Wednesday 8th November, 2006 11

schools, the team is stronger in all three departments. Left handed Kegalu Vidyalaya Tennakoon, who accumulated over 550 runs last year with a highest score of an unbeaten 206, is an additional strength to the batting line up which consists of Amila Jayasingha, Preethi Karunaratna, Mohamed Safraz and Madurappriya Marasingha. Saliya Tennakoon who picked up 104 last year with 5 ten- hauls and 7 five-wicket hauls, has so far picked up nearly 20 wickets this season, which include a fine 5 for 20 against Royal second XI. The captaincy has made him more responsible in batting too this year and the all rounder so far has scored three half tons with two undefeated 60s. Tennakoon who bowls off spin has a fine com- panion in the spin department in Lahiru Pathirana. The pair had an extravagant haul of over 190 wick- ets last season and the latter is lead- ing the highest wicket takers’ list of the Kegalu Vidyalaya this year. Leg spinner Pathirana has picked up over 25 wickets in four matches this year. An impressive match bag of 13 wickets for 70 runs by Pathirana, his best, against Galagedara Central helped them cruise to an easy outright victory. Pathirana’s efforts in that match was greatly backed up by their top order batsmen who compiled a mammoth first innings total of 355 for 1 wicket to prove their strength in batting. While Amila Jayasingha had an unbeaten century, opener Preethi Karunaratna scored an unbeaten double century in that match. In fact, Amila Jayasingha, one of Kegalu Vidyalaya squad: (Seated from left) Madurappriya Marasingha, Amila Jayasingha, Saliya Tennakoon (), Preethi Karunaratna, Mohamed Safraz and Lahiru the seven left-handers in the side Pathirana (Standing from left) K.R. Aruna Shantha, Sameera Kumara, S.T.R.L. Dulsiri, Danushka Karunaratna, K.K.D. Bandara, Maleesha Liyanage, Chathuranga Liyanage, Amith was the highest scorer of the last season. Jayasinghe accumulated Deepal. (Pix by Nishan S Priyantha). over 800 runs in 16 innings and had a fine average of over 80; which he should be determined to maintain this season. Meanwhile, Preethi Karunaratna is a totally different Matting wicket giants batsman this year. Left handed Karunaratna who averaged below 30 last year with his highest being an unbeaten 52, has reached an average of over 50 runs owing to the double century he smashed against Galagedara Central. All rounder Karunaratne was quite good with his off spinners ready for the kill last season. He picked up 32 wick- ets. The tag a ‘formidable fielding Around the school nets side’ well suits the Kegalu lads. They have in their ranks the last by Reemus Fernando Last year Kegalu Vidyalaya year’s Outstation Schools’ Best played 16 matches and Galagedara Fielder, Amila Jayasingha (also the ith a matchless record of Central, Tissa Central Kalutara, best batsman) and several others 10 outright victories, and Sri Sumangala, Kandy, who could turn matches with their Wseveral first innings victo- Ibbagamuwa Central, St. Thomas’ superb fielding. Nick named ries, the lads of Kegalu Vidyalaya, College, Matale, Sri Dharmaloka, ‘Jonty’ for his acrobatic fielding, who completed a dream year in the Keleniya, Susamayawardena MV, Madurappriya Marasinghe, who school cricket arena last year, once Borella, Sripali Vidyalaya, Horana, fields at point, is yet another good again, are thriving for the same Second XI of S. Thomas’ College, fielder. Marasingha, who is open- kind of success in the ongoing Mount Lavinia and Second XI of ing both batting and bowling, was Elephant Lemonade Trophy inter- Dharmaraja College, Kandy were average in both last year. He accu- school cricket tournament. the teams on the receiving end. mulated over 450 runs last year and At the end of four matches dur- While managing to earn first picked up just 12 wickets. ing the rain hit third term encoun- innings victories against five other Saliya Tennakoon (Capt) Madurappriya Marasingha Amila Jayasingha Including Marasinghe none of ters their success rate stands at 2:0. teams, their only first innings fail- the pacemen could impress last sea- While fielding one of the best field- ure was against Zahira College, son as their spinners dominated ing sides, they thrashed the last Colombo. the season and it seems the same year victims Sri Sumangala, Kandy The brilliant performances of story is going to unfold this year as and Galagedara Central merciless- Kegalu lads finally paved the way well as their spinners are having a ly to begin the season. In another for them to clinch the Runners-up good time. rain hit encounter, Vidyartha award for the Most Outstanding Kegalu Vidyalaya has grown College, Kandy after being Outstation School last year. They from strength to strength over the out for a pathetic 69 managed to came second to Siri Piyaratana last few years. And the coaching of escape with a first innings defeat Vidyalaya