Wednesday 15th July, 2009 15 Trophy match played in January, 1983. Coming in at No. 9, he and S. Jeganathan (49), put on 123 runs for the 8th wicket, helping the Sri Lanka Board President’s XI to retain the tro- A fantastic Test phy. Ashantha de Mel proved his maturity as a bowler of world class in the 1983 World Cup played in England. Throughout the tournament de Mel main- debut it was tained his well deserved mantle as the best strike bowler for Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka’s second match against New Zealand at Derby, it was de Mel who ripped through the New Zealand bat- ting and helped Sri Lanka to for de Mel record its solitary win in the tournament. He captured five wickets for 32 in a 12 over spell, years in the Daily News trophy match, was the highest scorer by M. A. Cyril which included four maidens. It tournament. In 1979, de Mel for Sri Lanka in the first innings was a performance which won joined the Sinhalese Sports Club while 22-year-old Ashantha de shantha Lakdasa Francis him the Man of the Match (SSC) and went on to represent Mel who had played for Royal de Mel was born on May award. the club till 1986. under Madugalle, was Sri A9, 1959. He first studied at Sri Lanka came very close to When Sri Lanka played her Lanka’s best bowler. Isipatana College, Colombo, creating an upset against inaugural Test in February, De Mel also played a promi- where he played for the Under- Pakistan at Leeds. Put into bat, 1982, Ashantha de Mel had the nent part in Sri Lanka’s first 16 team as an off-spin bowler. In Pakistan were soon in trouble as honour of representing Sri ODI victory against England. In 1976 and 1977 he played for the de Mel sent back the first three Lanka in that historic match. the first match which Sri Lanka College First XI cricket team batsmen and in his second spell And what a fine debut he had! lost by 5 runs, de Mel captured and first XV rugby team. got two more wickets. After hav- In reply to Sri Lanka’s first four wickets for 34. He was Having studied up to the GCE ing the Pakistanis reeling at 45 innings score of 218, England unlucky not to get a hat-trick in (O/L) at Isipatana, Ashantha for 5, Sri Lanka’s poor catching could manage only 223 - a lead of his first ODI. He had Mike moved over to Royal College and allowed Pakistan to recover. De just five runs. Three England Gatting caught by Duleep represented the school at cricket Mel’s valiant efforts were thus wickets had gone before lunch Mendis and John Emburey leg and rugby. Thus, he had the dis- wasted as Sri Lanka allowed for 40, Ashantha de Mel captur- before in successive balls but tinction of representing both Pakistan to win by 11 runs. De ing all three of them. He would Allott was run out by de Mel Isipatana and Royal at cricket Mel finished with another haul have had another wicket - that of when the wicket keeper threw and rugby. of five wickets. skipper Keith Fletcher, who was the ball to him. Three wickets in While Ashantha was at India stunned the cricket dropped at four by D. S. de Silva. three balls, but not a hat-trick! Isipatana, he was adjudged the world by winning the World Cup De Mel also had the wicket of De Mel won the award for the Best Schoolboy Bowler, the same defeating the powerful West Ian Botham, whom he clean Best Bowler. year that former Sri Lanka skip- Indies in the final. India’s Roger bowled for 13 to finish with cred- Sri Lanka won the second per and present ICC Chief Binny and Sri Lanka’s itable figures of four for 70. This match played at the SSC with Match Referee Ranjan Ashantha de Mel with 18 wick- was indeed a fine performance one ball to spare in a needle fin- Madugalle was named the Best ets each were the joint highest for a youngster making his Test ish. De Mel bowled the last over Schoolboy Batsman. Ashantha Lakdasa Francis de Mel wicket takers in the tourna- debut in his country’s inaugural in which three wickets fell. For While Ashantha was yet a ment. But due to some error on Test. He also captured one wick- the second time de Mel won the On the tour of India which Sri Lankan to capture five or schoolboy at Isipatana, he used the part of the scorers, de Mel et for 33 in England’s second award for the Best Bowler. followed soon after, De Mel took more wickets against India in a to go for practices to Petersons has been credited with only 17 innings score of 171 for 3. Soon after the inaugural Test, his first five wicket haul when single Test innings. Sports Club, Wellawatta. The wickets. It was