Sri Lanka News Round-up (27 Mar 1998)

Friday 27, March 1998

Sri Lanka News Round up

Daily News

Willing to postpone BCCSL elections in deference to court

By M. J. M. Zarook

Mr. Romesh de Silva, PC counsel for Mr. Upali Dharmadasa, President of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka and its Secretary, Mr. Tryphon Mirando submitted yesterday before the Court of Appeal that he was willing, in deference to the suggestion of court to postpone the forthcoming elections of the BCCSL scheduled for Sunday March 29.

Mr. de Silva said that though his clients were cited as respondents to the petitions they were neutral on the matters at issue but if court was of the view that the elections should be postponed he was willing to defer to court's suggestion.

The Bench comprised Justices Hector S. Yapa and Upali de Z. Gunawardana.

Applications for writs of certiorari and mandamus have been filed by four petitioners S. Ramakrishna of Paradise (Isuru), Colombo Road, Kuruwita, W. J. A. Fernando of Horana Road, Panadura, S. H. Rajakaruna of Hotel Duro, Kollupitiya and L. V. Goonesekera of Silva Road, Kalutara cited through their attorneys-at-law, D. M. Swaminathan Associates challenging inter alia the new classification of major cricket tournaments.

The respondents cited were the Minister of Samurdhi, Youth Affairs and Sports, S. B. Dissanayake, Sports Ministry Secretary, Dr. R. M. K. Ratnayake, Additional Secretary, J. C. Pinnawela, National Sports Council Chairman, Tony Jayawardena, President of the BCCSL, Upali Dharmadasa, Vice President, Thilanga Sumathipala, Secretary, Tryphon Mirando and the other members of the Executive Committee including Duleep Mendis.

Mr. Faisz Musthapha, PC appearing for one of the petitioners S. Ramakrishna said that the new classifications would make a number of members ineligible for election to the BCCSL.

Justice Yapa: Can't you amicably settle this matter in the interests of cricket.

Mr. Musthapha: I submit that the elections be postponed so that these matters could be considered.

Justice Yapa: The Cricket Board also must blame themselves. They initiated this move to review the classification but later realised it was a mistake and wanted the matter to be considered further. But by that time the Minister had made his decision.

Mr. Kolitha Dharmawardene, Deputy Solicitor General appearing for the Minister and the other official respondents with Mr. S. Rajaratnam, State Counsel said that the matter was not as simple as counsel Mr. Musthapha was trying to make out. He would make his submissions later.

Mr. R. K. W. Goonesekera appearing for respondents Neville Seneviratne and Anura Weerasinghe objected to a postponement of the elections.

Further arguments will be resumed today.

Mr. D. S. Wijesinghe, PC, M. E. D. Wikramanayake, PC and Mr. Sanjeewa Jayawardene appeared for the other three petitioners instructed by D. M. Swaminathan Associates.

Mr. L. C. Seneviratne, PC with Mr. Hemaka de Alwis and Arjuna Weerasinghe instructed by D. M. Thurairajah and Company appeared for Thilanga Sumathipala.

M. R. K. W. Goonesekera with Mr. J. C. Weliamuna and Ms Subodhya Wijetunga instructed by Mr. B. Chandana Perera appeared for the 13th and 21st respondents.

Mr. S. L. Gunasekera with Mr. N. R. Sivendran instructed by Mr. E. S. Harischandra appeared for B. S. Perera and Duleep Mendis.

Mr. Romesh de Silva, PC with Mr. Harsha Amerasekera instructed by Julius and Creasy appeared for Upali Dharmadasa, Tryphon Mirando and some other respondents.

Bloomfield - Moors semi-final postponed

By SA'ADI THAWFEEQ On a protest lodged by Tamil Union, the Sri Lanka Cricket Board's tournament committee decided yesterday to postpone the division one Sara Trophy (Segment 'A') semi-final match between defending champions Bloomfield and Moors SC scheduled to commence at Maitland Crescent today.

As a result of that decision, only the semi-final between SSC and CCC will be played at Reid Avenue today.

