Wednesday 15th February, 2006 11

St. Peter’s going from strength to strength by Reemus Fernando

aving produced two classy players for the HUnder-19 team that is tak- ing part in the on-going Under-19 World Cup here in Sri Lanka and with an unbeaten record in as many as 13 outings, St. Peter’s College, Colombo are a proud lot in the inter-school circuit. Their recent victory against Royal College, which they St. Peter’s Cricket team achieved sans their skipper Hans Standing from left: Thiwanka Silva, Ruwan Wickramanayake, Jayan Rajakaruna, Shiwanga Ranasuriya, Rashane Savarimuthu and Fernando and middle order bats- Angelo Perera. Seated from left: Lakshan Rodrigo, Dasun Randika, Lahiru Peiris (V. Cap), Delon Udugamasuriya and Krishal man Prabuddha Perera (repre- Magage. (Pix by Nishan S Priyantha) senting Sri Lanka Under-19) undeerlines the strength of the Hans Fernando (Cap) Lahiru Peiris (V. Cap) Around the school cricket nets

Prabbudha Perera Dasun Randika Delon Udugamasuriya Krishal Magage Lakshan Rodrigo Wasantha Haputhanthri (MiC) this season. His top knock of 120 Sylvester’ and S. Thomas’). The yet to turn his good half cen- Angelo Perera has scored over wily leg spin attack and obtained current Peterite outfit, which runs against Holy Cross College, reliable middle order batsman turies into three figures. He is 300 runs (Sri Sumangala 63 no) match hauls of over 10 had earlier registered four other Kalutara was followed by anoth- has proved beyond doubt that one of the few school cricketers Ruwan Wickramanayake is get- on at least three occasions. outright victories. er half century against St. defeat for St. Peter’s is not in his to have opened both and ting closer to 300 run mark. Third year coloursman At least half a dozen St. Aloysius’ College, Galle and, dictionary. bowling for their schools. He Fourth year coloursman Rodrigo is helped by three other Peter’s College cricketers could arguably, he could better his He has rescued St. Peter’s shares the new ball with Jeyan Prabuddha Perera was available good spinners. Right arm off easily boast of a national repre- record when he returns to the from desperate situations and Rajakaruna and has picked over for only five games and he has spinners Chanaka Fernando (20 sentation status in Sri Lanka jun- team for the rest of the inter- has guided the side to winning 30 wickets throughout the sea- scored nearly 200 runs and was a wickets with best figures 5/27 ior cricket teams. Hans Fernando school matches. positions on more than one occa- son. member of Sri Lanka Under-19 against Rahula), Shivanga and Prabuddha Perera though Fourth year coloursman and sion. As this article is being writ- One of the main features of team for most of their foreign Ranasuriya (15 wickets with best they could not take part in vice captain Lahiru Peiris, in the ten, he has just compiled a face the Peterite first xi side this year tours in 2005. figures 3/20 against Holy Cross) Peterite inter-school Peterite absence of his captain, has guid- saving partnership of 84 runs for is their depth of batting. They Meanwhile, Dasun Randika and leg spinner Angelo Perera, encounters this year, have, ed the team successfully. The the eighth with Shivanga have a strong batting line-up run- was productive with both bat and who, has also contributed greatly nonetheless made their alma right hander having gained expe- Ranasuriya thus helping Peter’s ning from the opener Delan wicket keeper gloves. He has held to the success of St. Peter’s first mater proud by contributing to rience in the Sri Lanka Under-19 rise from a disappointing 59 for 7 Udugamasuriya to the lower mid- on to over 40 catches and had has xi. the success of Sri Lanka Under- tour of England last year is scor- to 211 all out in their inter-school dle order. aggregated over 400 runs which While spinners claim more 19 team in the England and ing at a staggering rate which cricket encounter against S. Krishal Magage, Ruwan includes four half centuries (64 wickets for Peterites, seam Bangladesh tours. There were a has helped him close to the 1000 Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia. Wickramanayake, Prabuddha n.o and 60 against Rahula, Prince bowlers Delan Udugamasuriya, few others who couldn’t make it run mark. So far he has struck Allrounders Delan Perera, who represents Sri of Wales 56 and St. Benedict’s 53). Jeyan Rajakaruna, Krishal to the final squad of 14, but were three centuries and he would be Udugamasuriya