Friday 13th January, 2012 13 Under-19 Letter Marlon shines BY REEMUS FERNANDO Thilan, the ‘Black Stallion’, A 190-ball knock of 75 runs by N.D. Marlon was the highlight of the second day as his innings helped St. Aloysius’ College prolong their second innings to 73 overs and prevent a possible defeat has the last laugh against Maris Stella College, Negombo in their Under-19 tournament encounter and this story was repeated on and on. “why is an ageing middle order batsman factor does not arise again in the case of which ended at FTZ Ground yesterday. Correct me if I am wrong. I have been who cannot hit a ball out of the park selecting Thilan. Maris Stella were left with a target of a follower of this game for 34 years and I included in the World Cup squad?” (A If Sanath Jayasuriya was selected for the 121 runs to chase after St. Aloysius’ do not recall any instance in that period direct reference to Thilan). The writer one day squad at the age of 42, I don’t see were bowled out for 163 runs and the where the injured player and his replace- must have been under the impression that any reason why Thilan can’t make it at 35. home team were 75 for three at ment travelled together with no signs of younger players who can hit the ball pow- We keep on hoping that at least for the sake close. the former being ruled out of any game, erfully into the stands, or over the rooftops of the future survival of cricket, Scores: so that the latter could take over. should have been given preference. One the selectors put behind their stubborn and St. Aloysius’133 all out in 58.2 overs Incidentally,both Mahela and Thilan does not need a rocket scientist to tell you irresponsible attitudes and select Thilan. (N.D. Marlon 40, W.A. Madusanka 37; played in all three Tests and this cooked that it is not at all necessary to hit the ball Considering the fragile middle order, Shihan Dilasiri 3/22, Angelo Jayasinghe up story became the laughing stock in the out of the park to get six runs. All you Thilan’s presence itself will release the 3/24, Shanaka Fernando 2/19, end. Poor Mahela, who need is to hit the ball over the boundary pressure on Mahela and Sangakkara. We had nothing to do ropes and indeed the batsman will be do not want to see our team fail and if that Prasansana Jayamanne 2/14) and 163 all with any of this awarded six runs and Thilan is certainly happens, it is not the players we will be out in 72.2 overs (N.D. Marlon 75 N.B. must have been capable of doing that. He was once given blaming for the losses, and we will have to Samarakoon 25, P.H.T. Hashan 26; amused himself an award for face the bitter truth that the selectors have Prasansana Jayamanne 2/29, Angelo when he found thumping the made enough blunders in the recent Jayasinghe 4/43, Malindu Perera 2/13) the selectors most number of months which will be counted as the Maris Stella 151 for 6 overnight 176 trying to hide sixes in a Test prime reasons for our losses. all out in 45.1 overs (Roshan behind his series, so there Quite soon we will have to plead to the Madushantha 71, Sathira Dileepa 46; injured is nothing much Sports Minister or the President himself D.A. Nilanduwage 3/40, N.D. Marlon knee, for him to prove, to get rid of the present selectors as they 2/56, P.H.T. Madushan 3/30) and 75 for 3 as per his ability. are not acting in the appropriate manner. at close in 9 overs (Prasansana Unless a new rule It would be much appreciated if promi- Jayamanne 25, Roshan Madushantha 20; is brought in, such nent respective personalities like Michael N.D. Marlon 2/23) as the distance cov- Tissera, Anura ered by the shot is Tennakoon, Ashan bags ten wickets entitled for bonus , runs, this subject is Rumesh Ratnayake Despite conceding a first innings not worth talking and Chaminda defeat, Royal College Panadura had es, this is a story about. Vaas are selected some consolation as off spinner of a ‘black stallion’ Former for such an exclu- Kavindu Ashan completed a match bag Ywhom the so-called chief of sive panel, as they of ten wickets with a six haul in judges or selectors felt cannot selectors, are noble straight the second innings against Richmond run races in the premier league, Aravinda forward decision College in their match which ended at because he is too ‘old’. Despite massive de Silva makers and think- Panadura yesterday. protests by those who are well aware of did not ing individuals who select have won the Scores: what the ‘stallion’ was capable of deliver- Thilan for hearts of most Richmond 203 all out in 59 overs ing, they stubbornly held their views; the World cricket fans. (Hasitha Madushan 37, Damith “no, he is not in our future plans.” Somehow, it had to be a politician who Cup squad to Lakmihiran 32, Kasun Chamara 63; hit sixes. He Nirantha Asanka Alwis 2/20, Thenuka Dananjaya has been appointed as the caretaker of the sport who