Sri Lanka News Round-up (7 Feb 1998)

Saturday 07, February 1998

Sports in brief

Daily News

21 players in training for SA

The following squad of 21 players have been selected for practices in preparation for the tour of South Africa next month.

Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda de Silva, Roshan Mahanama, Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Kumar Dharmasena, Ravindra Pushpakumara, Russel Arnold, Mahela Jayawardena, Hashan Tillekeratne, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Upul Chandana, Ruwan Kalpage, Ruchira Perera, Sajeeva de Silva, Avishka Gunawardena, Suresh Perera, Pramodya Wickramasinghe, Hemantha Boteju.

Those above players are requested to be present at NCC on February 9 at 7.30 a.m.

The squad is subject to changes.

SARA trophy cricket

Healthy totals

Colts and Moors hit healthy totals on day one of their respective three-day Sara trophy division 1 matches against Sebastianites and Tamil Union yesterday.

At Havelock Park, Colts made 349 all out against the Moratuwa side while Moors made merry against Tamil Union bowlers scoring 325 for 5 at close.

All matches will continue today.

At Havelocks Park:

Colts: 349 all out (C.Mendis 40, S.Fernando 40, T.Sampath 20, J. Kulatunga 54, D. Samaraweera 61, S. Alexander 62, D. Witharana 37, A. Perera 5 for 101, D. Seneviratne 2 for 65). v. Stbastianites. (C.D.)

At Maitland Place:

NCC: 234 for 9 at close. (S. Weerasinghe 28, H. P. Tillakaratne 50, K. Sangakkara 34, S. Jayaratne 44 n.o, I. Gallage 4 for 45) v. CCC. (C.D.)

At Braybrooke Place:

Moors: 325 for 5 at close. (M. de Silva 22, C.Hadunnentige 60, A. Jayalath 92, M.S.Sampan 36, S. Weerasinghe 2 for 6, M. Villavarayan 2 for 32) v. Tamil Union. (D.W.)

End of an innings - Maj. Gen. B. R. Heyn

By Richard Dwight

It is with much regret that we record the death of the former Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Major General Bertram Russell Heyn, who in his time was an excellent administrator, rare sportsman and more importantly a gentleman in the truest sense of the term.

As an illustrious product of Royal College, he was versatile to the extent that he represented his school at cricket, hockey and rugger. His strength however, lay in cricket and hockey and had the pride of playing in the big match in the years 1930 and 31 under Sargo Jayawickreme and Derrick de Saram.

He was lost to sports for some years (1940-45), when he served the Ceylon Light Infantry in World War II. On being demobilised, he had a short stint at the Labour Department until he enlisted in the now established Sri Lanka Army. As a cricketer and hockey player he represented, as well as led, the Government Services, the Defence Services and the BRC, where he really progressed in both sports, earning for himself the distinction of a double international, having represented the country at cricket and hockey. As an all rounder he excelled as a batsman, bowler and an outstanding fielder. On a few occasions he led the CCA XI and it was under his captaincy in Madras in 1946, that the wizard Sathasivam cracked 215 runs.

But by far, what stands most vividly in the mind is, when in 1948 at the Colombo Oval, he got the prized wicket of the legendary Donald Bradman. Heyn bowled, Bradman cocked it up towards cover and, like a swallow which hadn't seen fish for many days, R. L. de Kretser scooped it in. Heyn proved to be a fine cricket coach as well and had the distinction of coaching the invincible Peterite cricket team in the years 1946 and 47 led by Dion Walles. He was a fine disciplinarian and administrator too, having held responsible positions in his club and at the Cricket Board.

In all his endeavours he was ably supported and encouraged by his charming wife Edna who predeceased him ten years ago.

His sons Richard and David following in the footsteps of the father turned out to be fine sportsmen in the field of hockey and cricket, with David representing the country at cricket and emulating his father as a brilliant fielder.

This great sportsman's mortal remains, will be laid to rest with full military honours on Sunday 8 at 10 am at the General Cemetery, Borella. May the turf lie gently over him.

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