Wednesday 25th March, 2009 SLC Inter-Provincial T-20 – 2008/09 Bro. Baptist’s funeral tomorrow Rev. Bro. (Dr.) Baptist Croos (F.S.C.) a multi-faceted religious breathed his last at the Top ninety players in very house he spent a significant part of his life as a De La Salle Brother. He was 69 years old at the time of his death. Born on 1st June 1939, Bro. Baptist received his primary Rev. Bro. (Dr.) Baptist education at Good Croos (F.S.C.) bang-bang cricket Shepherd Primary School in Mannar and later St. Xavier’s College, Mannar before coming to Colombo where he by Revata S. Silva underwent religious studies at St. Joseph’s Novitiate in Mutwal. It was there he passed away Basnahira South (Lexmark): on Monday. ri Lanka’s top ninety players will Tillakaratne Dilshan (Capt.), Although Bro. Baptist held many positions as feature in this season’s Inter- Chamara Silva (V. Capt.), Malinda a religious including two stints as Provincial SProvincial Twenty-20 Warnapura, Milinda Siriwardene, Superior from 1982-1988 and 1997-1998, the Tournament, organised by Sri Lanka Hasantha Fernando, Gihan sports loving public of the country got to know him due to his contributions to various newspa- Cricket, to be held from March 25 to Rupasinghe, Prasanna Jayawardene pers on cricket matters. April 5 at five different Colombo ven- (wk), Nuwan Zoysa, Malinga Bandara, A prolific writer, Bro. Baptist provided his hon- ues. The tournament was officially Suranga Lakmal, Janaka Gunaratne, est opinion on cricketing matters regularly and announced to the media at a special Dilruwan Perera, Lahiru Thirimanne, what made him a unique writer was his com- briefing held at the Singhalese Sports Charith Sylvester and Chinthaka mand of language that while inspiring many bud- Club Badminton Courts Hall Tuesday Perera ding writers provided a unique scope to the (24) morning. Manager: Ashantha Dassanayake game as well. The following persons, (Ms) Bro. Baptist is also credited with providing English education to some cricketers who rose Roshani Cooray of Lanka Bell, Marlon Kandurata (MAS): to limelight following the 1996 World Cup that Sri Peiris of Ewis, Mahesh Gunathillake Kumar Sangakkara (Capt./wk), Lanka won. of MAS, Harsha Samarajeewa of Chaminda Vaas, Capt. Tillakaratne Dilshan, Capt. Kumar Sangakkara, Capt. Muttiah Muralitharan (V. Capt.), He’s credited for initiating the La Sallian Lexmark, Nikhil Hirdaramani of of Basnahira North of Basnahira South of Kandurata Indika Senaratne, Chamara English Academy in Mutwal that provided Hirdaramani Group and (Ms) Vijitha Kapugedera, Kanchana Gunawardene, English education to many underprivileged stu- Ratnayake of SL Telecom were present Sanjaya Gangodawila, Jeewan Mendis, dents of the area. representing the sponsors of SLC Tharanga Paranavitana, Kaushalya Apart from his interests in cricket, Bro. Baptist Inter-Provincial cricket for the past Weeraratne, Chinthaka Jayasinghe, was also well versed in literature and was fluent in seven languages including German and two years. Nishantha Ranatunga, sec- Thilan Thushara, Sachith Pathirana, French apart from Urdu, which he first learnt and retary, SLC Interim Committee, and Chaminda Vidanapathirana, Dilhara then taught while being a missionary in Pakistan. Duleep Mendis, CEO, SLC. Fernando and Seekkuge Prasanna Bro. Baptist also wrote books in Urdu to add Mendis, addressing the gathering, Manager: C.P. P. Raj to the many books that he wrote in English. said national players will come into His remains lie at St. Joseph’s Church, 130, action in this Inter-Provincial Twenty- Ruhuna (Hirdaramani): De La Salle Street, Mutwal, Colombo-15. His 20 for the first time after the March 3 Sanath Jayasuriya (Capt.), Upul remains will be taken to Mannar today, after the ‘unfortunate happening’ that took Tharanga (V. Capt.), Saman Jayantha, Holy Mass at 4pm at St. Joseph’s Church, for place in Lahore. While thanking the Indika de Saram (wk), Tillakaratne burial on Thursday. May he rest in peace. sponsors, Mendis added the tourna- Sampath, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Kosela ment would be the main criteria for Kulasekara, Tharanga Lakshitha, selection of the Sri Lanka team for the Lasith Malinga, Sujeewa de Silva, Anil Liyanapathirana bags 15 forthcoming ICC Twenty-20 World Cup Rideegammanagedera, Sachithra to be held in England next June. Senanayake, Ashan Priyanjan, Gihan wickets to reach season high Ranatunga said the tournament Sanath Jayasuriya, Capt. Jehan Mubarak, Capt. Dinesh Chandimal, Capt. de Silva and Sajeewa Weerakoon President’s College spinner Maduka began two years ago with some diffi- of Ruhuna of Wayamba of Schools XI Manager: Jayantha de Silva Liyanapathirana picked up 15 wickets and took culties. “The best 75 national player his overall tally to 137 wickets this season hav- and the best 15 school players will fea- Wayamba (Lanka Bell): ing helped his team record a comfortable ture