Wednesday 4th June, 2008 15

ing. I had a bad six months. I wasn’t batting well. But I always knew that if I worked hard on my game, the same way I have been for 19 years, I would make Reliance treated us like it to the team”, he said. , according to pub- lic thinking, might be a young man’s game. But with 514 runs in the tournament, at a strike rate of 166.34, Jayasuriya has put those thoughts to rest. their family – Sanath On what keeps him ticking at an age most people would look to hang up their boots, t 39, is treated us like their family and Playing with Tendulkar, Jayasuriya said, “I know how not an old man after all. we enjoyed everyone’s compa- Jayasuriya says, was “one of hard I have worked to get into AIf there was any bright ny,”Jayasuriya told Hindustan the greatest moments of (his) the Sri Lankan team. I want to spot for Mumbai in the IPL, it Times. career”. After all, this was only keep going as long as possible. I was the left-hander’s welcome “It was disappointing to the second such time the duo have already retired from Test return to form. At times during miss out on a semifinal spot batted together after the and I am concentrating the competition, he showed despite the way we came back Princess Diana Charity Match on the ODIs and T20s for the form reminiscent of the 1996 with six wins after losing the in 1998. “I enjoyed playing with moment.” World Cup, when almost every- initial four,” he added. Sachin. He is a great player and At a time when Sri Lankan thing he struck went out of the Though his performance in it was a tremendous feeling, cricket is in transition, park. the beginning was far from con- walking out to bat with him.” Jayasuriya felt that there is Sanath Jayasuriya Despite a disappointing IPL vincing, once His unbeaten 114 off 48 balls enough young talent in the campaign for Mumbai, came back to the side, against Chennai not just island. “We have the players. months, if there is one man favourite opposition he said, Jayasuriya says he looks back at Jayasuriya transformed into his ensured Mumbai’s brief revival It’s just that they have to per- Indian bowlers would love to “Even I do not know the reason. the tournament with satisfac- dangerous self. “Earlier on, I got in the competition, but also cat- form in the first-class competi- dislodge early, it would have to But everytime I have gone out tion. “I enjoyed playing in the the starts but could not contin- apulted him into the Sri Lankan tions, for A and be Sanath Jayasuriya. He has to play against India, I have IPL. I have never represented ue. But I knew that once Sachin team for the . He was Under-19s to break into the thus far amassed 2261 runs in scored runs, particularly hun- one city at any point of time, so would come back into the side, I earlier dropped from the ODI team.” the 72 matches against India dreds.” I was very happy to be a part of could play my natural game,” he side for Sri Lanka’s tour of the With India scheduled to tour and there could be more. On It seems that at 39, his the Mumbai franchise. Reliance said. Caribbean. “It was disappoint- Sri Lanka in a couple of why he rates India as his hunger is yet to be satiated.

18 member Ragama Cricket Club holds awards ceremony in style Athula Russell wins hockey squad by Lakmadu Shanthiram fourth National Title The annual awards ceremony of Ragama Cricket Club (RCC) was held in for AHF Cup grand style on Saturday at the Ragama Cricket Club premises recognizing the by Rukshan Razak achievements of close to 200 young crick- eters who are between the ages of 10 to 17. Interim Committee of Sri Lanka The chief guest at the awards ceremo- Hockey Association announced an 18 ny was Austin Silva, the Principal of member squad which is expected to Basilica College, Ragama. take part in the 4th AHF Cup hockey tournament organized by the Asian National cricketers , Hockey Federation to be held in the and Kaushal Delta Hockey, Stadium Singapore from Weeraratne were also present at the occa- 12th to the 24th of June. sion. The team is be led by Anura A host of dignitaries including ex and Athula Russell Bandara Karunaratne of the Sri Lanka present cricketers of the club, parents of Air force. Karunaratne a past pupil of the students of the Ragama Cricket Athula Russell drew his thirteenth Christ Church College, Matale is one of Academy were present as well. and final game in the National Chess the best back defenders ever produced Championship against Y.D.B. Recognitions such as these are sure to Madugalle to win the national title for in the island, while the presence of build up the confidence of young and Dhammika Abeyratne of Sri Lanka the 4th time. His nearest rival Gayan budding cricketers. Peiris also drew his final game, with Air Force who is the most senior play- Sasaka Kodithuwakku, the Best Batsman of the U-17 category, receives his award The Ragama Cricked Club was estab- Romesh Weerawardena, to leave er adds strength to the lineup. Yet from Austin Silva, Principal of Basilica College, Ragama. Roshan Abeysinghe, the lished in 1989 with a mere membership of President of the Club is also in picture. Russell one point clear of the field. another important feature in this In other games, Akhila Kavinda squad is that the team comprises of 11 25, but have emerged as one of the top cricket playing clubs in the country. cricket playing club, Roshan Abeysinghe, and the current President said at the cer- drew with T.S. Mallawarachchi, players who emerged from Christ Prasanna Kurukulasuriya beat P.M.R.L. Church College, Matale. However, the club remains the poorest the first of Ragama Cricket Club emony. Bandara, defending champ Meanwhile Milan Ariyawansa, G.C.Anuruddha drew with T.D.R. Thusith Ratnasiri, Sadditha Fernando Peiris, and Luxman Wijesuriya beat and M.M.Mulafer who have been called Osheen De Silva . in for the first time to represent the If Wijesuriya wins or draws his country make this a well balanced final game he will secure fifth place, composition. edging out Weerawardena. In the 12th Sri Lanka which is grouped along Round Athula Russell beat Romesh with Hong Kong, Oman and Thailand Weerawardena, Gayan Peiris, beat will take on Oman in the curtain raiser P.M.R.L. Bandara, Chathura with the kick off scheduled at 3.pm at Rajapaksha drew with Luxman Wijesuriya, G.C. Anuruddha beat the Delta Stadium in Singapore while Osheen De Silva, T.D.R. Peiris drew group ‘A’ consists of host Singapore, First Lady Shiranthi with Prasanna Kurukulasuriya, Y.D.B. Chinese Taipei, Uzbekistan and Brunei Madugalle beat Akhila Kavinda and Rajapaksa Darussalam. T.S. Mallawarachchi beat C.K.D. Squad - Anura Bandra declared open Fonseka. Karunaratne – Captain (Air Force), the swimming The tournament is organized by the Thusith Ratnasiri (Air Force), pool complex Chess Federation of Sri Lanka and was Polwattegedara Jayaratne (Police), I.K. of Anula held at the Cooperative School in Jaysundra (Army), N.D.B. Dissnayake Vidyalaya, Polgolla, Final Standings:* (Air Force), Prasanna Abeyratne Nugegoda Russell (9.5) Gayan Peiris (8.5), Rajapaksha, Wijesuriya and (Army), H.P.K. Dharamaratne (Army), recently. D.T. Panditharatne (Air Force), K.S.S. Anuruddha (8) Weerawardena (7), Picture shows Perera (Air Force), Thilina Perera Madugalle and Kurukulasuriya (6.5), (HNB), Diluka Weerasuriya (Sampath students of Fonseka and Mallawarachchi (5.5), Bank ), Irnaka Fernando Anula T.D.R. Peiris and Osheen De Silva (5), (Wennappuwa HA) N.A. Hewage Vidyalaya wel- Kavinda and Bandara (4.5). The first five, Athula Russell, Gayan (Commercial Bank), Milan Ariyawansa coming the Peiris, Chathura Rajapaksha, Luxman (Commercial Bank), Sagara Dammika First Lady. Wijesuriya and G.C. Anuruddha, Abeyratne (Air Force), M.M. Gazali Pic by accordingly are most likely to represent (HNB), M.M. Mulafer (Air Force), H.S. Dharmasena Sri Lanka at the forthcoming Chess Hettiarachchi (Sampath Bank) Walipitiya. Olympiad in Germany in November.

