Friday 25th January, 2008 15 Growling ‘Lions’ beginning to roar! by Rukshan Razak

rinity College, Kandy, is one of the a handful of Tschools in the island that is second to none, in respect of the facilities they offer in the field of sports and when it comes to cricket in particular, it is the only school in the whole world which can boast of having an international Test venue, which is their school cricket ground. Dilan Gangoda Undoubtedly, the ‘Lions’ Arinda Bulanwewa Wasika Munasinghe Rajitha Bandara Romesh Perera Rushan Jaleel Sachith Pathirana (Captain) have benefited because of this factor and one solid example is College, Colombo. Kumar Sangakkara, who has Trinity College, Kandy First XI cricket squad 2007-2008 Munasinghe, who bowls a been the world’s number one bit of right arm off spin is also batsman, a proud product of Seated from left: a very good cover fielder. Trinity. Rushan Jaleel, All rounder, Rajith Bandra, What the youngsters in the Dilan Gangoda a third year player, is an eco- First XI team hope for is to (Captain),Gamini nomical bowler who bowls left emulate this great cricketer. Dissanayake arm medium pace. It has been over a decade (Master-in- A great deal can be expect- since Sangakkara left his alma ed from Romesh Perera, a for- Charge),Arinda mater, and after twelve long mer Sri Lanka Under-19 poolist, years, Trinity a Bulanawewa and who is a fine all-rounder. He wicketkeeper/opening batsman Rajitha Bandra. had a good game against St. as their skipper, in Dilan Second row: Anne’s, picking up some impor- Gangoda. This lad, who has rep- Dushan tant wickets. resented his school for four Ranasinghe, Roshan Jaleel, a second year years in a row, speaking to ‘The Thejitha Polgolla, player is another all rounder. Island’ said that despite the fact Mohamed Saajid, Little Jaleel has scored over 200 that they have performed below Kavinda runs and has picked up nearly par so far this season, they have Jayasooriya and 15 wickets this season with his recently managed to make Suresh Wickrama. right arm off spin. amends. Hasith Illangaratne, a stand- Third row: Travin The team that has had eight by in the Sri Lanka Under-19 outings, recorded an outright Ratnayake, World Cup squad, opens the victory against Sri Rahula Mohamed bowling. College, Katugastota, and went Shameer, Akila Kithsiri Wimalweera, who on to put up an enhanced per- Jaysundra, has scored over 150 runs and formance in their first innings Chamath picked up a couple of wickets is against Kegalu Vidyalaya, to Umadantha, Shaad a late middle order batsman record a first innings win. Shible, Kithmal like Akila Jayasundra. Leg They were beaten by the Wimalweera. spinner Jayasundra has two strong Peterites. They have also Absent Sachith successive five wicket hauls played against St. Anne’s, Pathirana, Romesh and is currently in good form. Kurunegala, De Mazenod Dushan Ranasinghe, a Perera, Wasika College, Kandana, Ananda dependable batsman and effec- College, Colombo and Wesley Munasighe and tive off spinner, is fast turning College, Colombo, with all Darrel Wimalaratne out to be a fine all rounder. The matches ending in draws. The (Coach). Pix by reserve wicketkeeper is left match against Nalanda College, Rukshan Razak hand bat Mohamed Sajid. Colombo, ended in a nodeci- The others in the squad sion. Anthony’s College, Katugastota. Arinda Bulanawewa, last team, Sachith Pathirana who 19 World Cup squad. are; Keheliya Athugoda, Coming up are matches Gangoda, who has led by year’s acting captain and fifth went on to captain the Sri Probably the best bat in the Chamath Umadantha, against St. Joseph’s College, example, became the first cen- year player, is a leg spinner Lanka Under-19 team is certain- team, Wasika Munasinghe, Mohamed Shehan, Kavinda Colombo, commencing today, turion of the season and helped who played an important role ly the best all rounder in the dished out one of his best Jaysooriya, Suresh Wickrama followed by Kingswood, his team record their outright in his first outing by picking up team. innings when he scored an and Shaad Shible. Dharmaraja, S. Thomas’, Royal, win. four wickets. He is a hard hit- This sixth year player has a unbeaten 152 last week against The team has also got the Prince of Wales, Moratuwa, This elegant striker of the ting batsman. few five wicket hauls with his Kegalu Vidayalaya. Earlier, he services of a new coach. He is Vidyartha College, Kandy and ball has scored nearly 350 runs The key figure and strangely leggies and is at present on missed out on a century by just Darrel Wimalaratne, an old boy the big one, against St. and caught/stumped 15. the only colouresman in the National duty with the Under- two runs against Ananda of St. Peter’s College, Colombo.

