Wednesday 19th March, 2008 15 20th ‘Battle of Kelaniya’ Dharmaloka College First XI cricket team Skippers likely to aim at breaking deadlock by Reemus Fernando be played on Sunday. over 100 wickets between them Dharmaloka, in twelve out- this season. Rushan Gayantha, reaking the deadlock ings recorded three outright with a haul of over 25 wickets before it completes two victories and suffered one will also be handy. Dhanushka Bdecades will be the pri- defeat, while Gurukula secured Priyanuwan, who opens the ority when Sri Dharmaloka one victory and conceded one batting, is also the wicket keep- MMV meet Gurukula College defeat in ten matches. er. He has over 40 victims this in their 20th ‘Big Match’, the season. Team strengths Seated from left: Rushan Gayantha, E.D.A.K. Wickramasinghe (M-i-C), Sarath Gayan (Vice Captain), Nimal ‘Battle of Kelaniya’ at the R. Gurukula Jayaweera (Principal), Kasun Chaminda (Captain), Gamini Dushantha (Coach) and Danushka Priyanuwan. Premadasa Stadium today and Dharmaloka Gurukula too have number Standing from left: L.G.D.S. Kulathunga, Priyanga Sandaruwan, N.A.M.P. Ratnayake, Chathura Lakmina, tomorrow. Captained by fifth year of experienced players along With the annual encounter coloursman Kasun Chaminda, with fourth year coloursman Hirun Prarthana, Pasindu Hansapathi, Virad Ashan, Udesh Madushanka, Suminda Roshan, Sameera staging its 20th eedition this Dharmaloka will have seven Randima Maduwantha who Madushanka, Nilanga Subodha, Rashmika Maduranga and Iranga Krishan. year, the captains of the two coloursmen to strengthen the have done well during the sea- teams, Kasun Chaminda of team. While Chaminda, fourth son. Gurukula College First XI cricket team Dharmaloka and Randima year coloursmen Eashmika Maduwantha, who is also Maduwantha of Gurukula will Madhuranga and Rushan the wicketkeeper has scored have a tough ask of breaking Gayantha and third year over 300 runs. He is aan open- the deadlock which none of the coloursman Virad Ashan have ing batsman. past captains succeeded in scored nearly 300 runs this sea- Thilina Dilan and Asanga doing. son, they have two prolific run Sanjaya have scored over 300 With the prize of getting getters who pose a threat to the runs, while fourth year into the ‘Battle of Kelaniya’ Gurukula bowlers. Deputy coloursmen Aravinda Earnest record books in their minds, skipper Sarath Gayan, who and Salitha Mahanama have the captains have two sets of opens the batting has an been the top scorers of the side players who have geared up impressive aggregate of over each accumulating over 400 well in the two day champi- 850 runs with two centuries runs. onship to cater to the needs of and four half tons. Left hander New ball partners Salitha their captains. Dhanushka Priyanuwan, with Mahanama, the deputy skip- Dharmaloka are slightly over 500 runs and Iranga per, and Rasika Koththagoda ahead of their counterparts in Krishan with over 750 runs are make a formidable opening the number of outright victo- the other batsmen who could combination for Gurukula and ries recorded this season. But steer Dharmaloka to a big they have shared over 60 wick- Gurukula gained a huge moral total. ets between them. While boost in the lead up to the big While Sarath Gayan (25 Asanga Sanjaya and fresher Seated from left: Rasika Dinesh (Asst. Coach), Salitha Mahanama (Vice Captain), K.A.D.B.C. Udeshika match by completing their first wickets), will spearhead their Danushka Sampath join their (P.o.G), Anil Geethalal Abeygunawardhana (Principal), T.H.R. Jayasekara (Master-in-Charge), Randima round Limited Overs bowling, they have a strong senior bowlers in the pace Tournament matches unbeat- spin department comprising attack, Aravinda Earnest and Maduwantha (Captain), Lal Senaratne (Coach). en, although that feat would left arm off spinner Eashmika Thilina Dilan, who have been Standing from left: Madushan Chathuranga, A. Chamika, S. Niwanka, Rasika Koththagoda, A. Sanjaya, A. best serve them in their limit- Madhuranga and right arm off among the wickets will provide Earnest, T. Dilan, S. Kalpana, D. Lakmal, Umesh Udayanga, D. Sampath, R. Bandara, I. Madusanka, T. ed overs ‘Big Match’ which will spinner Virad Ashan who have variety to their bowling. Prasanthika and K. Udara. Singer Raja Rata Cycle Sawariya 2008 Udayakumara (4-36) helps Rahula win by Rukshan Razak ship of 111 runs for the fifth wicket together with Sunimal Dissanayke, who Sudheera Nilanga and Lasanthi take honours Skipper Rasika Udayakumara made an unbeaten 47 with five fours and Text and pix by M. Farook Lantra bowled Sri Rahula College, Katugatota, a six, in setting a formidable target of Moratuwa, won the women’s event at the Shakthi Club. to an exciting seven-wicket victory over 171 in a game that was reduced to 27 19th Annual Singer Raja Rata Cycle Race This