Thursday 27th March, 2008 15 Royal College U-13 All Island Vaas not ready to quit Chaminda Vaas 'B' Div. Joint Champs has said that he plans to end his interna- Royal College U-13 'B' tail helped Royal pile up 242 tional career for Sri emerged joint champions runs. Lanka in about a after the recently concluded Other high scorers for year's time. drawn finals against St. Royal during the season were The left-arm pace Peter’s College. Hashen Ramanayake (106 bowler was speaking This was a fitting finale n.o), Jitendra Uduman (81) after day three of the to a tiring season that was Nilesh Manathunge (50 and first Test against filled with extraordinary 51), Nimendra Manathunge the West gritty performances and (61). After good opening excellent all round team- spells by the pacies, most of work. Captained by Jitendra the wickets were taken by the Uduman and coached by for- spinners and excelling were Indies in Guyana, where mer Royal captain Gamini Devind Pathmanathan (4-50, his figures of 3-45 from Perera and former CCC 4-38, 4-24 ), Nilesh 22 overs helped restrict cricketer Athula Akarawita, Manathunge (4-30, 6-23, 4-58), the hosts' first innings they remained unbeaten Geeshath Panditharatne (6- excepting for one loss during 14, 5-14) while Shaminda Dias the first round matches. and Gajindu Zoysa chipped The finals were marred in at crucial times. by very poor organizing. The exemplary dedication Both teams turned up all of the two coaches who keyed up to play on 9th empowered these youngsters March at the St. Benedicts throughout the season must grounds only to be told that be mentioned. Probably, the grounds were not avail- Gamini Perera’s back to the able. They had to leave, wall brilliant 144 at the 113th dejected and demoralized. 'Battle of the Blues' in 1992 The Royal team was then (which saved Royal and confused with the umpires’ earned him the nick name decision to start play two 'Gutty Gamini') has rubbed hours late on both days due off on these juniors when to some wet areas which their brilliant fight backs in Captain Jitendra Uduman receives the trophy from Sanath could have been easily Jayasuriya. three important matches are mopped up with early sup- considered. Their Master-In- port from the ground staff. stopped play. but an incredible record last Charge, Sarath Munasinghe This contributed to the Spinner Devind wicket partnership of 98 too contributed immensely in drawn match. Royal batting Pathmanathan snatched 4 runs took them to 191. moulding the boys with his first flopped to 56 for 6 but wickets. The heroes were Lasanth simple faith and gentle recovered to 172 for 9 In addition to the finals,, Nadarajah (47) and Geeshath encouragement. In the pavil- declared due to a fighting 90 great fight backs from a Panditharatne (34). Then in ion, Chamila Aiya looked run partnership by Vinura resilient middle order and the semi finals against Tissa after all their needs and was Chaminda Vaas Gunawardene (36) and tail were witnessed in two V,Royal were 58 for 5 but a great friend to the players Geeshath Panditharatne (53). other matches. In the quarter fighting innings from Vinura while all the reserves gave St.Peter’s were struggling at finals against Ananda Gunawardena (66), Randev the players tremendous sup- "We are missing them, 78 for 6 when bad light College, Royal were 97 for 9 Pathirana (33) and a wagging port on and off the field. but I think the players we have in this side have a good chance to prove themselves," he contin- ued. "I think we have good fast bowling stocks in Sri Lanka. Apart from Malinga, Fernando, and to 269 for nine. Maharoof, we also have The West Indies were Ishara Amarasinghe, who replying to Sri Lanka's has not played a Test, but first innings total of 476 he is on this trip, and for eight declared. there are others, so I "I feel no pressure think it is a good time for right now at all, and I am Sri Lanka cricket con- enjoying the way I have cerning fast bowlers. been bowling, and the "I think Sri Lanka way things have been cricket is going in the going for the Sri Lanka right way, and I believe team," Vaas said. that when I leave, it will "I am coming to the be the right time." end of my playing career. However, all that mat- I am taking game by ters to Vaas right now is The victorious Royal College U-13 team game by game. I am helping Sri Lanka secure enjoying what I am doing their first-ever Test right now for Sri Lanka match win in the cricket. Caribbean. "I am thinking I will "I think we bowled No Tests for Kandy Ekanayake to lead SLBF for play for another