came forward and used his had a plan for Edirisinghe, 4/46, Kavindu Ashan 4/65) and 175 all Thilan Samaraweera Thilan and that Pannipitiya. out in 76.2 overs (A.K. Tyron 83, veto powers and put the ‘stallion’ back on the track and the rest is history.The plan was to play a solid Pabasara Waduge 20; Kavindu Ashan anchor role and hold the 6/66) ‘black stallion’ delivered, won ahead of other horses, though he couldn’t win the as an excuse for Thilan’s last minute innings together if the top order fails. On Royal Panadura 166 all out in 70.3 day for his country. inclusion. most occasions, the top order performed overs (Duleep Gayan 43, Dulanjana Thilan Samaraweera, our ‘black stal- Now, I forward the question: ‘Why isn’t and Thilan’s role was not needed. Charitha 30, Kavindu Ashan 38; Manula lion’ had the last laugh in the end. Recall Thilan included in our one day squad?’ He Unfortunately,Thilan failed against Gunawardena 3/27, A.K. Tyron 4/55, the amount of letters published in ‘The scored 339 runs in six Test innings, the , where his contribution was Banuka Maduppriya 2/33) and 29 for 3 at Island’ newspaper in the recent past. highest by a Sri Lankan batsman on this needed most. Along with Sangakkara, he close in 3 overs (Sithara Gimhana 2/17) Many columns were written by ‘The tour with two centuries. His exclusion was equal to the task of been aggressive Island’s sport writers who defended must be sweet music to the South African against while playing the anchor 22 wickets fall on day one Thilan and demanded justice for him. The team, their fans and specially Kepler role, but his moment came in the semi- facts and figures were forwarded to the Wessels, who must be furious with our final against New Zealand. Twenty two wickets fell on day one of utmost perfection. cricket loving public for making a big In that match, Sri Lanka who were on the Under-19 encounter between De All of us, who campaigned for Thilan’s issue of Thilan’s earlier removal and top, somehow collapsed and provided NZ Mazenod College, Kandana and Kalutara inclusion for the South African tour, can somehow packing him to the opportunity to come back into the Vidyalaya with the home team taking a now stand tall with sheer pride, because which resulted in that famous defeat for game. Thilan stepped into provide the slight edge over their opponents at Thilan did not let us down. He was hum- SA, where Thilan played a significant role, anchor role and that smart Kumar Kandana yesterday. ble and quiet and only made his bat do the at . Sangakkara scored a masterstroke in send- South Africa does not need enemies ing as the runner for Scores: talking and proved that we were right with friends like these, as our own selec- . Being school buddies De Mazenod 141 all out in 39 overs after all and we all feel that it was worth tors have sent Thilan home and Kepler Mahela and Thilan knew about each other (Malshan Fernando 48, Srihan fighting for. Despite the cricket loving public’s outcry, and ‘The Island’s strenu- Wessels must be feeling as he is now on and probably used all their experience and Anuruddhika 45; Sumudu Sameera 4/14, top of the world. also guided Mathews in their quest to win Shanilka Shehan 3/10) and 42 for 2 at ous campaign for Thilan, the so-called selectors did not budge. The Sports I strongly believe that Thilan should be and they reached the milepost with no fur- close in 18 overs included in the 50 over format as it is just ther hiccups, to book a place in the final. Kalutara Vidyalaya 108 all out in Minister came forward and checkmated them and named Thilan as an additional not slam-bang stuff as in the T20s. A lot of A long time ago, one of our most accom- 34.2 overs (Isuru Buddhika 34, D.J. planning comes into play. plished batsmen, Sidat Wettimuny retired Manatunga 23; Shaluka Deemantha 5/45, player. Then, there came that shameless cock-a-hoop story that the selectors Our middle order is fragile and we need ‘hurt’ pre-maturely,because he was only Lahiru Wickramasinghe 3/19, Jude named Thilan as a cover for Mahela an anchor-man to hold the innings togeth- selected for Tests in the latter part of his Madushan 2/30) Jayawardene who was nursing an injured er, and Thilan is the perfect batsman for career. But in the early 1990s, the selectors knee. Mahela himself had claimed that it the job. read the game well and that’s why we saw 115th Royal-St. Joseph’s encounter was not serious, but the selectors proba- I recall a certain letter published in a players like playing commences today bly wanted credit for Thilan’s selection newspaper when our World Cup squad the anchor role in most games and their was selected. The writer had questioned; contributions were immense. I hope the age The 115th traditional First XI cricket encounter between Royal College, and St. Joseph’s College, Maradana will be played today and