Late City Edition Wednesday 12th August, 2009 15

by M. A. Cyril with a well compiled 60. This historic occasion was married by (Continued from yesterday) the bomb explosion at the Pettah bus stand which killed 115 and seriously wounded n the matches against state sides nearly 300. The tour was abandoned and Madugalle fared well making scores of the New Zealand team left the same night. I81 against Canterbury,64 n.o. and 42 It took nearly five years for to against NZ Minor Association and 64 host another Test match. against Auckland. Madugalle was Soon after the 1987 World Cup, many undoubtedly the most consistent batsman changes took place in the composition of of the tour. the Sri Lanka team. Madugalle was Madugalle was in the Sri Lanka team appointed . He became the fourth for the 1983 World Cup played in England. captain of Sri Lanka after the island Sri Lanka had to be satisfied with a soli- The Indian tour of nation achieved Test status. When the tary win against New Zealand. Madugalle news of his appointment reached him, made 60 in the first match against New Sri Lanka in The Chairman of the S. Thomas’ College T500 Sprint Regatta Organizing Committee, Madugalle was elated. “Naturally I am Zealand which Sri Lanka lost. It was a Lushantha De Silva briefs the media at the Rowing Club on Thursday. Also in very happy and delighted to accept the courageous knock in windy conditions at August-September, honour” said Madugalle. the picture are, Dhanushka Jayanetti, captain, S. Thomas’ College rowing team and Bristol, which helped Hadlee. Madugalle’s first assignment as cap- Prasad Vithanage, also of Thomas’ College. (Pic by Sajith Jayasekara) In March 1984, New Zealand toured Sri 1985, will forever tain was to lead the country in the three- Lanka to play three Tests and three ODIs. Joseph’s College, S. nation Benson & Hedges World Series Cup Sri Lanka once again fared badly losing be remembered as Thomas’ College, Stafford against Australia and New Zealand and the Test series 2-0 and ODI series 2-1. Sri International School, the one-off Test against Australia at Perth. Lanka drew the second Test helped by a a historic tour as it Bishop’s College, Ladies’ Madugalle was given the unenviable task brilliant century from . College, Musaeus of leading the country against the best S. Thomas’ College Madugalle made 44 n.o. and 36 in this Test. was in this series College, St. Bridget’s opposition in the world with a team minus Sri Lanka lost the third Test by an Convent and Visakha their best batsmen and the best bowlers. innings, despite a gallant batting display that Sri Lanka Vidyalaya will be the As expected, Sri Lanka lost the Test by an by Madugalle. In the first innings, schools that will partici- innings and had to be satisfied with a soli- introduces T500 pate in the champi- Madugalle was batting well when he was achieved its first tary win against New Zealand in the struck by a vicious Hadlee near onship. Benson & Hedges tournament. the left ear on the helmet, and had to retire ever Test victory. “S. Thomas’ College, In August 1988, Sri Lanka made its to the pavilion. At that time his score was Mount Lavinia has been fifth tour of England and Madugalle was 87 , but though he came back to bat For Madugalle, it Sprint Regatta a pioneering institution the captain. Sri Lanka lost the one-off Test on the following day,he ran short of part- involved in rowing in Sri by seven . Madugalle, who was ners and missed his maiden Test century will be a series he Lanka for over 35 years appointed captain for the Asia Cup, played by 11 runs, remaining unbeaten on 89 and are dedicated to in Bangladesh in 1988, suffered an injury expand rowing and popu- runs. He had fourteen fours in his attrac- will never forget as and was ruled out of the first match. Championships larizing it among the tive innings. This was the second occasion replaced him as cap- schools here in Sri in a Test match that Madugalle ran short it was in this series tain for the first time. Lanka. We are also plan- of partners when he was nearing a centu- Since his appointment as captain in ning to hold this event in ry.The first was against Pakistan in that he scored his by Manjula D. events. The regatta, to be January 1988, Madugalle had just two the outstations that have Faisalabad where he remained unbeaten Phillips called the T500 Sprint overseas tours – Australia in January and lakes and to train upcom- on 91. first Test century. championships, will to be England in August. He had to manage with ing players and develop The Indian tour of Sri Lanka in Regattas in Sri Lanka held on August 14 and 15 the team given to him. The two