interesting to note that Sri Lanka toured Pakistan to he captured 5 for 68 in India’s De Mel showed his capabili- club was in need of fast bowlers (To be continued while Ranjan Madugalle, who play three Tests and three ODI second innings in the one-off ties as a late order batsman and Ashantha was asked to have tomorrow) a go at bowling fast. He played had captained Royal in 1979 in matches. De Mel captured 11 Test at Chepauk. He had the dis- when he scored a blazing 100 for Petersons for two or three the centenary Royal-Thomian wickets in the Test series. tinction of becoming the first against Madras in the Gopalan Standard Chartered likely to partner AA to help marathon runners The Standard Chartered try’s GROE 2008/09 series South and South East Asian Singapore), Ajith Bandara Bank is likely to partner the Sri marathon runners received region in the 2008/09 ‘Greatest (2:24.02-Mumbai) and Ishan Lanka Athletic Association to awards. Race on Earth Marathon’ Wijethilaka (2:24.02- Hong help nurture the talents of Sri While Palitha Fernando, the series, while the men’s team Kong), Chandrawathi Lanka’s marathon runners who president of the Sri Lanka were runner-up, behind India. Marasinghe (3:13.03- Nairobi), have excelled at regional Athletic Association expressed The athletes received a total of Ruvina Deepani (3:06.53- marathons. hope that Standard Chartered US $ 116,000,00 as prize money, Singapore), Anuradhi Although an official state- would help develop the talents which the bank said was dis- Bogahawaththa (3:09.35- ment to this effect has not been of marathon runners, Anirvan tributed according to the per- Mumbai) and Manjula made, both the bank officials Ghosh Dastidar, Head of formance of each athlete in the Kumarasinghe (3:00.04) formed and athletic association offi- Consumer Banking, said that four legged series. the women’s team. cials hinted that a partnership the bank is ready to assist the While men’s team included The prize money of US$ is likely to be formed, at a press athletic association. Sujeewa Chandrapala (2:38.12- 116,000.00 is the highest amount conference held at the Athletic Sri Lanka’s women’s team Nairobi), Jeevakumaran a Sri Lankan long distance run- Heidi Ho (TCL Representative -Asia Region) (Left) presents a memento to Hemaka Association where the coun- emerged champions of the Sivaperumal (2:54.48- ning team has received. (RF) Amarasuriya, Chairman Singer (Sri Lanka) during a ceremony held recently to announce the partnership. TCL and SINGER walk the ‘Road of Asia’ together TCL, an official partner of the 2010 Asian Games, Singer (Sri Lanka) 16th Asian Games, and Singer (Sri PLC Chairman, Hemaka Lanka) PLC, its exclusive agent here, Amarasuriya said that ”the Asian welcomed the 2010 Games Road Show Games and the Olympic Movement as it wound its way to Colombo for are much more than a sports event; just one day recently. The ‘Road of these are about bringing countries Asia’ tour will be travelling to 45 and people together in a celebration Asian countries and aims to build of harmony, camaraderie and good- excitement for the Guangzhou, China will,” going on to note that ”in much edition of the Asiad, which bears the the same way,SINGER sees itself as a Members of the Sri Lanka women’s and men’s teams who won the South and South East Asian region champions and runner-up titles respective- striking tagline ”Thrilling Games, thread running through the tapestry ly at the Standard Chartered ‘Greatest Race on Earth Marathon’ series 2008/09 with bank officials and officials of the Sri Lanka Athletic Association. Harmonious Asia.” of Sri Lankan life, binding communi- The men’s team included (front row from left): Ishan Kumara WIjethilaka, Sujeewa Chandrapala, Ajith Bandara and (back row fourth from left): Commenting on the honour of ties to one another in fellowship and Jeewakumaran Sivaperumal, while the women’s team comprised (front row from right): Ruwina Deepani, Anuradhi Bogahawatte, Manjula being associated with the prestigious togetherness.” Kumarasinghe and Chandrawathie Marasinghe. (Pic by Saman Abesiriwardana) U-19 Inter-School BB from today by Roshen Steelman teams from each group will make Mutwal, St. Joseph’s Seminary, it to the second round. Kohuwala, Rathnayake Central The Sri Lanka Schools Group - A: Lyceum College, Walala, Christ King Basketball Association (SLSBA) International School, Nugegoda, College, Tudella and St. Micheal’s has decided to changed the pattern Mahanama College, Colombo College, Batticaloa.