Davis Cup – 2008 Trials Dinusha, Guyanga Mubeen:Mubeen: Star of the day at Embassy Pool Parlour and Artha through by Roshen nated Group–B beating by Revata Sirimangala Silva two USA-based players, Franklyn Steelman Aloka Coonghe of OAC Dinusha Wijesuriya, Guyanga Emmanuel and Oshada by 5 frames to 1 and Weerasekera and Artha Wijemanne,in March. M. M. Mubeen of then rolled over THDL Hewacottege made it through the Sources added that the avail- Embassy Pool Parlour, Silva of LB and Sarath first round of trials, held prior to ability of only Wijemanne has dominated Group-C, de Alwis by 5 frames to this year’s Davis Cup Asia- been confirmed so far, while winning all three nil and 5 frames to 2. Oceania Zone Group-III on Emmanuel looks to be finding it matches as he qualified R. Rumi dominated Wednesday (23). hard to obtain leave from his uni- for the second round of Group-G. He rolled over Of the five trials held for each versity in USA. If only the 8-Ball National M. Rumy Latheef 5-1, S. player, the uncapped Wijesuriya Wijemanne is to play in the next Championship, worked M. M. Nilabeen of the won four to earn the top spot in round of trials, he will have to off at the Apex Pool Sri Lanka Police 5-2 an eight-player pool to have a play against Hewacottege and Parlour, on Wednesday. and in the last match, realistic chance to enter this Weerasekera, which means Mubeen started the he beat M. N. M. Shiraj Seniel Hasanka Sewratna, Dilruk Hasanka Sewratna, Kiran Kasun, Manthila Jayawardana, S. year’s Sri Lanka team. Wijesuriya’s will make the team. day by defeating W. M. 5-4. Buddima, Chenuka Oshan and Vidvan Karunathilaka are seen demonstrating the ATV bike. Weerasekera and Sri Lanka’s only ATP player, P. Puchpakumara Asela Tennakoon, Hewacottege won three matches Harshana Godamanna is an auto- (YMBA), 5-0 and then who was impressive in each, but according to the Davis matic entry into Sri Lanka team defeated Ryan the All Island stage Cup trials rules, Weerasekera this year and he is to play the Somarathna of OAC showed that he also can SLSMS introduces ATV earned second place as he had First Singles while featuring in and K. Rajir. do well in the Nationals beaten Hewacottege in the match the Doubles match too in the Meanwhile, Milton by dominating Group-F. held between the two, earlier. Davis Cup. Each tie in the Davis Perera of LB who won He beat Shabir Hasari bike to sport lovers The other three players, Cup, played between two nations, the All Island stage of 5-0, Angelo Coonghe by M. Farook Lantra Sankha Athukorale, Michael contains two Singles and a the tournament, domi- and A. M. Imtiaz. and Sunday at Haritha Udyanaya, Siyaguna and Udith Doubles. According to the SLTA, Sri Lanka Sonic Motor Sports Thalapathpitiya. A fee will be Wickremasinghe earned fourth, Godamanna is likely to partner (Pvt) Ltd., has introduced the ATV charged for riding 5 laps which fifth and sixth places respectively. Rajeev Rajapakse, who has been a sport desert bike for leisure sport includes one free ride. Anyone who Athukorale and Siyaguna had seasoned doubles campaigner for lovers for the first time in Sri Lanka. has not used such bikes could be won two matches each of their the last five years for Sri Lanka. The introduction was held trained in five minutes,” he said. five encounters, but Athukorale Sri Lanka will play in this recently, at Haritha Udyanaya Asoka said that in Hydarabad, had beaten Siyaguna in the year’s Davis Cup next April in Thalapathpitiya, under the patron- freshers were trained in 20 minutes. match between the two, to earn Teheran, Iran, hoping to get a age of Urban Development This includes five minutes of brief- fourth place. Wickremasinghe, promotion to Group-II, after eight Authority Minister, Dinesh ing, five minutes of practice and ten meanwhile, won only one match. long years in their Zone. Gunawardana. minutes of riding and racing. He The two other players who Wednesday’s (23) Results: Chairman, Sonic Motor Sports said that he was planning to intro- were in the initial eight-player G. Weerasekera bt U. (Pvt) Ltd., said that children aged duce this system in Sri Lanka too. pool were Thangarajah Wickremasinghe 6-7, 6-1 (retd) between 5 to 10 years can use the Asoka had earlier introduced the Dineshkanthan and Sohan A. Hewacottege bt S. 50cc and those who are above 10 Pro-Kart Outdoor Racing and Patrick. Athukorale 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 years the 110cc, 150cc and 250cc mod- Windsurfing in 2005 and 2006 at Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Tennis Final Standings: eld. “These bikes are available for Gregory’s Lake in Nuwara Eliya. Association (SLTA) sources on 1. D. Wijesuriya, 2. G. leisure rides from 2.00 p.m. to 6.30 For further details contact Asoka Wednesday revealed that they Weerasekera, 3. A. Hewacottege, M. M. Mubeen of Embassy Pool Parlour, who dominated p.m. from Monday to Friday and Jayawardana on 077-3473399 or were expecting to hold the next 4. S. Athukorale, 5. M. Siyaguna Group-C, in action at the Apex Pool Parlour, on 10.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. on Saturday 2809620. round of trials, also involving and 6. U. Wickremasinghe. Wednesday. (Pic by Kamal Bogoda)