tomorrow at Reid Avenue. Royal College Premier which produced the last win in the series in 2010 is skippered by Imal Sri Lanka rolls Lawn Bowls Tourney Liyanage, while Vidusha Jayasinghe captains the Josephians. rescheduled St. Joseph’s who lead the victory for the first time in history tally 28-21 have not recorded a victory in The Premier this series since their back to back wins The Lawn Bowls ered biased stone bowls from (Developing) Federation by Sri League Cricket in 2004 and 2005. Federation will host the first 5,000 B.C. Today lawn bowls Lanka, but has also received Tournament which The series between the two schools is ever tournament for Lawn are made from special synthet- recognition from the World was postponed twice one of the oldest cricket fixtures of the Bowls in Sri Lanka. ic material to make the balls Bowls Association as a due to requests island. According to statisticians of the Competitors are members of supple, biased and hardy. National Federation (in the made by clubs has two schools the series which com- seven different clubs and the Bowling was well estab- development phase). The been scheduled to menced in the year 1896 has not been competition entries are for sin- lished in by 1299 A.D. Malaysian and Indian get underway from interrupted even during the world war I gles, male and female, mixed The game became so popular Federations have provided Sri January 18 at varies and II. and male and female doubles. in England and in France it Lanka with great support venues. The curtain- The Tournament will be was prohibited by law because since the initiation of this raiser to the Tier ‘A’ played over two days - 14th and archery, essential to the project. tournament will be 15th January - and will be national defense, was neglect- In November, a training played between umpired by Indian officials. ed. The French King, Charles camp was held in Malaysia, Bloomfield and Colts Sri Lanka ‘A’ This competition will serve as IV,prohibited the game for the supported by the President of at the trial to choose a team to common people in 1319, and the Federation himself, Tun while the Tier ‘B’ participate in the upcoming King Edward III issued a simi- Ahmad Sarji bin Abdul Hamid Tournament will squad named 2012 Asian Games. Because Sri lar edict in England in 1361. who has received the highest commence on Lanka does not currently have The game reached Canada Award possible from the January 20. (RS) Middle order batsman Thilina a proper rinks to play on, the and America in the 1600 and Government for his work in Kandamby has been appointment as tournament is being conduct- thereafter became very popu- the civil service. The training captain of the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team for ed at the cricket section of the lar. However, the game did not course was conducted by Mr England ‘A’ team’s tour of Sri Lanka. CH & FC grounds. reach the shores of Sri Lanka Ramble, Secretary of the England ‘A’ team will play five Limited Sri Lanka rolls Lawn until late 2011 when a team of Federation and Captain Shah over matches with the curtain-raiser Netball Federation Bowls for the first time in his- people got together to form the at the Malaysian Lawn Bowls getting underway on January 27. tory Sri Lanka Lawn Bowls Head Office. The Sri Lankan Squad: Thilina Kandamby in search of coaches The history of Lawn bowls Federation. team members were taught (Captain), Dimuth Karunaratne (Vice goes back over 7,000 years to Iqbal Hassan has been the basic techniques and were The Interim Captain), Mahela Udawatte, the Egyptian times where the appointed the President of the awarded Certificates. Committee which Danushka Gunathilake, Banuka first games were played with Sri Lankan Federation with Lawn Bowls is a sees to the adminis- Rajapakse, Kusal Janith (Wicket human skulls Susil Ramanayake as his Commonwealth and Asian tration of the Keeper), Farveez Maharoof, Malintha Lawn bowling, or “bowling Secretary. The Federation was Games sport with over 54 Netball Federation of Warnapura, Ashan Priyanjana, Angelo on the green,” is an outdoor started with the support of countries in the world playing Sri Lanka is calling Perera, Kanishka Elvitigala, Thilina game which has fascinated the Royal Class of 74 and the this game at competitive lev- applications from Thushara, Tharanga Lakshitha, both young and old for cen- assistance of two energetic els. The World Bowls competent candi- Nuwan Pradeep, , turies. Sculptured vases and and inspiring ladies. Today Federation is seeking to dates to apply for Sachithra Senanayake, Seekuge ancient plaques show the the Federation has not only include Lawn Bowls in the national coaching Prasanna, Malinga Bandara, Sajeeva game being played with uncov- been recognized as a Olympics in the near future. positions. Weerakoon, Sachith Pathirana. (RS) (CP)