Sports
CR sit on the rugby throne after 26 years!
By A Special Sports Correspondent
Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club (CR&FC) produced rib bruising rugby last Sunday (February 18) to end Kandy’s winning streak and be crowned as the new men’s champions in domestic rugby. The women’s tournament was won by Sri Lanka Navy.
Turn the pages of time to the launch of this tournament and there were predictions that the game would find a new winner in the men’s segment. And that’s just what the sport did. In a way these are the results that serve the game well; results that end a regime and usher in a new king. Kandy was winning it for too long and the educated spectator probably had to motivate himself to travel to the venue and catch the action when he can already predict the result while sitting on his sofa at home.
But the crowds came in their numbers to Longden Place; which is a good sign because the sport has lost a chunk of its spectators already. This is probably due to the fact that games are less exciting and ticket prices are so high. CR&FC must be lauded for many things. One is that they celebrated 100 years in rugby last year and were generous enough to open the gates free of charge for spectators at the final this year. If there are attempts to bring back the crowds to the venues and stop them from watching matches on TV or their mobile phones then CR must be given pat on their backs. Believe this writer! Nothing can beat the thrill you get out of watching a gripping rugby match through the naked eye.
Players in the likes of Adeesha Weerathunga, Lasindu Karunathilake, Manilka Ruberu, Gemunu Chethiya, Zubair Dooray, Raveen de Silva, Randy Silva and KushanTharinduhave raised their game to the next level. All these players have delivered in the try scoring department as well; apart from performing in their allocated roles without blemish. Weerathunga, a former Isipatana College schoolboy, has come of age. From his school at Havelock Town to Navy SC and at present with CR&FC he has reached a level in his playing which guarantees a berth in the national side as well as in any other domestic club side which extends him an invitation. This guy needs not be surprised if Kandy SC makes an offer for him to do a switch next season; given that the Nittawela side is struggling to put its forwards in order and is looking for a pack leader. Another player who caught the attention of spectators was Dooray for his breathtaking runs and quick thinking on the field. All on all the forwards combined well with the backs and produced a smashing 33-25 win in the Cup Championship decider against Kandy SC. In the first round game CR beat Kandy 38-26; which was by a bigger margin.
We have to talk about Dushanth Lewke, the CR&FC coach, for turning this side around. Lewke is now set to add more feathers on his cap as a rugby coach and what’s important is that he seems to have made the whole rugby set-up at CR listen to him. This probably has to be the case because when a coach gets all the support from the club and given that the players are both willing and able the result is a resounding victory. He is the son of a top cop and accomplished rugby coach Nimal Lewke, a former Senior DIG in the Police who also excelled in rugby, rugby refereeing, boxing, pistol shooting and spent the best years of his life in the war front. His son only has to concentrate on rugby. This writer doesn’t wish to compare the two individuals nor the different eras they were present in, but what has to be told must be told.
- Sri Lanka Navy Sports Club celebrate winning the women’s division in the inter-club league rugby tournament.
Kandy SC just couldn’t come to terms with how CR played the game in a fast, open and threatening manner. Many seasons ago they were playing this same form of rugby and had the opposition in shambles, but that was possible only with better and more accomplished players. It was Kandy’s speed that shattered the opposition, but not anymore. Take the Ratwatte brothers Nigel and Tharinda out of Kandy SC and you’ll see an outfit which can be beaten by any other side in the tournament. The Nittawela side played especially around Tharinda Ratwatte, easily the best player in the tournament and the country at present. He is an individual who has raised his game while being in a set-up which doesn’t know how to progress in 15-a-side rugby. If you analyze sides in the past like Police, CH, CR, Havies and even Air Force (during the times when a try gave a team four points and there was no lifting allowed in line outs) every side improved as the season progressed.
There were far less learning tools back then and the internet was unheard of. But people knew the intricacies of how common sense worked and also details of subtle communication methods; like the lines on the palm are read in the subject of palmistry. People or coaches were open to the ideas of others and thanks to human kind there was no smart phone to make you think you know it all. The Kandy side was not a bad side and even had one of the most experienced and seasoned campaigners in the game like Srinath Sooriyabandara. There were players like Jason Dissanayake, Dinal Ekanayake, Danushka Ranjan, Dange, Kavindu Perera, Shanushka Abeywickreme and Thilina Bandara to carry Kandy’s hope this season. But they collectively failed to lift this Kandy side one notch up. Coaches Marija and Viraj Prashantha (two rugby stars during their playing days) may be thinking hard, but hard work and application only produces a human result, not a miracle.
