Thursday 16th March, 2006 11

Ailing structure of school The article in ‘’ of 5th – Australia’s March titled “World Cup flop highlights School problems for ,” speaks volumes for the urgent need for heavy investment by to arrest the fast deteriorating standard of . The writer states inter alia that “Expenses for all cricket activities are borne by schools, and some of the out- cricketing Waterloo? station schools struggle to make ends meet, and manage with a few pieces of by Mahinda Wijesinghe respectable total of 321, to which the Within a few weeks came the first cricket and engineered a 233-run win by equipment including balls.” tourists capitulated at 254 – 67 runs Test – at Johannesburg again. helping dismiss Australia for 261. “SLC throws money into many proj- aving scored a world record- behind. Going in for the second time, On a ground saturated with earlier This was the first occasion, in 64 years ects but pumping money into the school breaking ODI total of 434/5 and Transvaal skipper, 24-year old Ali rain, the hosts were bundled out for 199 and 22 attempts, since the series began, structure is something that needs to Hthen seeing not only that record Bacher – who later on became the South runs with paceman McKenzie (5/46) that the Springboks tasted their first- take their attention as there are several go up in smoke a bare three hours later African cricketing supremo – hammered doing most of the damage. The only ever home Test win against Australia. schools that like to play the game but but also lose the series into the bargain the highest-ever score (235) by a Springbok who defied the attack was As Geoffrey Chettle reported in the staid simply cannot afford to, with the ever must indeed have been bitter gall for the Springbok against Australia, and assist- -keeper Denis Lindsay who top- Wisden Almanack (1968): “The match rising cost of living.” This statement high-riding Australians. ed by Roy Lance (107), amassed a total of scored with an of 69. When the will go down as one of the most memo- needs repetition as it exemplifies the and his men tasted just that last Sunday 422/6 before closing the innings. Australians replied, openers Lawry (98) rable in the history of South African crux of the problem and should make at the Wanderers ground in Simpson’s men had to score 489 runs in 6 and Simpson (65) put on 118 before being cricket. Australia’s proud record of 64 SLC to sit up and take notice as to the Johannesburg. hours 40 minutes for victory. separated, and the tourists passed the years without defeat in Test matches in cause of falling standards, particularly However, this is not the first time the As the Wisden Almanack (1968) Springbok total with nine in South Africa was smashed after even the in junior cricket. Australians have bitten the dust at reported: “The Australians fought mag- hand ( 41). A dramatic col- most sanguine supporter had written off Our defeat at the hands of Johannesburg. nificently to preserve their proud record lapse set in thereafter and Australia was the Springbok’s chances within an hour Bangladesh repeatedly should make The first occasion was in November (of never having tasted defeat on all out for 325 runs – a comfortable lead of play commencing………..five wickets SLC meet the impending crisis, head on. 1966 when the Australians under the cap- S.African soil. MW) and maintained a nevertheless of 126 runs. down for 41 was the sequel to van der A recent incident will illustrate the taincy of toured the veldt scoring rate in excess of a run a However, in the second innings, the Merwe’s decision to bat first.” present status quo generally existing in with a team comprising, inter alia, Bill minute………….they managed to hang Australian bowlers were taken to the Much the same could have been said the outstation schools. About three Lawry, , , grimly until with eight minutes to go cleaners with Lindsay (182) again the forty years later when the Australians months ago the Master-in-Charge of Grahame Thomas, Tom Veivers, was completely beaten by top-scorer while five