Thursday 18th March, 2010 15

Seated from left: Yasodha Lanka, Tharanga Indika (Coach), Irosh Samarasooriya (Vice Seated from left: Tharaka Nimesh, Harsha Munasinghe (Coach), K. Wimalasena (Deputy Principal-Sports), ), E. M. S. Ekanayake (Principal), Kusal Prabodha (Captain), Damith Prasanna Kaushlya Gajasinghe (Vice Captain), R. M. Werahera (Principal), Denuwan Rajakaruna (Captain), K. M. (MiC) and . Standing from left: Hasitha Madushan, Pabasara Waduge, D.Prasad (Master-in-Charge), Rumesh Buddhika and Nisala Tharaka. Standing from left: Chandu Piripun, Kalana Sasanka, Sandaru Danthanarayana, Chamod Piumal, Supun Dissanayake, Sohan Kariyawasam, Chalana de Silva, Udara Jayasanka, Dilan Buddhika, Sachith Lakmal, Hasitha Sanda Dhanushka Jayawardena, Dileepa Priyadarshana, Suraj Palliyaguru, Charith Nuwan, Dinidu Sampath, Dimuthu Ruwan, Supun Chanaka, Indeera Gallage, Nirwantha Thikshila and Priyadarshana and Mahesh Sandaruwan. Hashan Kumuditha.

Samarasooriya (over 40 encounters. this season), is their This season, Richmond played 13 spearhead and will matches and recorded three outright share the new ball with victories, all in tournament matches, Lanka. Spinner Danajaya while suffering two defeats. They beat will be in charge of the spin their Group ‘B’ counterparts Revata, department. He has a tally Holy Cross and St. Aloysius’. They of over 40 wickets this sea- suffered defeats at the hands of son. Trinity and S. Thomas’ College, For Mahinda, deputy Mount Lavinia. skipper Kaushalya Both teams had to make do with- Gajasinghe leads the runs out their top players for some match- New Zealand. Thikshila and Chalana de Silva form- by Reemus Fernando and wickets tallies with over 750 runs es during the season as they were on Richmond’s line-up is embellished ing a balanced outfit together with a and 65 wickets as he captained the national duty. And incidentally, both by Under-19 cap Yasodha few freshers. team in the absence of regular skip- teams have qualified this year to play hen the two powerhouses of Lanka and all rounders Irosh For Richmond, Kusal Prabodha, per Rajakaruna. the Inter School Under-19 Limited in Galle, namely, Samarasooriya and Dananjaya de Yasodha Lanka, Irosh Samarasooriya, Paceman Nisala Tharaka is a Overs tournament, an achievement WRichmond and Mahinda meet Silva who came close to winning Sri Dananjaya de Silva and Pabasara close second with over 50 wickets and only 16 other Division I teams have in the 105th ‘Lover’s Quarrel’ Big Lanka Under-19 caps. Waduge are the experienced players 500 runs. When they combine with accomplished. Match commencing Friday, the two With half a dozen Sri Lanka who have excelled during the season. Rajakaruna and Rumesh Buddhika, There are contradictory reports institutions will showcase how much Under-19 players with regard to the victory tally in they have contributed to Sri Lanka’s gearing up for this series. According to Mahinda, junior cricket structure. the annual bat- they lead the tally 23-21 which is dis- Mahinda, under the captaincy of tle, there is hard- puted by Richmond. According to a Denuwan Rajakaruna, and ly any doubt that source close to Richmond, two day Richmond, under the captaincy of it will be a close- matches had been played only since Kusal Prabodha, will have in their ly contested who gathered experience playing in 1928 and Mahinda had recorded 11 ranks at least six players who have affair. South Africa, New Zealand and victories against Richmond’s 10 since gone on to make Sri Lanka Under-19 Rajakaruna will have the support In the few matches (9) he played, Australia for Sri Lanka Under-19, 1928. He said that the matches played pools during the past year. of an experienced outfit, with former Yasodha Lanka tops the highest scor- they will make a formidable outfit. before 1927 had been played as one- Mahinda comprises a balanced captain Rumesh Buddhika, deputy ers list with over 700 runs, which Mahinda had a successful season, day (4 innings) encounters. The outfit that includes two Sri Lanka skipper Kaushalya Gajasinghe, includes four centuries. While recording three outright victories in source said the series which com- Under-19 caps, Rajakaruna and fourth year player Tharaka Nimesh, Dananjaya de Silva is a close second 16 outings. They beat Wesley in a menced in 1905, had been interrupted Rumesh Buddhika, who were an inte- third year players Sachith Lakmal, with 708 runs with three centuries, tournament match and recorded vic- in 1910, 1911, 1912, 1916, 1926 and 1942 gral part of Sri Lanka Under-19 in Nisala Tharaka, Udara Jayasanka Samarasooriya, who topped 600 runs, tories against St. Servatius’ and St. and if counted right, this year’s edi- the recently held Youth World Cup in and second year players Nirvantha has a double century in it. Thomas’ College, Matara, in friendly tion would be the 100th encounter.

