Thursday 15th October, 2009 15

Premier One-day Two contrasting tons at NCC

by Revata S. Silva Colts bt SL Army by 82 Two contrasting cen- runs at Colts: which they call the ‘Future Tours and the media: this is the obvious exposure for doping and match- turies were recorded but the Colts (toss) 203 for 8 wkts Programme’ (FTP). answer to the above question. fixing issues, these are the reper- second one to be scored by in 50 ovs There, the ICC board approved The ‘ATP World Tour’ in a 12- cussions of giving way to com- Lahiru Weragala, saw his (Dhanuka Pathirana 77 in principle the post-2012 FTP, month period holds about 66 tour- mercialism without farsighted- team Chilaw Marians SC out- n.o.; Seekkuge Prasanna 3-43) proposed by its CEO’s Committee naments, each carrying over 250 ness, or the results of the major play hosts NCC under the SL Army (toss) 121 all at the meeting held on Oct. 7 in ranking points, meaning those international governing bodies, D/L Method in a seventh out in 42.4 ovs (Damith The ICC has a strong role to play Johannesburg. Now the ICC CEO, events are of utmost significance like the ICC in cricket and ITF in week Premier One-day crick- Indika 20; Sajeewa here. Haroon Lorgat has to make Haroon Lorgat is to carry out a to the international tennis pros. tennis, giving way to the pres- a ‘commercial evaluation’ of its commercial evaluation of the pro- Other than the Ashes and other sures of commercially-oriented et encounter on Wednesday Weerakoon 5-24) post-2012 FTP but at the same posed FTP and draft a revision to international Test and ODI demands of the day. (14). Earlier, Ragama CC bt Moors time, he must ensure that the the FTP regulation, it was report- matches, now there are more and Broader picture guided his team NCC to 241 by 4 runs (D/L Method) at game does not lose its credibility ed. more 50-over competitions and to When you look at the broader for seven with a sedate 106. Moors: and its much cherished spirit in Only just days apart, from the add to the woes, they have found picture, the players are the worst This year’s Premier Moors (toss) 250 for 8 the long run, because the ICC’s Champions Trophy in South out from recent times a ‘better’ victims in such a scenario. They Limited-overs tourney which wkts in 50 ovs (Chathuranga primary role is to protect the sport Africa to the Champions League limited-over version, the are looked at by these commer- began on Sep. 2 will go on till de Silva 70, Isham Ghouse 69, for the future, not to make it a in India, cricket, like professional , which is likely to fill cial forces as mere (lifeless) Nov. 25. Dilhara Lokuhettige 52) business. tennis, is now played all the time, the rest of the ‘blank slots’ in the machines, who can only generate Both Colts and Tamil Ragama CC 213 for 6 round the year and we, money in their favour. Union share six wins each to wkts in 44.2 ovs when bad the fans, tend to become t’s impossible to play from The day the players are top Tier ‘A’ while Panadura light stopped play (Lahiru more and more selective 1st of January and finish incapacitated, they will SC, who have won all seven Thirimanne 70, Ian Daniel in watching it. The fans 5th of December…It’s be thrown out like life- of their fixtures so far, are 55; Imesh Udayanga 3-28) “I don’t really watch the (now) impossible to be playing like less waste. Until then, on top of the Tier ‘B’ points Tamil Union bt SSC by entire game nowadays (if I did the last five years, playing a those players may be table. 13 runs (D/L Method) at it is in fact not a lot of matches and being all the called heroes, champi- Brief Scores: SSC: Twenty20); they simply time 100% (fit) without prob- ons, blasters and wiz- Chilaw Marians bt NCC SSC (toss) 220 all out in want to get to know the lems…Everybody is working hard ards. The situation com- by 67 runs (D/L Method) 47.1 ovs (Lasith Fernando 55; scores now and then and to try to change that (the tour pro- pels the player to reap just forget about it. The situation present annual programme. at NCC: Muthumudalige gramme). I know it’s difficult the biggest possible harvest is quite in contrast to the bond Hence, the emergence of the ICLs, NCC (toss) 241 for 7 wkts Pushpakumara 3-41) because it’s a lot of interests there, while the sun shines. This is a that existed between the game IPLs and the Champions Leagues. in 50 ovs (Upul Tharanga 106 Tamil Union 184 for 6 a lot of tournaments there… It’s tragedy. and its fans, about two, three Profit-oriented commercialism in 141 balls – 4x10; Dinuka wkts in 41 ovs when bad light difficult to say when you stop or Commercialism has no moral decades ago. calling the shots will create a Hettiarachchi 4-40) stopped play (M. when you start (the season). I don’t values, other being driven by the sorry state in the future. Some of