cricket League and other various tournaments.

A former CCC cricketer, he played for Sri Lanka in the Test and one-day series in New Zealand in 1990-91 and later turned out to be a television commentator before taking up an appointment in Mombasa.

Letter: Upeka should have declared much earlier

I read an article by Pelham Juriansz with the heading 'Upeka writes his name in Battle of Blues history'.

Whilst congratulating Upeka on his splendid achievement of having aggregated the highest number of runs in this prestigious encounter, as a staunch supporter of Thomian Cricket. I felt his achievement would have earned more respect had he displayed the undermentioned qualities as the Thomian captain in the 119th Battle of Blues.

On the 2nd day when the Royal captain declared its 1st innings 33 runs short of the Thomian 1st innings total, he was trying to infuse some life into a game that was destined to end in a drab draw. At this stage it was surprising to find the Thomian 2nd innings being opened by a tail-ender and not the in-form and aggressive Upeka Fernando. Had Upeka Fernando opened the Thomian innings he would have been in a position to declare much earlier and perhaps earned a victory for his team.

Upeka was also found wanting in delaying his declaration of the Thomian 1st innings. His intention of trying to give Nilanka Peiris an opportunity of scoring a century deprived S. Thomas' of valuable time in bowling at a tired and dispirited Royal side on the evening of the first day.

It is important that captains and coaches of all team games, keep in mind, that the individual's interest at all times should be subservient to that of the team.

Let us hope that in future we will see more enterprising cricket from both teams so that the Royal-Thomian match would be more meaningful for those who come to watch the cricket over the three days.

Rex Perera - A Thomian Supporter.

No crowd invasions at the Blues' Battle a happy augury

by Richard Dwight

When the Thomian openers batting first on day one registered their fiftieth run, we awaited expectantly the surging of schoolboys and spectators alike on to the field of play.

But this was not to be, for the reason that the waving of flags and the accompanying shrieks thereon, was confined to within the respective stands and enclosures. This indeed was quite unusual for us, who through the years hitherto have been accustomed to seeing many cutting loose to storm on to where the action is. Had the sense of bravado and enthusiasm deserted them? - However, we in the press box did not allow our minds to dwell on this, thinking that it was too early in the day for them to band themselves together, to forge forth in their numbers to the playing area.

Then came the Thomian opener's fifty, followed a little later on by the Thomians notching an opening stand of 100 runs. Two stages as they progressed towards a big score, which generally would have brought the crowds rushing onto the wicket, but none were permitted to do so now. The Royalists who were subdued thus far, got the opportunity to sing, dance and shout when the Thomians lost their first wicket at 125. But here again they had to give vent to their feelings from their tents and stands.

From where we were, we had a grand stand view of the picturesque SSC grounds, where the eleven fielders, two batsmen and the two umpires were allowed to perform without any manner of hindrance or distractions - Which otherwise would have been an erosion into valuable playing time. It was truly a healthy, pleasant sight to behold, where the focus was on the game that mattered, sans silly, stupid, clowning amidst cacophonic noises and smoke bombs - Where the last big match was a veritable disgrace.

The prefects and stewards have through the years acquired a fondness for performing the can, can dances, they will do well to join the boys under their charge and do their act in the area in within the stands, lest the boys be tempted to follow their example and get past the barricades.

The reason for this welcome transformation which struck us as distinctive, was that the SSC which had a three foot circular wall a few metres away from the boundaryline, was further fortified with a built in steel stirruped barricade, which whilst not obstructing the view, prevented invasions onto the field.

However, there were the gates which opened out during the intervals, permitting the revellers and schoolboys onto the playing area, to do their bit and get back through them, when play commenced. There did seem to be a reluctance to encourge the sale of liquor, for booths for this, was hard to come by.

In addition, there was the patrolling of army and police personnel, both within the grounds as well the adjoining roads, which did much to reassure and restore confidence.

And of course, the half hourly detterent warning on the public address system, that anyone found straying on to the playing area, will be summarily arrested and kept in remand and the request for everyone to co-operate, to maintain standards and discipline befitting a big match of this nature. We are not trying to be pedagogues here, for all of us love the good things of life, but for everything there must be a time and place.

The happy balance of fun and frolic with lusty singing from those in the Mustangs, the Stallions and Colts is indeed commendable. In the early post war years, in the fifties and sixties, people of their own volition were amendable to discipline, norms and rules, but the pity of it all is, that today discipline has to be enforced by partitions and barricades. This is a reflection on the successive generations and the times we live in.

The chairman and the members of the organising committee of the Royal-Thomian cricket encounter, must be congratulated for courageously ensuring that discipline at all cost be maintained.

We begin to wonder whether it was lethargy and nonchalance that prevented the enforcement of discipline in earlier recent years and rest content that it is better late than never and hope it will filter down to other aspects touching the life of this country.

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