who had eight outright A.W. Shukri has been an encour- against Kegalu Vidyalaya and so victories which were all made agement to the young cricketers was the fate of the second XI outfit against First XI teams. who bagged several individual of Royal College Colombo who The unbeaten Kegalu Vidyalaya, awards last year. With the current were bundled out for 83 in the first who have just a matting wicket to form the team is in, the matting innings and were 61 for 4 in the sec- practise on, have a formidable out- wicket giants are definitely capable ond innings when rain came down fit this year. Skippered by Saliya of bettering their last year’s after visitors had compiled 128 for 7 Tennakoon, the last year’s highest records. declared. wicket taker of the outstation Preethi Karunaratna Mohamed Safraz Lahiru Pathirana Gayle player of the tourney ICC Champions Trophy results Preliminary round wickets in Mumbai 7 Oct – Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 37 runs 21 Oct – Australia beat England by six wickets Tharanga, Martyn not far behind in Mohali in Jaipur 8 Oct – West Indies beat Zimbabwe by nine 24 Oct – South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 78 were Ranjan Madugalle, Mike wickets in Ahmedabad runs in Ahmedabad Procter and Jeff Crowe. 10 Oct – Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe by 144 25 Oct – New Zealand beat Pakistan by 51 Australia won the final of the runs in Ahmedabad runs in Mohali ICC Champions Trophy 2006 beat- ing the defending champions the 11 Oct – West Indies beat Bangladesh by 10 26 Oct – West Indies beat India by three wick- West Indies by eight wickets wickets in Jaipur ets in Ahmedabad (Duckworth-Lewis method) after a 13 Oct – Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by 101 27 Oct – South Africa beat Pakistan by 124 rain-affected final. runs in Jaipur runs in Mohali The next ICC Champions 14 Oct – Sri Lanka beat West Indies by nine 28 Oct – England beat West Indies by three Trophy is scheduled to be held in wickets in Mumbai wickets in Ahmedabad Pakistan in 2008. 29 Oct – Australia beat India by six wickets in Second round Mohali Player of tournament 15 Oct - India beat England by four wickets in Points Jaipur Semi-ffinals Gayle Martyn Tharanga 12 - (WI) 16 Oct - New Zealand beat South Africa by 87 1 Nov – Australia beat New Zealand by 34 7 - Damien Martyn (Aus), runs in Mumbai runs in Mohali est Indies all-rounder es and captured eight wickets with lowed Sunday’s final of the ICC Upal Tharanga (SL) 17 Oct - Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by four wick- 2 Nov – West Indies beat South Africa by six Chris Gayle was the run- his off-spin, a mark only bettered Champions Trophy in Mumbai. 6 - Stephen Fleming (NZ), ets in Jaipur wickets in Jaipur by Jerome Taylor (13 wickets) Gayle’s closest rivals were Sri Waway winner of the ICC (WI) 18 Oct - West Indies beat Australia by 10 runs Final among his team mates. Lanka opener Upul Tharanga, also Champions Trophy 2006 player of 5 - Daniel Vettori (NZ), in Mumbai 5 Nov – Australia beat West Indies by eight the tournament after an outstand- The prize was decided by the second to Gayle in the run-scoring Shane Watson (Aus) 20 Oct - Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by seven wickets (Duckworth-Lewis method) ing tournament for the 27-year-old ICC match referees at each match charts with 320 runs from six Jamaican. with the officials electing their top matches including hundreds The opening batsman was com- three players, in order. Three against Bangladesh and Leading wicket-ttakers fortably the leading run-scorer in points went to the player of the Zimbabwe, and Damien Martyn of Leading run-sscorers Most dismissals the tournament with 474 runs at an match, two to the second best play- Australia, his side’s top-run getter M Wkts Avge average of 79.00 and a strike-rate of er and one to the third. The Player with 241 runs from five matches. M Runs Avge Jerome Taylor (WI) 7 13 22.07 92.94 runs per hundred balls. Gayle of the Tournament was decided by Man of the match in Sunday’s M Ct St Total Farveez Maharoof (SL) 6 12 15.83 scored three hundreds in the tour- adding together all the points. ICC Champions Trophy final, Chris Gayle (WI) 8 474 79.00 K. Sangakkara (SL) 6 13 2 15 Lasith Malinga (SL) 6 11 19.09 nament, against Bangladesh, Gayle received the Player of the Shane Watson, finished with five Upul Tharanga (SL) 6 320 53.33 Kyle Mills (NZ) 4 10 11.80 England and South Africa. And if Tournament trophy from former points. Damien Martyn (Aus) 5 241 80.33 A. Gilchrist (Aus) 5 12 1 13 Nathan Bracken (Aus) 5 10 19.40 India captain Sunil Gavaskar in The three ICC match referees Shiv’ Chanderpaul (WI) 7 222 55.50 that sort of contribution was not Glenn McGrath (Aus) 5 10 15.80 enough, Gayle also took four catch- the presentation ceremony that fol- on duty during the tournament