As for Kandy it’s now back to the drawing board for analysis and reviewing the season. Unlike in school rugby, Kandy Sports Club, which has buying power, knows how to strengthen the side when homegrown talent cannot keep the Kandy SC flag flying. It’s interesting to see how Kandy SC recovers from this big loss and looks to the future; the Clifford Cup Knockout tournament is next.
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Maliban Biscuits, Brandix Apparels, Star Garments, Mobitel, Future Life Holdings, Alliance Insurance, Stafford Motors and CDB ‘B’ through to quarter finals
Maliban Biscuits, Brandix Apparels, Star Garments, Mobitel, Future Life Holdings, Alliance Insurance, Stafford Motors and CDB ‘B’ qualified for the quarter finals of the Stafford Motors sponsored MCA G division T20 cricket tournament on Friday.
The quarter finals will be played today [Sunday 3rd May], and Maliban Biscuits are to meet Allianz Insurance at the Royal College grounds in the morning while Brandix Apparels will meet Future Life Holdings at the same venue in the afternoon. At the Thurstan College ground, Star Garments will meet CDB in the morning game while Mobitel will meet tournament sponsors Stafford Motor company in the afternoon.
The four undefeated teams in the tournament, namely Maliban Biscuits, Star Garments, Mobitel, and Brandix Apparels will look forward to continue their good form and qualify for the semi- finals which are to be played next weekend.
SCORES: PRE-QUARTER FINALS
At Darley Road:
Maliban Biscuits ‘B’ beat Fairfirst Insurance ‘B’ by 7 wickets
Fairfirst Insurance ‘B’ 117/7 in 20 overs [Azeem mohomed 33, Lahiru Madushanka 51, Sajitha Samarasinghe 12*; Dilip Sandaruwan 2-17, Tharindu Siriwardena 2-11, Mohamed Shilmi 1-05, Dilan Alwis 1-17, Chamara Rathnayake 1-21]
Maliban Biscuits ‘B’ 118/3 in 17.0 overs [Tharindu Siriwardena 19, Gihan Ranasinghe 38, Mohomad Shilmi 38*, Anjula Perera 15; Kasun Liyanage 1-15, Prashein Fernando 1-24, Azeem Mohomed 1-06]
Sasitha , bowlers star in Brandix Apparel’s 12 run win
Brandix Apparel 137/10 in 17.2 overs [Sampath Jayalath 15, Sasitha Ashan 51, Anton Lakshan 16, Tharaka Silva 19; Budhdhika Herath 2-18, Uneda Nadushan 1-41, Melvin Fernando 1-31, Udara Atapaththu 4-21, Udesh Nishan 1-14]
Pyramid Wilmar 125/9 in 20 overs [Sahas Vihanga 47, Lasith Fernando 36, Udesh Nishan 23*; Janaka Weerapokuna 1-20, Kalpa Udesh 1-13, Akila Dhanuddara 2-39, Tharaka Silva 1-15, Sampath Jayalath 3-12]
At Thurstan College grounds:
Star Garments beat JF and I Packaging by 8 wickets
JF and I Packaging 110/8 in 20 overs [Sameera Lackruwan 10, Dinesh Wishwajith 16, Sarinda Malavige 2, Chamod Sulakshana 22; Dunik Perera 1-16, Suwahas Yapa 2-17, Dhanuka Dulanjana 3-20, Rishantha Anushka 1-12]
Star Garments 111/2 in 11.3 overs [Nadeesha Rajakaruna 25, Dileepa Fernando 35, Sanjaya Mihiran 32*, Chathuranga Dilshan 11*;Dinesh Wiswajith 2-29]
Mobitel Pvt Limited beat LOLC Insurance by 4 wickets
LOLC Insurance 100/10 in 18.2 overs [Pinsara Nanayakkara 18, M Z Osman 20*, Hashan Shalinda 22, Chamara Sampath 12; Sachin Indrarathne 3-17, Sandeepa Halangoda 2-25, Dinidu Samodana 2-07, Dasun Bandara 2-08]
Mobitel Pvt Limited 101/6 in 18.3 overs [Sasun Bandara 12, Sachi Indrarathne 14, Sachin Bulathsinghala 16, Sandeepa Halangoda 23*, Damith Rangana 11; Chamara Thennakoon 2-32, Deneth Nissanka 1-09, M Z Osman 2-16, Neranjaya Madusanka 1-20]
At Nalanda College Grounds:
Future Life Holdings beat MAS Active Kreeda by 6 wickets
