Saturday 25th February, 2012 15 Ananda vs Nalanda A nursery for many great cricketers BY VARUNA RATNAWEERA schools, the excellent performances by a brilliant 145 to claim the series some of the great batsmen who have batting record. Roshan was a member of The first weekend in March will see grabbed the opportunity in etching a the World Cup winning Sri Lankan team the ‘giants’ in Sri Lankan gather name for themselves, remains in the in 1996 and currently works for the ICC at the SSC ground. While the young memory of many who have been fortu- as a Match Referee. cricket stars from Ananda and Nalanda nate in being a part of this encounter In the 68th Battle of the Maroons, we take the field to match their skills in the over the years. saw the batting record change hands 83rd Battle of the Maroons, the stalwarts The first centurion in an Ananda - again within the Nalanda camp when from yesteryear will be there reminisc- Nalanda Big Match was Nalanda’s P M Shantha Kalavitigoda eclipsed Roshan ing the good old days when they strolled Jayathilake whose score of 111 runs in Mahanama’s record with a superb knock down the ground to create many memo- the 1928 Big Match remained the batting of 149 not out, which still remains the rable moments for followers of the game record for the highest individual score highest individual batting record in the in . for more than four decades. Jayathilake series. Kalavitigoda is another cricketer Ananda and Nalanda, together have in later years went on to become a who has played Test cricket for Sri Lanka not only produced the highest number of respected educationalist and served as as an opening batsman. international cricket stars for Sri Lanka, the Principal of Thurstan College. Though there have been ten centuri- they have also gifted us with excellent Forty four years later, in 1972 Bandula ons in the series since then, the closest cricket administrators, elite cricket Warnapura played a brilliant chanceless one has come to matching the highest umpires, respected match referees, lead- knock of 118 not out. score is when Thilina Kandamby went ing sports media personnel and very Bandula Warnapura continued with onto score 144 in the 70th Big Match in importantly talented commentators with his brilliant batting prowess and went 1999. He missed the record by just five brilliant oratorical skills who were onto play for Sri Lanka and holds the runs. instrumental in popularising the game to unique honour of becoming our first Several products of these two schools this extent through the lengths and Test . He was a stylish right-hand- like Bandula Warnapura, Arjuna breadths of the country. ed batsman, who opened the batting for Ranatunga, Roshan Mahanama, Marvan It has now become one of the best in Nalanda before he went on to gain Atapattu and Mahela Jayawardena have schools cricket encounters more impor- national recognition. He went onto repre- gone onto captain the country. tantly due to the manner in which this sent the country in the inaugural World These records and achievements apart event has been and continues to be Cup in 1975. Bandula is currently the the contributions these two schools have worked out with great friendship and Development Manager of the Asian made to Sri Lanka cricket by producing camaraderie. Cricket Council. numerous amount of disciplined and Shantha Kalavitigoda’s unbeaten 149 is the highest individual score in the Battle of While there have been many signifi- Twelve years after that in the 55th Big well mannered sportsmen has been real- the Maroons. cant achievements by players from both Match in 1984, Roshan Mahanama scored ly worthy of emulation.

49th Senior National Basketball Championship Premier League Tier ‘A’ Tournament Puhpakumara and SL Schools creates history Karunaratne restrict NCC to 98 Chilaw Marians’ spinners Malinda Pushpakumara and Umesh Karunaratne took four apiece to restrict NCC’s first innings to a paltry 98 in their Premier League Tier ‘A’ math which commenced at Maitland Crescent yesterday. In reply, Chilaw Marians were 189 for two wickets in the first innings at stumps. Amal Athulathmudali and Mahela Udawatte hit half centuries each. Brief Scores: NCC 98 all out in 33.5 overs (Jehan Mubarak 32, Sohan Boralessa 27; Malinda Pushpakumara 4/48, Umesh Karunaratne 4/17, Shaminda Eranga 2/30) Chilaw Marians 189 for 2 wkts in 54 overs (Amal Athulathmudali 85, Mahela Udawatte 52 n.o., Lahiru Weragala 28; Kosala Kulasekara 1/32)

Batsmen fire for Colts The four half centuries made by Malinda Warnapura, Kushal Janith Perera, Harsha Vithana and Roshen Silva helped Colts CC reach 387 for seven wickets in their The captain of the Sri Lanka Schools team Praneeth Udumalgala is ready to celebrate The Sri Lanka Schools team poses for photographs with the trophy after winning the Premier League Tier ‘A’ match against after receiving the championship trophy. (Pix by Nimal Dayaratne) 49th Senior National Basketball Championship at Police Park on Thursday. Sports Ragama CC which commenced at Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Major General Janaka Ratnayake, SLBF Havelock Road yesterday. BY ROSHEN STEELMAN were enough to bring them glory. Brief Scores: Udumalgala, who was impressive, led his President Chief Minister Central Province Sarath Ekanayake are also in the picture. Colts CC 387 for 7 wkts in 90 overs team from front scoring 23 points while The 2012 Sri Lanka Schools team led Udumalgala told