Chilaw Marians 227 for Pushpakumara 52) know the solution, but that must intention of increasing profits. the repercussions are already felt 1 wkt in 39 ovs when bad Tier ‘B’ Results: be changed - and soon,” — Rafael Who wants more? in tennis, nearly 37 years after the In such a situation, both players light stopped play (Lahiru Sebastianites bt Nadal, twice an injury victim Who wants more and more and fans become victims. formation of the Association of Weragala 115 n.o. in 114 balls Moratuwa SC by 4 wkts at in 2009, echoing Andy Roddick’s cricket to be played round the The ICC has a strong role to Tennis Professionals (ATP). – 4x14, 6x4, Amal Moratuwa plea for time off from the ATP year? Who made, in hindsight, the play here. Haroon Lorgat has to Athulathmudali 66) Lankan CC bt Seeduwa men’s professional tennis tour. professional men’s and women’s make a ‘commercial evaluation’ tennis tour –the ‘ATP World Tour’ Repercussions Bloomfield bt CCC by 7 Raddoluwa SC by 95 runs at - ‘Roddick, Nadal fear of its post-2012 FTP, but at the Players complaining about showdown over ATP workload’, and ‘WTA’ — so irritatingly wkts at Bloomfield: Thurstan grounds injuries and calling for a more same time, he must ensure that Asia-Pacific News, Oct. 12, 2009 crowded, making its participants CCC 169 all out in 48.2 ovs Singha SC bt Police SC by relaxed annual programme, a the game does not lose its credi- The top brass of the powerful a bored, injured and wasted lot, (Bathiya Perera 36; Tyrone 46 runs (D/L Method) at BRC ever-diminishing interest about bility and its much cherished International Cricket Council also making some of them com- Gamage 3-36) SL Air Force bt BRC by 31 the more prestigious team events spirit in the long run, because (ICC) recently held a special meet- plain like top seeds Nadal and Bloomfield (won the runs (D/L Method) at Rifle like the Davis Cup (not individual the ICC’s primary role is to pro- ing to decide on the forthcoming Roddick, the current world num- toss) 172 for 3 wkts in 23 ovs Green tournaments like the Grand tect the sport for the future, not international cricket itinerary ber 2 and 6? (Dilshan Munaweera 52, Panadura SC bt SL Navy Slams), and the ever-increasing to make it a business. Commercial establishment Saman Jayantha 45 n.o.) by 68 runs at Welisara. Rural sportspersons excel, thanks Dialog President’s Gold Cup VB Sixteen teams to Foundation of Goodness qualify for National

able achievements at the newspapers and created a sensa- Seenigama Aquatic Club, which tion in the village and jubilation level matches has members from across the among her team mates at the southwest. Seenigama Aquatic Club. She con- The first success was achieved tinued to show her talent when by Manjula D. Phillips by 19-year-old W. A. K. Amilalal she came 1st in the 200m back- Danushka of Sri Sumangala stroke at the All Island Schools Provincial matches in three provinces were worked off College, who trained four days a Swimming competition conducted on Oct. 10 and 11 in the President’s Gold Cup Volleyball week at the Bryan Adams Pool. In by the Sri Lanka Schools Championship, at three venues in the Western, Uva and 2008, he won the Sri Lanka Novices Swimming Association in June Eastern provinces while the Central province matches Aquatic Championship 50m free- 2009. Dilanjali has since been style event conducted by the Sri invited to represent Sri Lanka in were worked off on Oct. 13. Lanka Aquatic Sports Union, Malaysia. The matches in the Sabaragamuwa, Wayambe, North where he also won third place in Central and Southern Provinces will be worked off on the 100m free-style event. October 16 and 17. In the U-19 Schools Swimming Rural cricket goes from Sixteen men’s and women’s teams - the top two men’s Championships 2009, D. H. strength to strength and women’s teams in each province - have qualified to Chameera, from Sri Sumangala Monthly coaching camps are play in the National level matches which will be held in College, Hikkaduwa, came 3rd and held at the MCC funded Sri 4th in the finals in the 50m Sumangala College cricket two categories. freestyle, breaststroke and butter- ground, Hikkaduwa. These ‘A’ category matches will be worked off on October 24 fly, while W. Tharushi Lakshani camps are run by head coach and 25 at the Urban Council grounds, Aluthgama, while The Seenigama Ladies’ cricket team. came 2nd in the 100m freestyle, Hemantha Devapriya and spon- ‘B’ category matches will be worked off on Oct. 31 and Sporting success stories are Kushil Gunasekera, Muthiah and 3rd in 50m freestyle and 50m sored by the Royal Lancers. From Nov. 1 at Senanayake Central College grounds, Madampe. emerging from rural areas, all Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, backstroke. these camps, 60 of the most The event is organised and