Monday 24th July, 2006 11 Seethawaka off to a fine start Delmege win Ram Ratnavel Trophy by Reemus Fernando New kids on the block, Seethawaka by Rex Clementine MMV started their Under-15 Division IV tournament with a stunning elmege Group proved that they innings and 166 runs victory over are the strongest basketball team Dudley Senanayake College, in their Din the mercantile sector, when match played at Seethawaka MMV they cruised to a 13 point victory over grounds, last Thursday. Sampath Bank to win the Ram Rathnavel The Seethawaka lads, who bundled Trophy, in the grand final at the Otters out Dudley Senanayake College for 90 Basketball court in Colombo on Friday. runs in both innings, hammered 346 Delmege had suffered a shock defeat in runs in just 32 overs. last year’s competition and were out Denuwan Rangana hit eight fours there to prove a point and they did it and seven sixes in his hurricane 31 well. ball 84. Aloka Malshan and Nuwan Delmege’s height advantage was Sunila also scored fifties. going to play a decisive role in the game After his half ton, Malshan picked and they took maximum advantage up five for 32 runs to finish through their tall players, veteran with a match bag of eight. Roshan Gunasekara and Diluk Rasika Prabath of DFCC Bank receives the Duminda de Silva, the captain of DFCC Bank SCORES Himantha, as they cleared both offensive ‘Best Player’ award of the ‘B’ Division. receives the ‘B’ Division trophy. Shanaka Perera of Delmege Group receives the Dudley Senanayake College 90 all out in 30 overs and defensive rebounds while Prageeth (B. Maduka 17, M. Aolka Malshan 3/20, Nipuna Pushpakumara, Shanaka Perera and ‘Best Player’ award from the chief guest Theekshana 2/02 runs, Denuwan Rangana 02 for no Roshan Randima did the outside shoot- Pradeep Kirthirathna, Senior Manager, runs) and 90 all out in 23 overs (B. Maduka 20; Aloka ing. Distribution, Dialog Telecom. Malshan 5/32, Sajith Wickramasinghe 4/15) Although the difference between the Seethawaka MMV 346 for 8 in 32 overs (Denuwan final of the ‘B’ Division competition that two teams was 13 points, it was a close Rangana 84, M.A. Malshan 57, Rajitha Samadi 38, preceded the big final. The scores were game. Delmege took a 13 point lead at Nuwan Sunila 58, M. Ramesh 20, M. Wickramasinghe level at 33-33 at the break, but DFCC won half-time, but Sampath Bank fought back 30, Dulaj Sahan 25; Anuruddha Perera 2/78) 66-56. to equal the scores in the third quarter. It Rasika Prabath Jayasuriya top scored was in the fourth and final quarter that for the bankers with 28 points and was the game slipped away from the defend- adjudged the Best Player. Chaminda de Under-15 Division I ing champions. Alwis scored 17 points while Duminda de Once again, Delmege’s strong bench Silva netted 13. was a massive plus for them as they For Delmege ‘B’, Gamunu Ananda Vs could cleverly substitute players at cru- Sandaruwan scored 11 points while cial moments to drive home the advan- Sydney Sashimal and Ranga Pathum net- tage. Dharmapala ted 15 each. Despite being in the twilight of his career, Roshan Gunasekara played a vital role for Delmege as he top scored Union Assurance beat insurance rivals ends in a draw with 26 points, while Prageeth Union Assurance cruised to a com- A fine century by N. T. Rajapakse for Pushpakumara netted 24. Shanaka fortable 24 point victory over Ceylinco Ananda and an unbeaten ton by S. A. Perera chipped in with 15 and exhibited Group to lift the ‘C’ Division title on Ruberu for Kottawa Dharmapala his all-round ability and was named the Thursday at Otters Basketball court. The victorious Delmege Group team with the Ram Ratnavel Trophy. College were the highlights of their Player of the Tournament. Union Assurance, who at one time com- Attanayake (20) were the scored 13. For at half-time. The final score was 76-68 in Under-15 Division I match which ended For Sampath Bank, Mithilia peted in the elite ‘A’ Division, have been Ceylinco Group, Nilan Sameera netted favour of Kelani Cables. in a draw at Pannipitiya last Thursday. Abeysekara was the top scorer with 19 gradually demoted and victory in the 20, while S. Genibet scored 13. W. S. Daluwatta scored 23 while points while Tisara Chaturanga and third segment means they’ll have auto- SCORES Thamindra Fernando was adjudged the Anurudda Amaratunga (21) and N. Chamath Danawansha netted 18 and 17 matic promotion to the next level. Ananda College 269 for 6 declared in 69.2 overs (N. Best Player. Dissanayake (16), made useful contribu- points respectively. Union Assurance were leading 44-35 T. Rajapakse 103, U. S. Jayasundara 92, M. R. Perera halfway through the game and won 87-63. The ‘D’ Division final between Kelani tions. Despite ending on the losing side, 30; W. M. D. Duminda 3/58, A. B. T. D. Gunaratne 2/50) DFCC win ‘B’ Division title Cables and HSBC ‘B’ was closely contest- Imran Noor of HSBC ‘B’ made 28. Dasun Meanwhile, DFCC Bank secured a ten Thamindra Fernando (26), Aruna Kottawa Dharmapala 176 for 5 (S. A. Ruberu 101 n.o, ed with the former winning by eight Manage scored 22. Daluwatta was named W. M. D. Duminda 25, K. A. D. K. P. Perera 22; U. S. point victory over Delmege ‘B’ in the Wickramage (24) and Sanjaya points after the scores were level at 35-35 the Best Player. Jayasundara 4/38, M. R. Perera 1/45)