Tamil Union alleged that Moors SC had submitted incomplete scoresheets in their match against Antonian SC and as a result should be penalised. The tournament committee rechecked the points yesterday and decided to postpone the match pending ratification by the ExCo.

By postponing the semi-final it appears that Tamil Union may have qualified ahead of Moors SC.

Despite the loss of national players, SSC under the leadership of stocky wicket-keeper/batsman Nisal Fernando, have always managed to pull the game around in their favour due to the wide cross-section of talent and experience they have at hand. They have the knack of producing some outstanding cricketer from obscurity. Today they hope to throw in a left-arm fast bowler from Prince of Wales, who had done well in the under 24 tournament, Suranga Arunakumara.

CCC captain Chaminda Handunettige will have to muster all his side's resources if they are to get the better of SSC. They displayed their fighting qualities in the crucial tie against Matara SC last weekend, when after conceding first innings points, they came back strongly to pull off an outright win which enabled themes displace Colts from the runner-up berth in Group 'A' and qualify for the semi-finals.

SSC (from): Nisal Fernando (captain), Aruna Gunawardena, Malintha Perera, Sanjeeva Ranatunga, Shantha Kalavitigoda, Hemantha Wickremaratne, Suranjith Silva, Suranga Arunakumara, Jayantha Silva, Harith Jayasuriya, Manjula Munasinghe, Ruwan Galappathy.

CCC (from): Chaminda Handunettige (captain), Nilantha Bopage, Bradman Ediriweera, Lanka de Silva, Anushka Polonowita, Duncan Arnolda, Amal Dalugoda, Nalliah Rajan, Hemantha Alles, Hassan Rushdy, Himala Perera, Bathiya Karunaratne, Damitha Hunukumbura, Amila Suranga.

40th Battle of the Babes

Sylvester's have the edge

(By S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy south group correspondent)

It will be a tussle for supremacy when St. Sylvester's College takes on Vidyartha College, in their 40th 'Battle of the Babes' which will be played at the Asgiriya Stadium this Friday and Saturday (March 27 and 28). Play commences on the first day at 9.45 a.m. and on the second at 9.30 a.m.

Both teams have remained unbeaten this season but the Sylvestrians are ahead of their rivals having won three matches outright against one by their opponents. Of the 39 matches played todate, the Sylvestrians have a clear lead of 14 wins and Vidyaratha have just won 3 matches with 22 matches being left drawn. The Sylvestrians last won in 1995 under J.G. Udayatillake but a Vidyaratha victory is long overdue as they last won in 1967 under R. M. Lafir. This match will be also played for Fr. Dom George trophy which has been with the Sylvestrians from the time it was presented in 1983.

St. Sylvester's will be led by fourth year allrounder Hemantha Wimalawickrema who has not lived upto expectations this season. He is a medium pacer and very aggressive bat. Has scored 300 runs and taken 25 wickets. Another fourth year player Suranga Daluwatte is the vice captain of the side. Daluwatte is a consistent bat having scored 500 runs and a more than useful spinner in the side.

But in allrounder Ranga Dissanayake, Zahran Hajireen and Chanaka Wijesinghe, the Sylvestrians have three match winners who could pose a lot of problems to their opponents with their bowling and batting. Ranga Dissanayake has scored over 500 runs and taken 75 wickets. Zahran Hajireen has scored 650 runs including two centuries. Chanaka Wijesinghe has topped the 700 run mark with a hundred against Thurstan. But this 15-year-old run-getting prodigy who blazed to glory in the under 15 tournament with seven centuries and topping the 1,000 run mark is capable of better things.