year’s race was an open event. Vidyartha College in their inter-school overs. Sudheera Nilanga of the Sri Lanka which was held in Anuradhapura on The Sri Lanka Army, Air Force, Police Elephant Lemonade Trophy Limited- Police, Special Task Force emerged win- March 15 and 16. The race was sponsored and several cycling clubs in Sri Lanka overs cricket match at the University Scores: ner in the men’s cycle event with a time by Singer Sri Lanka Ltd, and conducted took part in this grueling race covering a Grounds in Peradeniya on Tuesday. Sri Rahula College 171 for 5 wkts of 7.19.41 seconds, while H. P. Lasanthi by the Sri Lanka Cycling Federation, the distance of 285km to Polonnaruwa, Off spinner Udayakumara knocked in 27 overs (Ruwan Ratnayake 16, D. Gunathilaka of Sama Cycle Club, Cycling Club, Anuradhapura and Kaduruwela, via Dambulla. down four crucial wickets conceding Gunathilake 68, S. Dissanayake 47 n.o., only 36 runs helping Rahula to bowl out Chathuranga Dikkumbura 14, Gihan Vidyartha to 164. Viduranga 12; L. Herath 3-22) Earlier, Dinusha Gunathilake came Vidyartha College 164 all out in 25 out with some fireworks in his knock of overs (Madhuka Weerasekara 21, Nadun 68 runs which came in 44 deliveries Basnayake 49, K.H. Wijekoon 31, Rasika including six classic hits overs the ropes Udayakumara 4-36, Aruna Sampath 1-24, and two boundaries. Chathuranga Dikkumbura 1-34, Gunathilake put up a solid partner- Sunimal Dissanayake 1-4). Why blame only Mahela? I usually read only ‘The Island’ cricket. But that is not the only criteria cricket articles because they are objec- to be a selector. Our past cricketers are tive and any criticism is only in the looking for well paid chairborne jobs as Sudheera Nilanga Sri Lanka Police, Special Task Force receives the interest of Sri Lanka cricket. administrators and other places at Sri Raja Rata Sawariya Challenge Trophy and a cash award of Rs. 75,000 And the writers concerned make no Lanka Cricket. But we cannot find a from DIG K. P. P. Pathirana, Chairman, Sri Lanka Cycling Federation attempt to curry favour with any partic- suitable cricketer as a coach. We have and President, South Asia Cycling Federation. Also in the picture is H. P. Lasanthi Gunathilaka of Sama Cycling Club, Moratuwa, receives ular cricketer. The article in the ‘Sunday to always get someone from abroad at a Island’ of March 9 appears to be a little very high cost with little cost/benefit. Chandana A. Samarasinghe, Sales Manager, Retail, Singer Sri Lanka, the Raja Rata Sawariya Trophy and a cash award of Rs. 15,000 from SSP Jayantha Gammanpila, Anuradhapura Police. too hard for singling out Mahela for the I feel sad for Adam Gilchrist, who Limited disgraceful way we lost in Australia. I had to loose three consecutive matches feel that the whole lot from the Interim to Sri Lanka and India being his last Committee, the selectors, the coach and appearances before retirement from manager all got to share international cricket. He the blame for the way Letter is so full of energy in the our team lost in the tri- field and played some nation tournament in Australia. fascinating and entertaining cricket It was pathetic to watch the way our and looked perfectly fit. He could have team played. They all looked washed out continued playing for much longer. But and all their energy drawn out! he knew like Shane Warne, McGrath., Their fielding was atrocious. When Hogg etc., when to call it a day! batting, the Power Plays had little mean- Farewell Gilly. ing and they were giving fielding prac- I do not know whether the coach tice to Australians and the Indians. I and the manager were even watching thought that our coach and manager the matches. Promoting Dilshan to were not available to help out Mahela. open was amateurish. Upul Tharanga Selecting a well balanced team is a should have been given a few more specialized job. So many factors have to chances. How did Atapattu fare at the Vajira Pushpakumara of Vijayapura MV, receives his trophy from Air be taken into account. Past performance beginning of his career? Our then B. L. Isanka Madhushani Bogoda,of Mahinda MV receives her trophy Force Base Commander, Anuradhapura, Group Captain Sagara is not the only consideration for selec- selectors had vision and the courage of from Anuradhapura Area Commander, Col. Haren Perera. Kotagadeniya. tion and there should be no ‘fixtures’. their convictions. Everyone has to earn selection. This is When are our selectors going to give why large international corporates our spinners and young batsmen a employ highly paid Human Resource chance to develop playing international Saracens beat Bloomfield Managers to ensure that the right kind cricket? They are taken on tours, but by Rukshan Razak after bowling out Bloomfield for 103 runs in a game Dikkumbura 2-6, Dileepa Wijekoon 2-23, K.