The Island after SL of the tournament. (Malinda Warnapura 87, Kushal Janith his teammates Sudesh Ahamed and by St. Joseph’s College, Darley Road Schools won the championship. On the other hand, Colombo District, Perera 88 n.o., Harsha Vithana 56, Roshen Kanishka Perera scored 20 and 16 points cager Praneeth Udumalgala will go down This is the first occasion that SL which last entered the final in 2007, per- Silva 64, Akshu Fernando 30; Malinga respectively. in the history as one of strongest SL Schools won the championship after formed well during the entire tourna- Bandara 1/81, Kaushalya Weeraratne 1/52, For Colombo, skipper Harshadewa de Schools teams after they won the 49th 1992. Previous Schools teams have ment and remained unbeaten till the Nilanka Premaratne 1/77) Silva played his heart out and scored 17 Senior National Basketball champi- reached the semi-finals regularly, but final. points while Prince Andrew netted 12 onship over Colombo District 71-58 in the they have failed to clear the final two In the women’s final, defending cham- Perera and Gunawardene points. final worked off under floodlights at hurdles. However, this year’s Schools pions Mercantile Services, recorded an help Moors fight back “I am proud of my team because SL After Tamil Union posted a mammoth Police Park in Colombo on Thursday. team, coached by St. Benedict’s College easy 71-58 win over Sri Lanka Navy. Schools last won this championship in total of 519, Bathiya Perera’s century and Colombo District made many mis- coach Asanga Perera, showcased their Kumarine Silva top scored for the win- 1992 and we were in form because all Kanchana Gunawardene’s knock helped takes and as a result paid a heavy price in class from the very beginning. They ners with 17 points while Shalika Gomes these players came out from the Under-19 Moors SC fight-back as they were 386 for 5 suffering a 13-point loss at the hands of defeated the favorite team Mercantile netted 12 points. For SL Navy, Solangi Schools Tournament and we have been wickets at stumps on day two in their SL Schools. SL Schools too were not up to Services easily in the opening encounter Gunawijaya top scored with 18 points. the known standard, but their efforts jelling together when it mattered” said Premier League Tier ‘A’ match played at P. Sara Oval yesterday. Perera scored 107 (4x10, 6x2) off 118 deliveries while Gunawardene fell seven runs short of a well deserved century. Brief Scores Standard Chartered hosts golf tournament Tamil Union 519 for 6 wkts in 96.4 overs decl. (Jeevantha Kulatunga 148, Standard Chartered Sachithra Serasinghe 152, Ashan Priyanjan Bank’s golfing enthusi- Suren 86, Kithruwan Vithanage 41, asts were invited by CEO Madanayake, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara 59; Shehan Anirvan Ghosh Dastidar Jayasuriya 2/108, 2/90) who was to tee off at an exclusive Moors SC 386 for 5 wkts in 78 overs event recently at the adjudged as (Bathiya Perera 107, Kanchana Royal Colombo Golf the Best Gunawardene 93, Kasun Bodhisha 65, Club. Overall Isham Ghouse 76; Chathura Randunu 2/101) Standard Chartered Golfer, Bank’s new Regional receives his Chief Executive of South Bloomfield in command Asia, Sunil Kaushal, who award from Some all-round performance from Bloomfield players have helped their team was visiting the Sri Anirvan get into a commanding position in their Lanka Branch, also par- Ghosh Premier League Tier ‘A’ match against ticipated in the event and The Provincial Sports Conference was held at Oak Ray Hotel in Gatambe recently as Dastidar, the Lankan CC played at Reid Avenue yester- presented awards to win- part of the seven year plan to develop sports in the country. Sports Minister CEO of day. After Bloomfield posted 450, Lankan ners in the evening. Mahindananda Aluthgamage is seen addressing sports officials of Central Province. Standard CC were bundled out for 208 and then Suren Madanayake was asked to follow on. They were 48 for one Sports Ministry Secretary Udaya R.Senaviratna and senior officials were also present Chartered adjudged as the Best at stumps. at the occasion. Overall Golfer of the day. Bank. Brief Scores: Bloomfield 450 all out in 96.1 overs (Prasanna Jayawardene 127, Chamara should evidently and undoubtedly be Silva 57, Nadeera Nawela 86, Dilshan Munaweera 58, Sanjaya Gangodawilla 39; seen to be honest,” the court said. Sujeewa de Silva 2/79, Vimukthi Perera Adamu loses appeal in FIFA World Cup bribery case Adamu was secretly filmed by British 2/73, Gayan Sirisoma 2/89, Saliya Saman undercover reporters from The Sunday LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The Court of Arbitration for Sport on atively mild given the seriousness of the 2/65) Times newspaper asking for $800,000 Lankan CC 208 all out in 60.3 overs Former FIFA official Amos Adamu lost Friday upheld a judgment by FIFA’s offense.” ( 600,000) to influence his World Cup (Damitha Hunukumbura 77, Ashen Silva his appeal against a three-year ban from ethics committee to expel Adamu from “The CAS Panel stressed that it was vote. He said the money would pay for 55; Suraj Randiv 4/97, Tyron Gamage 2/69) football for seeking bribes during bid- football until October 2013. of crucial importance that top football artificial fields in his native Nigeria. and 48 for one wicket 18 overs ding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. The panel even said the ban “was rel- officials should not only be honest but (RS)