and Shivanga Lanka Under-19, and wicket St. Peter’s possesses one of the Magage and Umhar Samsudeen in the initial 30-member pool for the only batsman in the current Ranasuriya have provided keeper batsman Dasun Randika best spin attacks. Right arm leg have been consistent with their the Under-19 World Cup. season to have achieved that important opening stands for the are among the leading scorers of spinner Lakshan Rodrigo who is right arm pace bowling. The Captain landmark remaining unbeaten Peterites on more than one occa- St. Peters. Fourth year colours- short of 10 wickets to complete The cricketers of St. Peter’s Fifth year coloursman Hans on all the occasions (St. Aloysius- sion. Third year coloursman man Magage has scored over 500 100 wickets for the season (Royal First XI are well motivated by Fernando, who was in great form 110 n.o, Holy Cross 104 n.o, Sri Delan Udugamasuriya is one of runs (Sri Sumangala 107, De 10/96, St. Benedict’s 14/79, De their Master-in-Charge after amassing a century and 80 Sumangala 100 n.o.). their leading scorers. He has Mazenod 80, St. Sebastian 80 and Mazenod 10/105, Prince of Wales Wasantha Haputhanthri, while runs in the Sri Lanka Under-19 He, too. has six half centuries aggregated over 600 runs with an Nalanda 50), inclusive of an 5/80, Sri Sumangala 5/33, Coach Roger Wijesuriya grooms tour of Bangladesh before under his belt (two 50’s against unbeaten 78, his highest being impressive century against Sri Maliyadeva 5/49 and the best them in the essentials of playing Christmas, has accumulated over Nalanda and 50 each against against St. Sebastian’s, with six Sumangala College, Hikkaduwa. spinner they have. He mesmer- technically correct cricket, while 250 runs in just three matches Rahula, Maliyadeva, St. half centuries to his credit. He is While middle order batsman ized most of his opponents with- developing individual skills.

Nations Trust Bank - Delmege qualify for Cager finals Baseball tours Sri Lanka National Chess by Rex Clementine giving a sensational display end- that they are playing at the high- from Japan Championships 2006 Nations Trust Bank and ing with 21 points. Roshan est level without any star per- Sri Lanka tourism has extended their The Sri Lanka National Chess the participating in the national Delmege Group qualified for the Randima scored 14 while Diluk formers speaks volumes of their campaign towards promoting baseball Championships are scheduled to event. final of the Delmege Super Himantha scored 12. Veteran collective ability determination. team tours from Japan and popularising be held on Feb. 11, 12, 18 and 19, The following players have Roshan Gunasekara chipped in League Basketball tournament, If they are able to recruit any the game islandwide. Towards this end, LK 2006 at Union Assurance Centre, selected from the selection events; with nine points. conducted by the Mercantile leading players in the country Holidays, Japan has joined hands with Colombo 03 and on Feb. 24, 25 and Sri Lanka Chess Nationals: Services Basketball Association. For Sampath Bank, Heshan Dialog will certainly end up as a Srilankan Airlines, Tokyo and “Asia 26 at Hotel Topaz, Kandy. The Dhanuka Kuruppu, Prasanna The grand final will take place at Premachandra was the top scorer formidable outfit within the next Baseball Exchange” of Japan to bring a Chess Federation of Sri Lanka has Kurukulasuriya, Romesh the Otters basketball court at with 15 points while Tisara season or two. number of Japanese baseball teams to Sri arranged a total of Rs. 59,000/- Weerawardena, (all three Paul Bauddhaloka Mawatha on Friday Chaturanga made 10. Chamath Their presence in the game Lanka. cash awards for the winners. Morphy Chess Club), Athula at 6 pm. Danawansha and A. Wishvanath also does a lot of good for the The second Japanese team will be This is the most important Russell (N3 Chess Club), RS The seeding in the champi- made eight and nine points game as several mercantile firms arriving in Colombo this month on a week’s chess event conducted by the Kalugampitiya (Vidyartha onship made according to the respectively. seem to have lost interest in put- tour. During their stay in Sri Lanka, they will Chess Federation of Sri Lanka in College), GC Anuruddha (Old results of last year’s tournament In the other semi-final Nations ting up teams in the highest be conducting a series of coaching camps their annual calendar and only the Vidyarthian’s), Luxman top 28 chess players in the country