The Sylvestrians have played 12 matches and won 3 (Carey, Presidents College Rajagiriya and Mahinda) and drew the rest. Their batting line-up is strong with skipper Hemantha Wimalawickrema, Suranga Daluwatte, Ranga Dissanayake, Chanaka Wijesinghe, Zahran Hajireen, Arosha Perera (500 runs), Deepal Ranaweera (300 runs), Sanjaya Abeyratne, Chaminda Bandara (300 runs), all capable of wielding the willow with authority. Their pace attack will be spearheaded by Chaminda Bandara (45 wkts) and Ranga Dissanayake (75 wkts) supported by Hemantha Wimalawickrema, Chanaka Wijesinghe and Chamila Ratnayake (25 wkts). The spin attack will be in the hands of leg spinner Arosha Perera, Zahran Hajireen (off spin), Suranga Daluwatte (off spin), Kapila Ratnayake (off spin) and also Ranga Dissanayake (off spin). Deepal Ranaweera who has 30 victims will keep wickets.

The Sylvestrians are coached by former Moors SC, Central Zone Schools Kandy CC and Kandy Youths cricketer Roland Perera who has done a magnificent job in moulding the team into a fighting outfit.

Vidyaratha College will be led by third year wicket keeper batsman Saman Hewawitharane who has scored over 400 runs and has 40 victims behind the stumps which makes him one of the best wicket keepers in schools this season. His deputy will be that 'bogey man' left arm spinner and third year player Sarath Ranaweera who is also a more than useful batsman scoring over 350 runs. But it is bowling which is feared most as he has captured over 70 wickets this season. In 1996 he captured 65 wickets and the following year 70 wickets. He may be called upon to bear the brunt of the bowling.

Vidyartha College have played 10 matches this season, winning one and drawing the balance nine.

In batting left hander Chaminda Kumara Ranaweera has had a highly successful season scoring over 700 runs including 120 runs against Carey and helped his side to win. Other capable batsmen in the side are Saman Hewawitharena, Sarath Ranaweera, Dasun Jayakody (350 runs), K. G. Rangith (400 runs), Gayan Jayakody (300 runs), Lasantha Bandara, Sanjaya Nanayakkara, Diliepa Ranasinghe (300 runs) and Harsha Nanayakkara.

Lasantha Bandara will lead the pace attack with Daminda Bandara, with extra pace coming from A. W. Sanjeewa, K. G. Ranjith, Rasika Wijesinghe and Diliepa Ranasinghe. Left arm spinner Sarath Ranaweera will lead the spin attack and he will be supported by Dasun Jayakody (off spin), Gayan Jayakody (off cutters), Sanjaya Nanayakkara (off spin).

The team is coached by former Kandy CC and Kandy Youths cricketer Chaminda Kodikara who has done an excellent job in producing a team of fighters.

St. Sylvesters College (from) Hemantha Wimalawickrema (Captain), Suranga Daluwatte (Vice Captain), Ranga Dissanayake, Zahran Hajireen, Arosha Perera, Deepal Ranaweera, Chanaka Wijesinghe, Sanjaya Abeyratne, Chaminda Bandara, Chamila Ratnayake, Kapila Ratnayake, Harsha Wijeratne, Tharindu Abeysekera, Anushka Ullundapitiya, Mohammed Basith, Srimahal Mahatotarachchi, Manoj Weerapilli, Sisira Kamulla, Ranga Lihindipita, Coach: Roland Perera, MIC: Chandra Mahawattege. Principal: Asoka Herath.

Vidyaratha College (from) Sampath Hewawitharne (Captain), Sarath Ranaweera (Vice Captain), Dasun Jayakoddy, Daminda Ranaweera, K. G. Ranjith, Gayan Jayakoddy, Ranil Lasantha Bandara, Sanjaya Nanayakkara, Diliepa Ranasinghe, Chaminda Karunaratne, Harsha Nanayakkara, Rasika Wijesinghe, Dayalal Neranjan, Thamila Liyanage, Shaminda Jayawardena, A. W. Sanjeewa, Chamara Ranasinghe. Coach: Chaminda Kodikara, MIC: Keerthi Aluwihare, POG: W.D.O. Wijewansa, Principal: W. B. Gunnepanna.

Mr. Lalith Kapugedera of the Central Province Cricket Umpires Association along with an umpire from the ACUSL will officiate in the match.

St. John's go out favourites in Battle of Panadura

By Geeth de Mel

The Battle of the Panadura, the cricket 'Big Match' between St. John's College, Panadura, and Royal College, Panadura, will be played on the Panadura esplanade on March 27 and 28.