others contributed amassed a record-breaking total of 434/5 Cricket in a outstation school that has Hawke, Graham McKenzie and Johnny Tillim’s wrong ‘un.” Australia was all half-centuries towards a massive total of in 50 overs at the same venue the other produced several Sri Lankan cricketers Martin, played against Transvaal at out for 413 and lost by 76 runs. This was 620 - the highest South African total in day: “Even the most sanguine supporter informed me and several others who Johannesburg. the first occasion, in 64 years, Australia . The tourists had to score had written off……….” were associated with this school that Batting first, the home side ran up a lost a game in South Africa - and it was 494 for victory,but Trevor Goddard (6/53) But then the Australians were playing they would not be able to play any at Johannesburg. turned his best-ever performance in Test at Johannesburg! matches including the ‘Big Match’ as they were short funds to the tune of approximately Rs. 100,000. They needed a matting wicket in addition to other Pace Bowlers’ cricket materials, in addition to funds ‘Battling’ for Mangosteens? for travelling and other incidental W/Shop expenses. “We pooled our resources and by our Kalutara Correspondent MMV. will be played at the public play- Tissa MMV has won five matches. met a part of this expenditure,” he grounds, Kalutara on March 17 and 18. Romesh Wickramasinghe, a fourth- by our Badulla Sports Correspondent added. The 48th ‘Battle of the Mangosteens’ Kalutara Vidyalaya has played and year coloursman will Kalutara The Badulla District Cricket All the donors were invited for the between Kalutara Vidyalaya and Tissa registered two victories and lost two Vidyalaya while W.D. S. N. K. Silva leads Association has organised a Fast ‘Big Match’ and we were shocked to see matches while the rest were drawn. Tissa MMV. Bowlers’ Workshop at the Badulla the state of the ground and the attire of Cricket Grounds on March 20. some of the cricketers. Former Sri Lanka cricketer and fast This then is the picture presented by bowler Champaka Ramanayake will be a school that is over 100 years old. You in charge of this workshop. could imagine how some of the other The president of the Badulla DCA, schools continue to play this game. Anil Manawadu has forwarded circu- About six years ago, I had an occa- lars to all schools and clubs in Badulla sion to confront the then president of to send at least ten fast bowlers each the BCCSL and I questioned the wis- who are not less than 17 years of age. dom of the BCCSL spending a colossal sum of over Rs. 500 million on a stadi- um in Dambulla when the facilities and finances in the outstation clubs and Lihini it is schools were in such a parlous state. I by T. Rajah - Badulla Sports indicated that if Rs. 100 million was Correspondent spent on schools and clubs in the outsta- Lihini House won the Badulla Sri tions, the return on the investment Rahula Maha Vidyalaya inter-house would have been one hundred times Athletic Championships, conducted at more. the Vincent Dias Stadium, last Saturday. This statement of mine did not find Lihini House collected 563 points, favour with him and the next thing I while Mayura House was placed second knew was that there was no renewal of Tissa MMV Kalutara team with 541 points. Hansa House secured my contract as the Manager of the Sri A. G. S. Mayura, W. S. N. Perera, M. W. S. C. K. Silva, T. R. M. Silva, S. Lahiru Wickremasinghe, S. D. D. N. Kularatna, N. S. Jayasingha, L. A. S. third place with 482 points. Lanka team that had won 11 out of 13 Weerawardhana, H. R. M. C. Gunasekera, J. M. Pumal, C. P. H. S. Kurera, S. P. Weerasingha, S. K. S. T. Silva, K. L. Gayan, J. S. K. Asanka, A. S. N. Gayashan Badulla District Director of matches during a period of 4 months. and D. A. S. U. de Silva. Education, K. M. Jayasooriya was the My suggestion is that SLC should chief guest at this meet and distributed prepare a database of all facilities avail- the awards. able, particularly in the outstation Champion athletes: schools and