most expe- the sport in the coming August-September, 1985, will forever have traditionally been at the Colombo Rowing rienced batsmen and the two best bowlers club. The age group of years,” Lushantha De be remembered as a historic tour rowed over a 1000 metre were not included in the team which the participants will be Silva, the Chairman of as it was in this series that Sri course and have been toured Australia. Madugalle’s own form the Organizing Lanka achieved its first ever limited in general to a between 16 and 19 years. Committee of S. Thomas’ with the bat had taken a downward trend two team event. S. It will be the first Test victory.For Madugalle, it College informed the during both tours. Thomas’ College, Mount time in history that 13 will be a series he will never media at a briefing held However, without giving another Lavinia has come for- schools will participate forget as it was in this series at the Colombo Rowing ward to change this tradi- in the inaugural event that he scored his first Test Club, last Thursday. tional face of rowing by where 150 oarsmen and century. The new Warden of S. launching the T500 women will be involved. Madugalle and Arjuna Thomas’College,Rev.J. Sprint Championship, a Ananda College, Ranatunga scored their maid- C. Puddefoot will grace 500 metre sprint regatta Asian International en Test centuries in the the occasion as chief for coxed fours, doubles School, Prince of Wales, first innings of guest. sculls and single scull Royal College, St.

Thomians and Born Maris Stella impress

The skipper of Isipatana College, Prasad Devindra receives by Manjula D. the Salonpas Challenge trophy from the chief guest, Rohan Phillips Wetthasingha (Director/General Manager, Akbar to Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) Ltd). to Shavin Kapukotuwa (31) Isipatana bags Salonpas played the leading role for S. Thomas’ College, 10-a-Side rugby trophy Mount Lavinia who romped to a 101- Text and pix sponsored by Akbar 36 victory over D. by M. Farook Lantra Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) Ltd, sole importers of Salonpas S. Senanayake Isipatana College played products. College in a one an open brand of rugby to The chief guest was sided Group E clinch the Salonpas Rohan Wetthasingha match of the Inter lead Challenge trophy beating (Director/General Science College, Mt. School Under-19 Manager, Akbar Boys’ Cager Lavinia by 14 points (two Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) goals) to 5 (one try) at the Tournament Ltd.). Neranjan the Lanka won the second Test. Royal Complex last week- played at S. opportunity to this experienced cricketer, Weerasuriya (Marketing first Test played at the SSC Grounds. Both During the course of the match Javed end. Manager, Akbar Thomas’ College whose commanding personality makes It was the speedy Madugalle (103) and Ranatunga (111) bat- Miandad went berserk and attempted to Pharmaceuticals), Basketball courts him a born leader of men, the board Science College who drew ted superbly,helping Sri Lanka to a score attack the spectators. Imran Khan threat- Sarathchandra Silva on Monday. dropped him for the tour of Australia com- first blood before lemons. of 347. ened to abort the tour, but the intervention (Principal, Royal College At half time, mencing in December, 1988. Madugalle had After the turn around, Panadura) and Susantha Had not rain caused the loss of a vital of General Zia (the then Military ruler of the Thomians led no other option but to tender his resigna- Isipatana came up with a Mendis (Secretary, WPSR- two hours of playing time, Sri Lanka Pakistan) prevented such a course. stupendous performance 50 -24. tion, which he did. FA, also graced the occa- would have achieved its first Test victory Madugalle did not make any noteworthy and planted two tries, While Dishan sion. in this match. contribution in this series. Madugalle’s cricketing career had through winger M. S. De Mel chipped in Sri Lanka’s long and cherished dream Around this time, Madugalle was side- been marred by injuries. Madugalle him- Shuhlap and centre G. D. M. Results: with 15 useful Pramoda, while for Science of winning a Test match became a reality lined by the selectors in the same manner self stated: “I had to miss nearly 10 Tests Cup - Isipatana College points for the win- owing to injury.” College the only try was beat Science College by 14 in the second Test played at the that star batsman Roy Dias was treated. ners, Isira Madugalle played in 21 Tests and scored before lemons by points to 5. Saravanamuttu Stadium. Madugalle was This matter has been highlighted in ‘The Hiripitiya was the Dhanushka