in this tournament. There were Schedule Jehan Mubarak (Capt.), Jeevantha innings and 52 run victory over Siri Piyaratana some arguments earlier on. But we’ll Kulatunga (V. Capt.), Mahela College in their Inter-School Under-19 two-day still consider club cricket as the back- March 25 (Wed) – Jayawardene, Mahela Udawatte, Lanka match played at Padukka yesterday. bone of our domestic cricket. Wayamba v Basnahira South at SSC Tue 31 (Tue) - de Silva, Tissara Perera, Sameera de Liyanapathirana picked up eight wickets in Provincial cricket is not a hindrance Basnahira North v Kandurata at SSC* Basnahira South v Ruhuna at SSC Zoysa (wk), Damitha Hunukumbura, the first innings and seven wickets in the sec- ond innings to restrict the hosts to 162 runs and for inter-club cricket. We were able to Ruhuna v Schools XI at Moors Kandurata v Wayamba at SSC Shalika Karunanayake, Isuru Udana, 146 runs in the two innings. pick players like Ajantha Mendis Basnahira North v Schools XI at P.Sara Ishara Amerasinghe, Chanaka President’s College posted a massive 390 through this tournament,” he added. March 26 (Thu) - Welegedara, Rangana Herath, Kaushal for nine in 59 overs scoring at a rate of 6:61 Wayamba v Schools XI at Moors April 4 (Sat) - Lokuarachchi and Michael Van Dort runs an over. Chanaka Gunasekara starred for Squads (15 members each) – Ruhuna v Basnahira North at Moors 1st Semi-final between No.1 and No.3 Manager: Ashoka Pathirana President’s College with a fine 117. Basnahira North (Ewis): Basnahira South v Kandurata at P.Sara teams at SSC Scores: Chaminda Vaas (Capt.), Thilina 2nd Semi-final between No.2 and No.4 at Schools XI: Siri Piyaratana 162 all out in 35.2 overs Kandamby (V. Capt.), Dhanuka March 28 (Sat) - SSC Dinesh Chandimal (Capt.), Angelo (Lakmal Thilakawardena 53, Gahya Udawate Pathirana, Amal Athulathmudali, Wayamba v Ruhuna at SSC Perera (V. Capt.), Udara Jayasundera, 35, Dilshan Pathum 26; Maduka Angelo Mathews, Gayan Wijekoon, Basnahira South v Basnahira North at April 5 (Sun) - Kushal Perera, Banuka Rajapaksha, Liyanapathirana 8/60, Sagara Vimukthi 2/47) and 146 all out in 37 overs (Lakmal Bathiya Perera, Kaushal Silva, SSC Final at SSC at 2.15 pm Imesh Udayanga, Chathuranga de Thilakawardena 36, N. Priyadarshana 38, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, Kandurata v Schools XI at Police Park Silva, Sameera Weerasinghe, Wimanga Thivanka Ratnayake 21; Maduka Shanuka Dissanayake, Nuwan * When there are two matches sched- Perera, Chathura Peiris, Lahiru Liyanapathirana 7/71, Viraj Perera 2/17) Kulasekara, Saliya Saman, Nuwan March 29 (Sun) - uled at one venue on the same day, 1st Jayaratne, Malith Cooray, Vimukthi President’s College 360 for 9 in 59 overs Pradeep, Ian Daniel and Daminda Basnahira North v Wayamba at Colts match will begin at 10.30 am and the Perera, Matheesha Perera and Rushan (Chanaka Gunasekara 117, Nipun Geethanga Darshanpriya Ruhuna v Kandurata at Colts 2nd will follow at 2.15 pm. Jaleel 35, Sagara Vimukthi 43, Dasun Perera 25, Manager: Anura Tennakoon Basnahira South v Schools XI at Moors Manager: (not named) Jayaranga Priyasad 25; Udara Mendis 3/70). (RF) Munchee Under-19 Cricket Udayanga cracks unbeaten 140 in Dharmasoka win by Reemus Fernando Royal cruise to eight his good form in the Big Match to the victory over Moratu Vidyalaya as wickets win Under-19 Limited Overs Sithum Fernando impressed with an Skipper Imesh Udayanga’s Sahan Hettiarachchi scored an Tournament as he top scored with 58 unbeaten 52 runs in their Limited unbeaten 140 runs in 132 balls inclu- unbeaten 52 runs including six fours runs for Mahinda College, Galle to Overs Knockout Tournament match sive of 15 fours and seven sixes was and two sixes as Royal College beat Sri Jayawardenapura MV by 66 played at Prince of Wales Ground the highlight as Dharmasoka College cruised to an eight wicket win over runs to advance to the pre-quarter yesterday. scored a 51 runs victory according to St. Thomas’ College, Kotte with finals. The match was played at Scores: the Parabola System against Sri more than 37 overs to spare, after Ratgama yesterday Moratu Vidyalaya 133 all out Rahula College, Katugastota in their paceman Lakshan Landewela and Scores: (39.3) Inter School Under-19 Limited Overs spinner Charutha Rajaratne shared Mahinda 183 all out (44.1) Aloka Priyadharshana 50, Knockout Tournament match played seven wickets between them to Denuwan Rajakaruna 58, Rumesh Malinga Bandara 25; Dilan at Ambalangoda yesterday. restrict the visitors to 82 runs in Buddhika 39, Geeth Hemal 27, Chandima 4/26, Buddhika de Alwis The match was reduced to a 43 their match played at Reid Avenue Nirwantha Thikshila 15; T. 3/22, Shehan Jayasuriya 2/11 overs, but later Sri Rahula had to yesterday. Maduranga 3/23, S.S. Jayawickrama Prince of Wales 136 for 5 (36.5) chase a revised target of 150 runs in Scores: 2/35 Shehan Dammalage 28, Sithum 20 overs due to rain interruption.