conducted by the Sri Lanka along the south coast, thanks to top Kumar Sangakkara, Rohan K. G. G. Dilanjal, from promising children from seven Kularathna College, schools in the region have been Volleyball Federation and sponsored by Dialog Telecom. class facilities and an investment in Iriyagolla and Ashan Malalasekara Results of Provincial matches: life skills from the Foundation of have opened many doors to make Ambalangodo, came 1st in the selected to form a cricket acade- Western Province – Men - 1. Siriduwa SC, Seeduwa Goodness. this happen in a way that could National Six Mile Sea Swim held my and are now receiving train- The Foundation of Goodness hardly have been imagined just five at Kinross Swimming Club in ing to develop their skills, to one 2. Siyanetharu SC, Gampaha. has been working in rural commu- years ago and is now bearing such March 2009, fighting off stiff com- day reach the top in cricket. Women - 1. Siyanetharu SC, Gampaha, 2. Golden Birds nities in Southern Sri Lanka, from fruit as National junior volleyball petition from across the country Twelve of these youngsters have SC, Radawana. its base in Seenigama, since 1999. champions, top class swimmers and in this test of physical endurance been invited to attend a Super-8 Uva Province – Men - 1. Little Garment’s SC, With the rebuilding after the tsuna- school cricket teams are attaining and mental toughness, that tournament in Malaysia in reached the headlines of national November. Bandarawela, 2.Robber SC, Haputale. mi in 2004 came a great opportunity high standards. Women - 1. Siyabalanduwa SC, Siyabalanduwa, 2. to develop a unique community Volleyball teams reach Madampagama College Sumudu SC, Uva Paranagama. development model, which today All-Island finals for second con- Under-15 cricket team reached benefits 20,000 people a year, from secutive year the Division III final of the U-15 Eastern Province – Men - 1. Ransamanala SC, over 25 villages in the region and For the second year in succes- Schools Cricket tournament in Kantale, 2. Aruna S,C Rajagalathenna. includes medical care, education sion, school junior volleyball teams September 2009 and were run- facilities, skills and enterprise from the Foundation of Goodness’ ners-up. The college receives sup- development as well as a focus on Sport for Life project reached the port from the Foundation of sports. finals of the DSI SuperSport All- Goodness to cover equipment and To develop rural sports, the Island Volleyball Championships. other costs to help the college Foundation of Goodness has estab- The Thotagamuwa Wijayabahu provide top quality cricket coach- lished a beautiful Sports Centre in MV Boys’ Under-12 team and ing to benefit youth in the Seenigama, with the Sri Wimala Seenigama Sri Wimala Buddhi MV region. Buddhi MV Cricket Oval sponsored Boys’ Under-14 teams reached the by Surrey County Cricket Club, the finals after gruelling rounds of Ladies cricket: a historic day for 25m Bryan Adams swimming pool competitions at local, regional and the Foundation of Goodness and outdoor sports facilities, national levels. This mirrors the October 11, 2009 was an historic including cricket nets, volleyball two school’s previous achieve- day for the Foundation of and netball courts. ments, when the Under-12 teams Goodness as the Seenigama Ladies’ In addition, the MCC sponsored from both schools competed against Cricket squad won their first cricket ground and incorporated each other in last year’s finals. match in the Sri Lanka Cricket indoor nets at Sri Sumangala This year, the Thotagamuwa Division II Tournament, beating College provide fantastic facilities boys won the championships in the Shakthi Ladies’ cricket team, for monthly top-class coaching Under-12 age group, while the Colombo. The Seenigama ladies camps conducted by experts from Seenigama boys were runners-up in squad was formed in June and Women - 1. Aruna SC, Rajagalathenna, 2. Pubudu SC, across Sri Lanka. the Under-14 category. receives training from Seenigama These facilities were established Cricket coaches Anjula Mendis Uhana. thanks to the generosity of donors, Swimming stars K. G. G. Dilanjal, who won first and Gayan Harshapriya thanks to Central Province – Men - 1. Ekamuthu SC, sports clubs and sporting stars Thanks to the training provided place in the 200m backstroke funding from Laureus Sport for Udathalavilla, 2. Shantha SC, Dambulla. from around the world. In particu- at the Bryan Adams Swimming Good Foundation, Australia Sports Women - 1. Weeraparakum SC, Yatawatte, 2. event at the All-Island Inter- Outreach Programme and Surrey lar, the sporting connections of the Pool by coaches Janakalal and School Swimming WeeraKeppetipola SC, Akuramboda. Foundation of Goodness’ Trustees, Yamuna, there are some remark- County Cricket Club. Championship.