Sri Lanka News Round-up (26 Feb 1998)

26, February 1998

SRI LANKA SPORTS NEWS AT-A-GLANCE

Compiled by Dinesh Weerawansa.

* The cricket loving public in Kandy are disappointed that two of the oldest inter-school 'big matches' will clash this year.

The Trinity-Antonian encounter and Dharmaraja-Kingswood match will be played on the same weekend - March 14 and 15. The two games will be played at Asgiriya Stadium and at Katugastota.

* Ananda took major honours with M. Pushpakumara (114) and Jithendra Perera (103) stroking two fluent centuries in their drawn school cricket encounter against St. Peters College played at Ananda Mawatha. Ananda were 149 for 5 overnight in reply to Peterite total of 186 and went on to amass a big total of 330 for 6 wickets declared just before lunch. Anandians gained commanding lead of 144 runs over their opponents.

Pushpakumara's century included 14 fours and 3 sixes while Perera hit ten fours in his 'ton'. Both Pushpakumara and Perera shared a fine 196 runs stand for the sixth wicket. The Peterites facing a deficit of 144 runs did well to force a draw with good batting coming from Mahesh Perera (51 with 10 fours), Malinda Warnapura (34), Asitha de Silva (35), Ishara Fernando (23). Chief scores: St. Peter's 186 and 224 for 9; Ananda 149 for 5 overnight 330 for 6 decl.

* The inter-school cricket match between Sri Palee College, Horana and Kegalle MV ended in a tame draw at Horana. The highlight of the match was a patient knock of 98 by Sri Palee's G. L. Hewage.

Chief scores: Kegalle MV - 282 (A. Jayaratne 61, G. Perera 45, Padmaperuma 36, V. Caldera 4 for 29, A. C. Wettasinghe 2 for 62); Sri Palee - 310 (G. L. Hewage 98, R. Gunaratne 37, K. Edirimanne 43, T. Indika 5 for 63, Padmaperuma 3 for 99).

* A fine third-wicket partnership of 113 between Roshan Abeysinghe (67 n.o.) and D. Jayasuriya (53 n.o.) guided Ragama Cricket Club (B) to an easy nine wicket win over Naula Sports Club in their division three cricket tournament match played at Wattala.

G. Manikkam excelled for Ragama CC capturing 3 wickets for 38 runs. Chief scores: Naula SC - 166 all out in 43.3 overs (F. Fernando 32, C. Perera 23, G. Manikkam 3 for 38, S. Mendis 2 for 28, S. Tembuwanage 2 for 33); Ragama CC - 169 for one wicket in 34.1 overs (R. Sampath 29, Roshan Abeysinghe 67 n.o., D. Jayasuriya 53 n.o.).

* Asoka Vidyalaya beat St.Mathews College Dematagoda by an innings and 28 runs in an inter school cricket match played at Nomads grounds.

Chief scores: St..Mmathews 64 all out(H.Perera 6 for 29, K.Prasad 4 for 25) and 214 (B.Mihiraj 56, K.Kaushalya 4 for 46); Asoka Vidyalaya 306 for 4 declared ( L.H.D..Dilhara 104, M.Dushantha 51, C.Hettiarachchi 81, A.Pradeep 2 for 85, S.Sampath 2 for 46).

Manoj Mendis - another first

By Pelham Juriansz Former Thomian skipper and presently Sri Lanka 'A' poolist Manoj Mendis has become the first cricketer from the Airlines to represent the country at International level. He is presently employed by Singapore Airlines.

Manoj started his career at S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia, where his uncle Duleep (presently manager of the Sri Lankan team) distinguished himself as a wicket keeper batsman. Manoj too proudly followed in the footsteps of his uncle by donning the gloves for his Alma Mater in 1992 but it was as a batsman notably, playing in his first Royal-Thomian that he hit the heading. After keeping for two whole sessions, Manoj playing in a rather unaccustomed role as opening batsman played a model innings of 124 which is to date the highest innings by a Thomian fresher in the big match eclipsing David Ponniah's unbeaten knock of 100 in 1967 (Ponniah's century came in the second innings).

His innings was flawless and the only time he looked like getting out was in scrambling for his 100th run. However, Manoj was not satisfied by this feat. He followed it up the following year with another century in the big match to join his uncle who has a similar record. In 1994 as skipper he would have created Royal - Thomian history had he scored another century, but when he was well on the way to another coveted "ton" he was cruelly run out at 76 within sight of a well-deserved third century. In 1993 Manoj kept wickets and had 4 victims without conceding a single bye, joining S. Manotharan who 20 years earlier performed a similar feat.

Unfortunately Manoj gave up wicket keeping to concentrate on his batting. In 1996 he stroked a quickfire 169 n.o. in the Royal-Thomian Old boys match to remind us of his prowess with the bat. Recently he was rewarded by being selected for the Sri Lanka A side against the visiting Englishmen.

The Airlines are proud of his achievements.

Peterites force a draw

Ananda took major honours with Muthumudalige Pushpakumara (114) and Jithendra Perera (103) n.o. stroking two fluent centuries in their drawn school cricket encounter against St. Peter's College concluded at Ananda Mawatha on Tuesday.

Ananda were 149 for 5 overnight in reply to the Peterite total of 186 and went on to amass a big total of 330 for 6 wickets declared just before lunch. Anandians gained a commanding lead of 144 runs over their opponents.

Pushpakumara's century included 14 fours and three sixes while Perera hit ten fours in his 'ton'. Pushpakumara and Perera shared a fine 196 runs stand for the sixth wicket.

The Peterites facing a deficit of 144 runs did well to force a draw with good batting coming from Mahesh Perera (51 with 10 fours), Malintha Warnapura (34), Asitha de Silva (35) and Ishara Fonseka (23).

Chief scores:

St. Peter's 186 and 224 for 9 at close (Malintha Warnapura 34, Mahesh Perera 51, Asitha de Silva 35, Ranga Dias 12, Ishara Fonseka (23, A. Samsudeen 13, N. de Silva 30 n.o., Nuwan Jayawardena 3 for 63, Sajith Rupasinghe 2 for 46, Jithendra Perera 2 for 48).

Ananda 149 for 5 overnight) 330 for 6 dec. (Lahiru Cathurnaga 23, Jithendra Perera 103 n.o., Muthumudalige Pushpakumara 114, Maduranga Mallawarachchi 27 n.o.)

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