Wijesuriya (University of meant that Delmege Group and Trust Bank had a convincing win league. covering Royal College, D. S. Senanayake, Japanese School in Colombo, Richmond, will play in this particular event to Moratuwa), Marlon Fernando, Sampath Bank ended up in oppo- over Dialog GSM. The winners Teams like Union Assurance Galle, Sabaragamuwa University, gain the crown. This year’s event (Passed Pawns CC) CKD Fonseka site groups and that eventually were sitting pretty half way Limited, Hatton National Bank through the game having taken a Moratuwa University and Sri has become more competitive (HNB), Shamine De Moraeus (Blue meant that they had to meet each and HSBC were competing in the 13 point lead at the end of the first Jayewardenapura University of Kotte. since it is the selection trials for & White CC), PSB Konara (Sri other in the semi-final clash. ‘A’ Division four or five years ago, the Chess Olympiad, to be held in Lanka Insurance), RMCM half. They maintained the same Prior to departure to Japan, they will be These teams are the two best but at the moment have put May, 6, 2006 in Turin, Italy. Rajapaksha (Dharmaraja College) level of intensity in the next half playing two matches against a Combined mercantile firms playing the things on hold. Both Open and Women events and RS Dissanayake (Royal too and went onto win 82-69. Schools/Universities team and Royal game and eventually one of them While Union Assurance and will be held on a round robin basis College). Gayan Meedeniya was the top College Under-19 team. had to miss out the grand final HSBC play in lower leagues HNB, In order to develop and popularise- over 13 rounds and winners will be Women’s Nationals: Mokshi scorer with 26 points Manjula and it happened to be Sampath surprisingly,have not even put up baseball in Sri Lanka, “Asia Baseball declared as the National Chess Wijewardena, Uthpala Jayaratne made 21. Rasika Bank, who lost the vital semi- Exchange” and LK Holidays will continue to Champion and Women’s National Garusinghe, Gayathri Herath, (All Prabath scored 10. For the losers a team this time around. final clash on Monday to assist all needy clubs and schools with the Chess Champion for the year. Four three Viharamahadevi BMV, Roshan de Zoysa with 17 points, Delmege. necessary baseball amenitiies for the next participants, Harsha and Harinlal Kiribathgoda) Samanthi Thushara Jayantha with 11 and Aturupane and Sunil Wettasinghe (Sri Lankan Airlies), The difference between the two Calling all three years. The newly formed Baseball Asela Perera with 10 excelled. Weeramanthry, all three FIDE Pramodaya Senanayake, Lihini teams at the end of the first half Club in Sri Lanka affiliated to LK Holidays Apart from the four semi-final- Masters and last year’s National Walallawita, (Both Musaeus) was minimal as Delmege gained Anandians and “Asia Baseball Exchange” of Japan”, ists, Seylan Bank was the fifth “Ajia yakyu Koryukai” Club will undertake Champion TDR Pieris were eligi- Manori Dassanayake, Lumbini an eight point lead. The score was ble to play in the nationals directly Ambanwela (both from Mahamaya participant in the championship. all future baseball promotional activities 39-31, but Delmege gained com- To pay last respects to our while Suneetha Wijesuriya, College), Vineetha Wijesuriya Dialog GSM, meanwhile, are with the support of the Japanese commu- plete control in the second half cricket coach, the late P. Walter Chandima Wijewardena, both hav- (Golden Queen Chess Club), making their debut in the ‘A’ nity in the island. and went onto win the game 80-67. Perera, please assemble at the ing an international rating above Anjana Perera (Pushpadana Division. The telecommunication Galadari Hotel, Colombo as in the past, Prageeth Pushpakumara, who main gate of the General 2000 and UGY Methmali, last year’s College), Thilini Koswatte, has come forward to be the exclusive was surprisingly left out of Sri giants have reached the ‘A’ Cemetery, Borella at 2 p.m. Women’s Champion were qualifed (Mahamaya College), Shama Lanka’s national team, proved yet Division Championship through today. “Hospitality Partner” for the promotion of in Women’s National. Only Sunil Galappatti and Ruvini again that he’s a match winner sheer hard work having won ‘C’ Old Anandians’ Sports Baseball in Sri Lanka. Weeramanthry and UGY Methmali Abeygunasekera (Maliyadeva Gils and ‘B’ Division titles. The fact LK Holidays news release (Southland College) have confirm College).