by Revata S. Silva Athulathmudali, Sohan Boralessa, Nawela, Suresh Niroshan, Daminda Darshanpriya, Shanuka Tharanga Paranavitana, Sachith The over–one-month-long Dissanayake, , Pathirana, , 44th ‘Battle of the Blues’ of Ambalangoda Inter-Provincial four-day cricket Arosh Janoda, Dimuth , Thilan tournament will commence today. Karunaratne, , Samaraweera, Chaminda by Reemus Fernando Five provincial teams, Dilshan Munaweera, Angelo Vidanapathirana and Kaushalya Basnahira North, Basnahira Perera, Bathiya Perera, Dammika Weeraratne Dharmasoka College, South, Kandurata, Ruhuna and Prasad, Muthumudalige Ruhuna: captained by fourth year Sokians favourites Wayamba will participate in this Pushpakumara, Sachithra (c), Geeth coloursman Chalitha tournament. Serasinghe, , Kaushal Alwis, , Harsha Madushan are the favourites Dharmasoka College Silva (wk) and Gayan Wijekoon Cooray, Ian Daniel, Gihan de Silva, The SLC Combined XI team, against Devananda College, Basnahira South: Sujeewa de Silva, Hans Fernando, comprising young players, which skippered by fourth year featured in the two previous Inter- (c), Malinga Lasith Fernando, Umesh coloursman Ramesh Provincial competitions, are not Bandara, Yohan de Silva, Karunaratne, Kosala Kulasekara, Tharanga Lakshitha, Lakshitha, who will be out to Nimesh Perera, Ashan turn tables on their arch-rivals Priyanjan, Tillakaratne when the two teams meet in Sampath, Sachithra the 44th ‘Battle of the Blues’ of Inter-Provincial 4-day cricket begins Senanayake and Sajeewa Ambalangoda, on March 20 Weerakoon and 21 at the Public Grounds, Wayamba: Ambalangoda. (c), Rumesh Buddika, After a fine performance in the Division I Two-day tour- Seated from left: Ashen Kavinda, P. Milton (Coach), K. G. Thilakaratne Sameera de Zoysa (wk), (Sports Secretary), M. G. O. P. Panditharathne (Principal), M. W. Sunil de , nament, where they topped Silva (MiC), Chalitha Madhushan (Captain) and Nilusha Uththamadasa. Damitha Hunukumbura, their Group, recording outright Shalika Karunanayake, victories against Kingswood, Standing from left: Ramesh Mendis, Nimesh Prashan, Chamath Kavinda, Jeevantha Kulatunga, Revata, Holy Cross and St. Duminda Chandimal, Yohan Rashmika, Gihan Mihiranga, Adeesha Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Aloysius’, Dharmasoka are in Dulanjala, Sudara Deshan, Thanura Dakshitha, Tharindu Sandaruwan, Chathura Peiris, winning mode. In friendly Buddhi Tharaka, Chathura Umayanga and Pasan Chandrasiri. Madura Lakmal, Janith encounters they recorded an Perera, Madawa Perera, Devananda College outright victory over Rahula C. Kapugedera , Mahela Chamara Silva Jehan Mubarak Upul Tharanga Udawatte, Michael College and suffered defeats (Kandurata) (Basnahira North) (Basnahira South) (Wayamba) (Ruhuna) Vandort, Chanaka at the hands of Ananda and Welegedara, Chanaka Sri Sumangala, Panadura. Wijesinghe and Geshan They have a strong bat- taking part in this four-day compe- Wimaladharma ting line which includes skip- tition. The five-team tournament, per Madushan (over 500 with five round-robins, will go on Schedule of the 4- runs for the season), deputy till May 16 when the final is sched- day Tournament: Mar 18–21 skipper Ashane Kavinda uled to be played at Pallekele, (over 700 runs), Gihan . Wayamba v Basnahira South at Mihiranga (over 450 runs), IPL Welagedara Stadium, Adeesha Thilanchana (over As a few players who partici- 400 runs), Nilusha Seated from left: Pulina Tharanga, Ramesh Lakshitha (Captain), Basnahira North v pated in the two previous