Malinka. Plate - St. Josephs’ also able to make a noteworthy contribu- Janashakthi Book of Sri Lanka ’ scored 1029 runs at an average of 29.40. His Science College, who College beat Lumbini leading scorer for tion making 54 in the first innings. In the written by S. S. Perera under a paragraph highest score in Tests is 103 against India. played their hearts out dur- College by 12 points to nil. the losing side He played in 63 ODIs scoring 950 runs at ing the first half spilled One-Day series, honours were evenly titled ‘The omission of Ranjan Madugalle’. Bowl - Royal Panadura with 10 points. shared with India winning the first match Excerpts: an average of 18.62 with 73 against most of the passes and beat Zahira College Maris Stella and Sri Lanka winning the second in “In India, Madugalle was shockingly Pakistan as his highest. never fed the three quar- Colombo by 14 points to 7. ters. outplay St. which Madugalle top scored with an omitted. The cardinal rule in any side is to Having given up playing cricket, Shield - Thurstan Anthony’s More than 330 partici- College beat Wesley College unbeaten 50 in a score of 171. give players staking a claim opportunities Madugalle concentrated on his marketing pants from 24 schools from by 14 points to nil. In a Group ‘B’ Soon after India’s tour, Sri Lanka ahead of the established ones. This was career with Ceylon Tobacco and in the the Western province took Saucer - Dharmapala match, Maris Stella toured Pakistan. This was the tour where blatantly ignored in Madugalle’s case. The early 1990s, when an opportunity came his part in this tournament College beat St. John’s College Negombo which was organized by the young made his mark in way he was handled on that tour gave the way to be involved in the game he loved, College, Nugegoda, by 12 recorded a 70-34 international cricket. In the first Test he impression that someone was worried the he accepted the post of . Western Province Rugby points to nil. Football Association victory over St. scored his maiden Test century and in the talented batsman would stage a comeback However, it was not plain sailing for The final was refereed Anthony’s College, (WPSRFA). by M. Faizal. third Test he made his second Test centu- if the opportunity was given him. The sit- Madugalle in the new position, for cricket The tournament was at the St. ry.In the second Test played at the newest uation changed when Cricket Board chief politics put an end to his career as a Match Anthony’s College Test venue in the world at Sialkot, Sri Gamini Dissanayake, who was striving to Referee. Later, the ICC reappointed Basketball Courts, Lanka collapsed for 157. In the second put the country on the cricketing map, was Madugalle and this time he was named the Kandy. At half time innings Sri Lanka made 200, helped by a briefed about the Indian tour.” Chief Match Referee. the visitors were brave knock of 65 from Madugalle. The 25th Test match for any cricket This was indeed a singular honour not comfortably ahead Sri Lanka lost all four ODIs. In the playing country is a historic occasion. Sri only for this charming former captain of 32-11. third ODI, Madugalle made a fighting 73 in Lanka played this match against New Sri Lanka, but for the entire country.In Dulaj Perera 78 balls with four sixes and three fours to Zealand in April, 1987. The highlight of the making the appointment, ICC Chief (16) and Akila guide Sri Lanka to a respectable score of match was the unbeaten double century Executive Malcolm Speed said; Jayawardena (12) 228 in 38 overs. Pakistan required a rate of (201 n.o.) by Brendon Kuruppu, making his “Madugalle is clearly regarded as the out- Test debut. While Kuruppu rewrote histo- were the best six runs per over to win but reached the standing member of the existing panel. target with three balls to spare. That was ry with his marathon knock, the only shooters for the His record as a former captain of Sri the closest that Sri Lanka came to beating other contribution of significance came winners while Lanka and the high regard in which he is Pakistan on that tour. from Ranjan Madugalle. For some inexpli- Jeorge Samith held throughout the cricket world makes The skipper of St. Joseph’s College, Malinda Soysa receives In February,1986, Pakistan, led by cable reason he had been kept out of the chipped in with him an ideal appointment for this posi- the Plate trophy from J. G. Amarajeewa (Principal, Lumbini Imran Khan toured Sri Lanka. This tour Sri Lanka team for over one and a half eight points for the tion.” College/President, WPSRFA). losers. was almost abandoned midway after Sri years. He gave good support to Kuruppu (Concluded)