Sri Lanka schools news (7 April 1997)

Monday 07, April 1997

DSS determined to win

By Chris Dhambarage

D.S.Senanayake with six coloursmen in their ranks are confident of pulling off the first win in the series when they meet the traditional rivals St. Benedict's College in their sixth annual cricket encounter on March 8 and 9 at the R. Premadasa Stadium.

D. S. Senanayake have just concluded a successful season and they finished among the top ten in the Coca Cola League championship points table. The team is studded with a number of good all rounders and all are capable of performing under different conditions.

The other significant factor is that they have also retained the services of last year skipper Rashantha Sureshchandra. The opening batsman has served D.S.Senanayake for a long period and will be hoping to conclude his school career on an impressive note.

Sureshchandra has emerged as one of the leading run getters in the current season and has a top score of 150 against Richmond College Galle. In addition he has compiled half centuries against Isipatana, St. Sebastian's, Nalanda and Maliyadeva College Kurunegala. He is also a good off spinner and has made some useful contributions to the team.

The team will be captained by fourth-year coloursman Nadeera Gamage with Yohan Fonseka as his deputy. Gamage is a good left hand batsman while Fonseka is the regular wicket keeper of the side.

Dushantha Amaraweera is another star player in the team having excelled as an all rounder during the current season. He has certainly made his presence felt as a solid left hand batsman and as a right arm leg spinner. He has a good amount of experience behind him having captained the under-17 team last year.

Left-hand batsman Muditha Maduwantha is another leading run getter in the side having scored a century against Thurstan (105) and five half centuries against St. Sebastian's, Dharmasoka, St. Joseph's, Maliyadeva and Prince of Wales. His best effort with the ball was 6 for 18 against Isipatana.

Duminda Perera is another centurian in the side having reached the three figure mark on two occasions against Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda (138) and Sri Sumangala (135 n.o). In addition he scored twin fifties against St. Joseph's and four half centuries against Nalanda, Isipatana, St. Aloysius and Prince of Wales.

Malintha Gajanayake is another promising player in the team having captained the Sri Lanka under-15 side at the Mini World Cup held in England recently. He has three half centuries to his credit against Dharmasoka (90), Royal (70) and Sri Sumangala (76).

Hewage - Ben's stronghold

The presence of a genuine all-rounder in the form of Pradeep Hewage will be the biggest advantage for St. Benedict's College when they meet their traditional rivals D. S. Senanayake in the sixth annual cricket encounter on March 8 and 9 at the R. Premadasa Stadium.

Pradeep Hewage is undoubtedly one of the top all rounders in the scene today having been a member of the Sri Lanka youth team for a long period. He is now fresh after a successful test and one day series against the Indian under-19 team concluded recently. He has a good amount of experience behind him having also represented NCC in the P. Saravanamuttu trophy Division one segment `A' cricket tournament.

Hewage with his experience has compiled two centuries during the concluded season. But his performance with the ball has been even more effective and has caused several problems to his opponents. The medium paceman will be hoping to put up another good performance in this important fixture and maintain his reputation as a talented schoolboy cricketer.

The Benedictines failed to win a single match during the season and lost to Royal at Reid Avenue. But they have made steady progress since then and now they could be really pleased with their performances. Skipper Rally Tissera has led the side well and has three half centuries to his credit against Maliyadeva, St. Peter's and St. Sebastian's.

In fact his knock against the Sebastianites was a significant one considering the fact that they were on the verge of defeat at that stage. Tissera who is a third year coloursman and the wicket keeper of the side will be determined to put up a good performance in this important match too.

Priyan de Silva is another centurian who has made some good contributions to the team. He compiled a superb unbeaten knock of 106 against St.Anne's and is capable of performing under pressure. Trevor Cramer will share the new ball together with Pradeep Hewage who in fact captained the team last year. Cramer has improved tremendously during the season and had a five wicket haul against Kingswood College.

The Benedictines will also be depending on young Shahen Perera who has matured into a good left arm spinner. He has proved himself to a great extent and had a five wicket haul against Ananda. He will be supported by another left arm spinner Ranishka Nillangaratne, Milroy Candappa and Jude Alahakoon.

The St. Benedict's College first XI cricket team - Ranishka Nillangaratne, Pradeep Hewage, Priyan de Silva, Rally Tissera (captain), Shahen Perera, Dinesh Silva, Trevor Cramer. Milroy Candappa, Pradeep Dissanayake, Ashley Fernando, Joel Saverimuthupulle, Asiri Gunatilleke, Jude Alahakoon, Chinthaka Perera, Susith Karunanayake, Calvin Perera.