This is the seventh match in the series with all previous matches ending in no-decisions.

This year of the 12 matches played by Royal, Panadura, in the Coca Cola 'B' Division, they have won four matches and lost only to Taxila MV, Horana. All other matches ended in draws.

The Panadura Royal team is led by fourth-year coloursman Chamara Silva, a good batsman who represented the Sri Lanka schools cricket team to South Africa scoring 85 runs. He has scored a double century (201) against Rahula College, Kandy, and two other centuries. Among the other centurions are deputy skipper, Nilantha Gunethilaka who scored 102 against Aluthgama Vidyalaya, 113 against Rahula Vidyalaya, Kandy and Sampath Desabandu who scored 108 against Sri Piyaratana MV, Padukka. Other useful batsmen who have been among the runs are Lakmal Prageeth, who missed his century by one run in the match against Taxila MV Horana, Dushmantha Mahes and Indika Udeshanta Alwis.

In the bowling department, Lakmal Prageeth, who opens the attack, has done extremely well this season with a haul of 32 wickets, with the best performance of 6 for 36 against Gurukula Vidyalaya, Kelaniya. Wasantha Hemal Peiris who is an off-spinner in another bowler of repute. His best figures are against Aluthgama Vidyalaya of 5 for 20.

Dilruk Gayanga with a total of 40 wickets and a haul of 5 for 33, leg-break bowler Udana Sendanayake with a total of 25 wickets with four wickets for one run against Moratu Vidyalaya which included a hat-trick, are bowlers of outstanding ability. The other bowlers who should do well in this match are other opening bowler Jayantha Hewawasam, another medium pacer Namal Karunatillka and spinner Chamara Silva.

St. John's College has done very well this year winning all ten matches in the Cocoa Cola 'C' Division. The team is led by fifth year coloursman Thusitha Thenuwara who has done well this season with the bat totalling 675 runs with 116 against Ananda Sastralaya as his best innings. In addition he has scored six half centuries.

Champika Udithakumar, 4th year coloursman is the best all rounder of the side. He has topped 700 runs this season as an opening bat with 105 against St. Thomas' College, Guruthalawa and 101 against St. Peter's College, Colombo. Anura Thenuwara, a fresher, is a promising bat with 99 as his highest score. In addition to them vice-captain Ruwan Asela, Dushmantha Mahes, Indika Udayashantha Alwis and Sampath Deshabandu are all reliable batsmen from whom much is expected in this match.

In the department of bowling, medium pace opening bowler Charith Buddhika could be named as the most outstanding bowler in the side. Against Ananda Sastralaya, Matugama, he claimed 5 for 35 in the first innings and against Prince of Wales, Moratuwa, he had a haul of 9 for 42. This bowler has taken 52 wickets this season.

The other bowler with an outstanding performance is left-arm leg-spinner Lilan Aravinda, who has a total of 31 wickets to his credit. His best figure was 4 for 26 including a hat-trick against Ananda Sastralaya, Matugama. The other bowlers who have done well this year are leg-spinner Sudesh Indika, off-spinner Tharanga Priyadharshana and the other off-spinner Ruwan Asela.

Panadura Royal team - Chamara Silva (capt), Nilantha Gunatilake, Thushan Angelo Perera, Sampath Desabandu, Lakmal Prageeth, Wasantha Hemal Peiris, Dushmantha Mahesh, Indika Udeshantha Alwis, Dilruk Gayanga, Udana Sendanayake, Jayantha Hewawasam, Namal Karunathilaka, Tharindu Gimhana, Lasantha Thushan.

St. John's team - Thusitha Thenuwara (capt), Ruwan Asela, Charitha Buddhika, Champika Udithakumara, Lilan Aravinda, Sudesh Indika, Kasun Niroshan, Suneth Indika, Tharanga Priyadarshana, Anura Thenuwara, Thilanga Sudarshana, Sampath Kaushal, Mohammed Ramesh, Yohan Jinasena.

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