n his last tour of Sri Lanka, Jacques Kallis already sidelined about Nasser Hussain’s ‘race and In an ironic twist, he was sition, where the one way to give an argument that Neil McKenzie Ashwell Prince’s presence with a major elbow injury, the colour’ when he was made captain praised by the same committee six the previously disadvantaged com- and Martin van Jaarsveld (now a Opassed off largely unno- selectors opted for Prince to play a of ? Certainly not! That years later for his work in organis- munity a chance is through expo- Kolpak player with Kent), are bet- ticed, as did that 1998 South stand in role. Within hours, sever- would smack of pure racism. ing World Cup 2003 in South sure at top provincial level. ter organised batsmen. But the African A team tour of the island. al emails from proph- There is of course some weird Africa, when he headed the organ- In many ways, South Africa and selectors have gone with Amla in This was mostly because he scored esied disaster and called the twisted logic among some letter ising committee. the United Board’s experi- the firm belief that he has an so few runs and most attention choice ‘tokenism’ to satisfy politi- writers in this country over For those who have followed ment is unique in a modern socie- international future. anyway was on , cians. Hussain’s roots, but that South African cricket develop- ty and country where cricket’s He has paid back the selectors also making his first tour of this Then came the crass media is being petty minded. ment for a decade, as opposed to development programme would with a Test century against New country. comments that seriously smacked Then again, earlier this year, say the tiresome kick boxing, mud involve the community, help Zealand in a South African season So, yes, Yahaluweni, eight years of bigotry and deprived the young when Monty Panesar was selected wrestling, head-butting style broaden the social base in a uni- that ended in May when frost was can be a long time in the life of a man of further dignity by refer- for England to tour , the only sports, the so-called quota system fied (non-racial), democratic man- carpeting part of the open areas of young man making his way in the ring to him as the ‘first black to reference was to his being a Sikh – was scrapped by the UCB in 2002. ner and create an opportunity the highveld. It was a ridiculously game at international level. Also, captain South Africa’. Such com- nothing at all about colour. And It caused such a rumpus at the through cricket to become part of long season, but the New Zealand if you remember, 1998 was the year ments deserve to be flat batted. there have been enough players time that the country’s overweight a growing system that allowed the series gave him a chance to re- the senior team’s of both countries The day before the team arrived, these days with Asian and West buffoon Sports Minister, Ncgonde advancement of all. You don’t find establish his credentials as a bats- were in England and Graham Ford South Africa, and much of the Indies roots popping up wearing Balfour displayed the sort of intol- that among other sports pro- man South Africa could depend was the A team coach. world, celebrated former president England caps, that no one blinks erance at the decision that it bor- grammes. on. Also, Nicky Boje, vice-captain Nelson Mandela’s 88th birthday. an eye about colour. dered on racism and comments Sure, Prince is proud to be Maybe not as fluent or as classic of that team, sacrificed his place made captain, the seventh since as say Jacques Rudolph whose cen- in the side a couple of times to give isolation ended in 1991, and has tury on Saturday underlined again others a chance. That’s the sort of said as much. That he is a role how he can put important innings selfless act that few would readily model for youngsters in his coun- together when under pressure, but perform, but that’s the sort of try is equally important. He has Amla is one of the new generation player he is; someone without hid- Prince by name and been brought up in a system where South African players. It also den agendas and allowing rivals a Prince by name and discipline plays an important role explains, despite the loss of Smith chance to show what they can do. and is likely to stay on as captain and Kallis from the tour, that it is a It was also a tour where the of the limited overs side as well. more settled side than that of two players were treated like paupers In terms of Test average, last years ago and that has something as well as unwelcome guests and year, Prince was second to Kallis: to do with the better style of team seemingly all but forgotten at modestmodest byby naturnaturee 406 runs at 58.00 and two centuries; management. home, made it no easier. But that his record in the twin series particular South Africa A squad against Australia also included a overcame the monsoon disrupted Notice there was no Prince, having unbecoming a minister of the century and that is with South start of the tour, the tribulations of mention of black any- already been noticed by state. Africa on the receiving end most of local administrative bungling, where. Ford in his end of A team ‘Who the hell are Jacques Kallis the time. decidedly dodgy (if not often farci- Why then saddle this tour comments in 1998, and Mark Boucher?’ was his A quiet, studious type, Prince is cal) umpiring and emerged with modest young man with has long moved on from response at the time. ‘I go to a top fielder in the point and gully character and pride to win the race classification? the rumpus that saw him Newlands to watch Paul Adams area, but admits there will need unofficial Test and limited-overs South Africa have long first draw attention as he and Makhaya Ntini.’ to be a change or two about series. It also gave them a fine moved beyond such moved from Port But like many in places of where he will be fielding. record under the captaincy of Dale xenophobic apartheid Elizabeth to . power and position, Balfour didn’t Unlike his fielding, Benkenstein. era thinking. He was This was at a time when like being quizzed on the subject however, as opposed Yet, none of it would have been born in South Africa the United Cricket Board or challenged that his remarks to Herschelle possible had it not been for some ( in fact), selection policy was smacked of prejudice. Coming as Gibbs, he is a quality individual performances so why not allow him being questioned in par- the questions did from a non- solid rather and what Ford, the coach called the honour of being by Trevor liament. South African white, he baulked at than flam- ‘committed team effort from all’. called South African? Chesterfield Ali Bacher, then man- offering further remarks. Balfour boyant In an end of tour report that Well, that’s what it aging director of the did, however, went as far as to tell batsman. appeared in some South African says on his passport. UCB, had not, in a political sense, Percy Sonn, then UCB and now the It was papers on August 17, 1998, it was Yet, there were some at the been allowed to escape without a new ICC president, that he was quite entertain- suggested that ‘Young players such media conference at the beach- certain backlash from his rebel ‘skating on thin ice’ and UCB chief ing to watch as Ashwell Prince are going to be front hotel on Thursday afternoon tour tainted past. In February executive, Gerald Majola that he another scholarly better, tougher players, mentally who insisted asking questions 1998, the Parliamentary Sports had ‘betrayed the transformation style batsman in and physically from the experi- based on his ‘colour’, not thinking Committee criticised him for the ideals of your brother’. Hashim Amla put ence and exercise, which is what of the embarrassment this might way he delivered the UCB’s pres- Majola’s older brother, Khaya, together a quality the tour has been designed to cause him. Perhaps, there are entation in Parliament in Cape part of the long liberation struggle century at the Colts achieve; if not in the near future, those Sri Lankans who need to Town. was head of the amateur/transfor- ground on Saturday then in a couple of seasons’. look carefully at their own pass- Apart from being seen as the mation wing of the UCB and had and carry it through yester- As a Test player, Prince has ports to see what their definition man who had organised the rebel not long died after a long battle day. A religious young man, been around since making his suggests. tours to prop up a discredited with cancer. But what did Balfour he has the qualities of a bats- debut against Australia, in what Anyway, a careful examination white system, he had as such acted know or understand of the way man willing to learn and is was a traumatic season for South of the wording of Law 1 of the in defiance of international opin- South African cricket was meeting unlikely to throw away his Africa in the 2001/02 season. Yet game is enough to clear up any ion. Here he was presenting the a unique challenge. in a hurry. for some media at home and here, doubts; a team is made up of 11 policy and outlining the future of What Balfour, and it seems Born and educated in Prince is more a curiosity because players, one of who shall be cap- unified South African cricket as a many forget, is that South Africa Durban, his pedigree is an of his ‘colour’ than Gibbs and tain; neither race nor creed; nei- representative of the United had by 2002 long moved on from interesting one in that he that’s a serious pity, as well as ther colour nor language; neither Cricket Board. It did not sit too the era of draconian apartheid captained the South being an insult to the young man. gender nor religion are discrimi- well with the Parliamentary laws that besieged the nation for Africa side (losing final- A couple of weeks ago and nated against. So why the ‘colour’ Sports Select Committee at the two generations. To maintain a ists), at the youth World within hours of the ligament question? time and they let him know about quota system would retard the Cup in New Zealand in injury to and with Was similar comment made it. process of identification and tran- 2002. There would be