Inter- Uththamadasa (over 350 Rathnasiri Batuwangala (MiC), H. M. Sumathipala (Principal), Suraj Kandurata at Moors Provincial Tourneys, the 50-over runs) and Duminda Sanjeewa (Coach), Sham Suranga and Dilshan de Silva. Standing from tournament and the T20s, have left Grounds, Kannangara (over 350 runs). left: Ishara Mendis, Yoshan de Silva, Imesh Udayanga, Danushka the island to take part in the Mar 25-28 For bowling, the Sokians will Basnahira South v Chathuranga, Randima Vidyarathne, Charith Sudaraka, Lakshitha Indian Premier League (IPL), has rely on Ramesh Mendis (60 resulted in some changes taking Kandurata at Pallekele Sirimanne, Dilaj de Silva, Inosh Shabeena, Tharindu de Silva and wickets) and Duminda place in the final combinations of Ruhuna v Basnahira Rishika Theekshana (Absent: Sithara Madusanka) the five provincial teams featuring Hasantha Fernando, Janaka North at Galle Kannangara (40 wickets), year-old leg spinner Charith Rahula College, while featuring in in this four-dayers, starting today. Gunaratne, Dinuka Hettiarachchi, Apr 3–6 who have shared over 100 wickets Charith Jayampathi, Prasanna Wayamba v Ruhuna at De this season. Sudharaka, who has 40 scalps to 10 outings. They lost to Royal Previous 50-over and T20 Jayawardene (wk), Suranga Zoysa Stadium, Moratuwa Their good form suggests that his credit. They will also count (Panadura), St. Thomas’ (Matara) Tourneys Lakmal, Chinthaka Perera, Basnahira South v they could carry forward their domi- heavily on left arm paceman and Piliyandala Central Colleges. Earlier, led , Ruchira Perera, Basnahira North at Colts Ground, nance in the series into the 44th Randima Vidyarathne and slow ball Going into the match as under- Amila Prasad, Gihan Rupasinghe, Colombo Kandurata to the Inter-Provincial battle. It is Dharmasoka who leads bowlers Pulina Tharanga and dogs Devananda’s young outfit has 50-overs Tournament’s title win on , Lahiru Apr 22–25 Dilshan de Silva. In , Dilshan a chance of creating history, if they Thirimanne and Malinda Basnahira North v Wayamba the victory tally, 8-1. Feb. 21 before Jehan Mubarak’s de Silva is the leading scorer with could match the might of their Warnapura at De Zoysa Stadium, Moratuwa Devananda, who enjoyed fluc- Wayamba on March 7 successfully over 500 runs and skipper counterparts, as they have not defended the Provincial Twenty-20 Ruhuna v Kandurata at Galle tuating fortunes, playing in the Lakshitha, Pulina Tharanga and recorded a victory since 1966. competition title. On both occa- Kandurata: May 6–9 Division II two day tournament will sions, the unfortunate runners-up (c), Basnahira South v Ruhuna at rely on their experienced players Sham Suranga who were among Their last and only victory in the were Ruhuna, whose captain this Kanishka Alwitigala, Tyron P. Sara, Colombo for both runs and wickets. Skipper the runs this season will rally series was in 1966, under the cap- year is Upul Tharanga. Gamage, Akalanka Ganegama, Kandurata v Wayamba at Lakshitha, who has picked up over around him. taincy of M. U. Amaradasa. Sanjaya Gangodawila, Kanchana Pallekele 50 wickets with his is their Playing against Division II Dharmasoka last won under Gunawardene, Chinthaka May 13–16 Teams: leading taker and makes a teams, Devananda recorded victo- the captaincy of K. M. Tharaka, in Jayasinghe, , Jeewan Final between top two teams at Basnahira North: good spin combination with 14- ries against Kegalu Vidyalaya and the year 2006. Thilina Kandamby (c), Amal Mendis, Ishan Mutaliph, Nadeera Pallekele.