The D. S. Senanayake College first XI cricket team. Muditha Maduwantha, Sashi Lafir, Rashantha Sureshchandra, Nadeera Gamage (captain), Yohan Fonseka, Dushantha Amaraweera, Duminda Perera, Arshard Junaid, Rukshan Gunasekera, Namal Abeywickrema, Suranga Rajakaruna, Udesh Tissera, Malintha Gajanayake, Naleen Pradeep, Lassana Dias, Sajith Hirimuthugoda, Anjana Danansuriya.

Coca Cola Trophy: Josephians are the champs

By Chris Dhambarage

St.Joseph's College backed up by some good accurate bowling and superb fielding pulled off a convincing 46 run win over Isipatana in the Coca Cola Cup inter school limited over cricket tournament final played at the SSC grounds, Maitland Place Sunday.

The Josephians bowled out the opposition for just 140 runs in 44 overs while defending a modest total of 186 runs. They accounted for four run outs in the Isipatana innings with Monto Perera, Dilan Ramanayake and Angelo Bosco been outstanding. In addition off spinner Charinda Fernando delivered a fine spell of bowling supported by skipper Trewin Mathews and Shenal Warnakula.

Isipatana got off to a good start with the openers Rangana Fernando and Sahan Wijesekera putting on 41 runs. But their middle order did not click well and collapsed to 116 for 7 at one stage. Nilantha Atapattu and Vidura Nuwan added 21 runs for the eighth wicket but Isipatana eventually fell short by 46 runs.

Earlier St. Joseph's who were put into bat recovered well following an early setback to score a modest 186 for 8 from their allotted 50 overs. They lost half their side for just 83 runs and were in danger of being bowled out for under 150 runs. But Roshan de Silva and Saranga Fernando made a superb late rally and rescued their side with an unfinished ninth wicket stand of 55 runs.

In fact Roshan de Silva batting at number nine emerged as the top scorer for the Josephians with an unbeaten knock of 38 which included one six and four boundaries. His partner Saranga Fernando played a good supporting role and made certain that the team would reach a respectable total at the end. They were also helped to a great extent by the total number of extras as Isipatana conceded as many as 17 wides during the innings.

The Josephians maintained a good scoring rate during the early stages of the innings despite losing opener Dilan Ramanayake cheaply. They collected 40 runs from the first ten overs with Ian Daniels and Charinda Fernando laying the foundation for a good total. But Rangana Fernando struck twice during his opening spell and had St.Joseph's struggling at 45 for 3 at one stage.

Skipper Trewin Mathews made a desperate attempt to pull his side out of danger and stroked seven boundaries during his short stay at the crease. But with his dismissal Isipatana took full control of the situation and did well to keep the scoring rate to under four runs per over. Kanchana Madugalle, Rangana Fernando and Gayan Mendis captured two wickets each with Nilantha Atapattu and Vidura Nuwan providing the back up support.

SCOREBOARD

St. Joseph's innings

Dilan Ramanayake c Wijesekera b Madugalle 0, Ian Daniels c Atapattu b Fernando 16, Charinda Fernando c Madugalle b Fernando 13, Trewin Mathews c and b Atapattu 31, Monto Perera b Mendis 3, Mark Fernando lbw b Madugalle 26, Amindha de Mel c Fernando b Mendis 7, Angelo Bosco b Nuwan 12, Roshan de Silva not out 38, Saranga Fernando not out 15, Extras (B1, LB1, NB6, W17) 25.

TOTAL for 8 wickets in 50 overs 186.

FALL: 9, 41, 45, 81, 83, 95, 129, 131.

BOWLING: S.Perera 9-1-47-0, K.Madugalle 7-2-34-2, R.Fernando 4-1-20-2, G.Mendis 10-3-18-2, N.Atapattu 10-1-25-1, V.Nuwan 10-1-40-1. Isipatana innings

Rangana Fernando c R.de Silva b Perera 18, Shahan Wijesekera c Mathews b C.Fernando 19, Amal Wanigasekera b Mathews 0, Suresh Perera c Daniels b C.Fernando 5, Prasad Niroshan st.S.Fernando b C.Fernando 24, Kanchana Madugalle run out 17, Muditha Fernando run out 19, Nilantha Atapattu lbw b Mathews 12, Vidura Nuwan run out 10, Gayan Mendis not out 1, Vasana Patabedige run out 0, Extras (LB6, W7, NB1) 15.

TOTAL all out in 44 overs 140.

FALL: 41, 42, 49, 53, 82, 113, 116, 137, 140.

BOWLING: M.Fernando 5-0-22-0, T.Mathews 8-0-29-2, I.Daniels 3-0-9-0, C.Fernando 9-5-7-3, M.Perera 10-2-30-1, S.Warnakula 4-0-17-0, A.de Mel 5-0-20-0.

Man of the Final _ Charinda Fernando (St. Joseph's).

Best Bowler _ Roshan de Silva (St. Joseph's)

Best Bowler _ Charinda Fernando (St. Joseph's).

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