year - pretty well to restrict about three or four more them [on the third day]," for India tour Test matches before I call he added. "They scored third consecutive year it quits." only 240 runs. We bowled India will be here in July after a lapse of seven Sarath Ekanayake, Chief Minister, Sports With batting stalwarts well, but we could not get years to play a three match Test series followed by Minister, Central Province, was re- President- Sarath Ekanayake, Sanath Jayasuriya and the last wicket, and they a five match ODI competition. Sri Lanka Cricket appointed as the President of the Sri Chief Minister, Central Province Marvan Atapattu also still need eight runs to announced that the three Tests will be played at the Lanka Basketball Federation for the Vice Presidents- Rev. Bro. recently retiring from avoid the follow-on, but Singhalese Sports Club ground, Galle International third successive year. He was Phillips, I. T. Canagaratnam Tests, Sri Lanka are in we have to dismiss them Cricket Stadium and R. Premadasa Stadium. That appointed at the Annual General (RTD.D.I.G), Ajith Kuruppu and Air the West Indies with a early. means that Asgiriya International Cricket Meeting of the SLBF at its headquar- CMDR Tilak Dissanayake new-look team. "I think we have to ters at Reid Avenue, Colombo recent- Stadium, Kandy that hosted a Test match every General Secretary- SQD LDR. And Vaas believes bowl them out as early as ly. Chandana Liyanange there are also strong possible on the fourth time a three Test series was played since 1999 will Former DIG I.T. Canagaratnam Asstent Secretary- Tilak miss out. who was the President from 1995-1998 replacements waiting in day. We have not won a Sarath Abeysinghe The Indians will arrive in Colombo on the 15th was elected as the Vice-President for the wings to take up the match in the Caribbean, Ekanayake Treasurer- Gihan Amarasuriya of July and will play their first warm up game on the year 2008/09. mantle when he departs. but we are looking for- Asst. Secretary-T. Ganeshanthan (SP He did, however, ward to winning this the 18th. The venue for the warm up game hasn’t The office bearers: Police) bemoan the loss of Lasith Test. been announced. Patron- Gamini Lokuge, Minister, Sports Disciplinary Committee: Grp. Captain Malinga, Dilhara "I think the boys are The ODI series will commence with Rangiri & Public Recreation Harsha Fernando, IP Salinda Samarakoon, Fernando, and Farveez fighting really hard to Dambulla International Cricket Stadium hosting Vice patron- Bandula Basnayake, W.D.S. Karunasena, W.G. Nihalkumara and Maharoof to injury ahead win this time in the the first two games. The final three games will be Sisira Fonseka of Sri Lanka's current Caribbean." played at R. Premadasa Stadium. While the trip. Premadasa games are day-night matches, the matches at Dambualla will be day game. The last time Sri Lanka played India at home, Thurstan record eighth outright victory in 2001, they won the series 2-1. India hosted Sri by Roshen Steelman Samarawickrama hit ten fours and a six Lilly House Lanka in 2005 and won 2-0. for his 70 while Mahanama were cheerless The Itinerary A well compiled half-century by B. apart from M. Dananjaya’s five wicket haul 18th to 20th July – 3 day warm up game Samarawickrama helped Thurstan College and 27 runs. emerge champs to a nine wicket win against Mahanama 23rd to 27th – July 1st Test at SSC by W. D. Vithana, House came third. Scores: 31st July to 4th August – 2nd Test at Galle College, Colombo in their inter-school two Delgoda Corr. Western Province 8th to 12th August – 3rd Test at R. Premadasa day fixture concluded at Thurstan grounds Mahanama 179 all out and 58 all out "Lilly" House won the English Education Stadium yesterday. in 27.1 Overs (M. Dananjaya 27, Umesh Championship title at the Director, Gamini 15th August –Warm up game Resuming from 108 for four, Thurstan Karunaratne 6/26, Geeth Kumara 3/9) Mabima Elic International Abeydeera and Elic 18th August – 1st ODI at Dambulla were 208 all out and then bundled out the Thurstan 208 all out in 53.5 Overs College Sports Meet held at College, Managing 20th August – 2nd ODI at Dambulla opposition for just 58 runs leaving them and 31/1 in 3.2 overs (Budi Biyagama Kanista Director, Daminda Porage 24th August – 3rd ODI at R. Premadasa Stadium with a target of 31, which they reached in Samarawickarma 70, Sheran Kamaleen 17 Vidyalaya Grounds last graced the occasion. 26th August – 4th ODI at R. Premadasa Stadium just 3.2 overs. This incidentally, was n.o, Umesh Karunarane 12 n.o, N.