Mahela backs two IPLs a year Inter-School Tennis – 2008 Lalit Modi’s ambitious plan of despite veterans like Sanath hosting two Jayasuriya, and Events postponed till Monday (9) (IPL) tournaments in a season from being in the 2011 has finally found support from twilight of their careers. “We have by Revata S. Silva Convent, Colombo-4, and by the Education Ministry,” unexpected quarters. Mahela to move on and we have the crick- Musaeus College, last added Perera. A Peterite Jayawardene, the Sri Lankan skip- eters to replace them. After Arjuna The Boys’ Schools Under- month. team member was alleged to per, feels that IPL has caught every and Aravinda retired, everyone 15 of this year’s Inter-School This year’s Inter-School have been attached to an cricket lover’s imagination and no feared the worst, but we believed in Tennis, scheduled to be Tennis began on April 28 in Indian institution, not his one would mind two events in a the talent we had and you are see- started last Monday (2), was four age groups (Under-13, school, by the time the year. ing the results today,” he said. “We “I think IPL is good. It will took a young side to the Caribbean postponed till June 9 due to 15, 17 and 19) for both boys entries were closed to this develop in the next two years. T20 and performed well. We won our prevailing inclement weath- and girls schools in the year’s Inter-School Tennis. cricket is certainly a crowd-puller. first-ever Test there. We have young er conditions, the Sri Lanka island. Only Boys’ U-17 and St. Peter’s has later opposed The IPL will certainly initiate city- and talented guys like Maharoof, Schools Tennis Association Girls’ U-15 and 19 were com- this claim, according to based rivalries, the kind that hap- Kapugedara and ,” (SLSTA) said yesterday. pleted so far. Perera, proving the particu- pens in English football”, said Jayawardene said. Meanwhile fresh dates Meanwhile Boys’ U-19 lar player is still a student Jayawardene, the brand ambassa- Among the Indians he’s seen at for the rest of the matches too that was hampered by a of their school. dor for Reebok in Sri Lanka. the IPL, Jayawardene marked Rohit of Girls’ U-13 and the complaint made against St. The Revised Schedule – Shrugging aside fears that T20 Sharma and Gautam Gambhir for rescheduled final of Girls’ Peter’s College, Colombo-4, Boys’ U-15: June 9-12 boom will affect , special praise. Jayawardene feels Jayawardene echoed John that India’s upcoming tour of Sri U-17 are yet to be has been postponed till fur- Boys’ U-13: June 11-13 and Sri Lanka that the viewers gave Buchanan’s views. “T20 will Lanka will be special. “I made my announced, said Dammika ther notice and the 16 and 17 their domestic Twenty20 tourna- improve the skill level of a crick- debut against India and they are a Perera, Secretary, SLSTA. Tournament Committee of Boys’ U-19 (Continuation): To ment a miss. Jayawardene also eter. The bowlers will find newer fantastic team with some naturally- reckons that IPL is a suitable plat- The progress of the above the SLSTA is to give its final Be Announced Later ways of getting while the gifted players. I hope it will be an form to attract female audience to two age group categories verdict on the issue in a Girls’ U-13 (Continuation): To batsmen will find newer ways of exciting series between the two the game. were obstructed by com- week’s time, according to Be Announced Later scoring runs. That will also benefit teams,” he added. Away from the IPL, plaints made by two partici- Perera. “In this case, we’re Girls’ U-17 (Continuation): To the cricket-viewing public in gener- Jayawardene thinks the future is al,” he told the Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times pating schools, Holy Family acting on a directive made Be Announced Later. bright for Sri Lankan cricket The IPL has been a such a hit in