clubs and prepare a com- Under-11 Boys: Sajith Kumara, Under-11 Girls: J. prehensive plan of assistance to these M. Savini Anunthara, Under-13 Boys: D. M. Sajith institutions. Budhika, Under-13 Girls: N. D. Nayana Pumalee, Under-15 Boys: K. P. Aruna Sudath, Under-15 Neil Perera, Girls: D. M. A. Subashini, Under-17 Boys: M. Former Hony. Secretary, BCCSL, Nasmin, Under-17 Girls: Nisanka Priyadharshini, and former Manager Sri Lanka Cricket Team Under-19 Boys: Y. A. Jayantha Chathuranga, Under-19 Girls: A. M. Shashika Rammi, Under-21 Boys: D. D. Mudith Rukmal, Under-21 Girls: J. M. Waidya at Thamara Kumari. Thomian Sports Meet - 2006 Commonwealth The inter-house sports meet of S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia will be held tomorrow, at the college grounds, Games commencing at 11.30 a.m. P. H . D. The chief guest at this occasion will Waidayatilake, be Dr. Nihal de Silva an old Thomian. International (athlete and a Sri Lankan representative Technical Officer Kalutara Vidyalaya team at the Olympic Games in 1964 Tokyo, (ITO), will offici- Romesh Wickramasinghe, Chinthaka de Silva, Rangana Silva, Shanaka Waduge, Malinda Perera, Vimukthi Joseph, Janaka Rukmal Pieris, Janith Japan). ate at this week’s Sameera, Romesh Gunaratna, Navida Uthpala, Farook Ishan, Gihan Viduranga, Supun Dhanuska, Lahiru Wickramaratne and Sadun Chamara. All old boys, parents and well wishers Commonwealth (Pix. Kalutara Correspondent) are invited to witness this event. Games in , his third successive games. Additional soccer Waidayatilake beat high-riding Sri Rahula first officiated at a Commonwealth by Rukshan Razak - Kandy Sports found things not to their liking Marasinghe (44 with 4 fours and Games in 1998 at tourneys in Badulla Correspondent against their unbeaten oppo- 1 six) and Saliya Tennakoon (35 the Kuala Lumpur, by T. Rajah - Badulla Sports ments for schools will be nents from Kegalle. with 4 fours and 1 six). Games followed by the Manchester conducted monthly, in addi- Correspondent Kegalu Vidyalaya brought Sri scored CHIEF SCORES: Games in 2002. In addition, he has offici- tion to the normal ‘A’ and ‘B’ down the high riding Sri 160 and Kegalu Vidyalaya, chas- Sri Rahula College 160 all out in 49.3 ated in many other international sport- Additional soccer tourna- Division League and Knock- Rahula College Katugastota ing a victory target of 161 were overs (M. Jayawardena 15, M. D. ing events, including the World Athletic ments are expected to be out tournaments. when they beat them by five just 18 runs away when rain Championships, Asian Games, Asian conducted this year by the The Uva Provincial Bandara 15, R. Udayakumara 14, D. Championships and South Asian Badulla District Football Council, Ministry of Sports wickets in their rain affected interrupted play with their Gunatillake 45, A. N. Gunaratne 38, Games. League to improve the stan- has donated Rs. 57,000/- to schools Lemonade trophy,limit- total at 143 for 5 wickets in 32.1 Amila Jayasinghe 2 for 13, C. A senior vice-president of the the league to improve foot- dard of the game. ed overs cricket tournament overs. Premaratne 1-19, A. Marasinghe 1-17, P. Athletic Association of Sri Lanka, The president of the ball among schools in the match played at Peradeniya, Using the Duckworth/Lewis Waidyatilake was the Technical area. Accordingly, arrange- T. M. Karunaratne 1-19). league, Sarath Fernando recently. system, Kegalu Vidyalaya need- Delegate for the South East Asian ments are also being made to Kegalu Vidyalaya 143 for 5 wickets in revealed this at the Annual Sri Rahula College, who reg- ed 133 runs to win in 33 overs Games held in Manila last year, the General Meeting held at the conduct Under-15 and 32.1 overs (A. Marasinghe 44, R. S. istered a surprise win over St. which they had achieved follow- highest position a technical official can Riverside Inn recently. Under-17 tournaments, Tennakoon 35, C. Premaratne 19, C. aspire to. According to him tourna- shortly. Anthony’s College, Katugastota ing good knocks by A. Dickkumbura 1-13, M. Bandara 1-13).