MAS Active Kreeda 123/8 in 20 overs [Jineetha Malith 19, Suventhiran Subikaran 42, Anju Amaradasa 21, Akila Silva 12; Shehan Fernando 1-15, Praveen Wanniarachchi 1-19, Prabath Wijesinghe 2-32, Malshan Lakshitha 3-20]
Future Life Holdings 124/4 in 15.1 overs [Sonal Dilmith 50, Shehan Fernado 12, Savindu Rodrigo 24*, Lasal Lakshitha 25; Anju Amaradasa3-32, Chandula Welivita 1-28]
Allainz Insurance crush Alaris Lanka bu 108 runs
Allainz Insurance 238/9 in 20 overs [Yohan Ravishka 74, Charinda Fernando 15, Praveen Shashanka 42, Sameera Fernando 62, Dhanushka Fernando 14; Vishmitha Silva 1-38, Asuntha Indika 1-35, Lakshitha Peiris 1-44, Srihan Anurudhdhika 1-38, Hansitha Madushan 4-28]
Alaris Lanka 130/9 in 20 overs [Vishmitha Silva 21, Srihan Anuruddhika 55, Sameera Rukghan 21, Asuntha Indika 10*; Charinda Fernando 2-28, Malik Peiris 3-34, Mayura Ranasinghe 1-14, Ranga Dias 2-21]
At the MCA Ground:
Stafford Motors edge out Amana Bank by 6 wickets
Amana Bank 137/10 in 19.4 overs [Ramesh Fernando 22, Azher Samsoodeem 11, Shaeed Rizwan 68; Janith Maduwantha 1-32, Shanaka Sampath 2-21, Vihanga Malith 2-22, Sajeewa Vishan 1-18, Sanjaya Fernando 2-25, Asanka Kumarage 1-06]
Stafford Motors 143/4 in 18.1 overs [Gajindu Yasas 30, Vihanga Malith 22, Shanaka Sampath 38, Dammika Kumara 26, Sanjaya Fernando 16*; Ishrath Zarook 1-25, Alawi Nazeer 1-22, Shamsul Muneer 2-21]
CDB B beat VS Information Systems by 5 wickets
VS Information Systems 95/10 in 18.1 overs [Shamilka Wickremathilake 10, KisalRanathunge 18, Kasun Bandara 15, Nimnada Kirindage17, Adeesha Bandaranayake 14; Vishwa Dhananjaya 3-21, Praveen Abeysinghe 2-30, Chamathkar Hettiarachchi 1-18, Chamod Madushan 1-18, Savin Gunasekera 3-08]
CDB B 97/5 in Savin Gunasekera 10, Chathuranga Dikkumbura 23, Chamathkar Hettiarachchi 29, Themira Kumarage 15; Chamath Chamupathi 1-18, Shan Aniketh 1-19, Nimnada Kirindage 2-06, Ayesh Lakmal 1-04]
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Jacobs’ blazing 62* counters Shoriful three-for as New Zealand level series
New Zealand 104 for 4 in 11.4 overs (Tim Robinson 23, Bevon Jacobs 62*, Dean Foxcroft 15*; Mahedi Hassan 1-2, Shoriful Islam 3-19) beat Bangladesh 102 in 14.2 overs (Saif Hassan 16, Litton Ds 26. Towhid Hridoy 33; Nathan Smith 2-14, Ben Sears 2-12. Jayden Lennox 1-28, Josh Clarkson 3-09, ) by six wickets (DLS method)
Bevon Jacobs’ cracking unbeaten 62 took New Zealand to a six-wicket win against Bangladesh in the third T20I. The win in the rain-affected match in Dhaka ensured the three-match series was levelled 1-1 after the second game was rained out.
On Saturday, rain interrupted the Bangladesh innings for nearly two hours after it came down hard at 2.37pm local time. Play resumed at 4.30pm, and the match was reduced to 15 overs per side.
New Zealand, however, bowled Bangladesh out for 102 in the 15th over, with Josh Clarkson taking 3 for 9. Later, it was Jacobs who struck 62 off 31 balls, including five fours and three sixes, to get them home with 20 balls to spare.
Shoriful Islam gave Bangladesh a stunning start in their defense. He bowled a teasing outswinger with his second ball, that Katene Clarke couldn’t help but chase, thus edging to wicketkeeper Litton Das for 1. Shoriful rounded up the first over with Dane Cleaver’s wicket, also caught behind – this time off the inside edge.
Tim Robinson looked promising at the other end, crashing Ripon Mondol for a sweetly timed four and a brutally struck six over point, but he fell trying to slog Shoriful in the fourth over. Mahedi Hasan got into the act too, when he bowled captain Nick Kelly for one.
Jacobs went after Shoriful in his last over, striking him for two fours through midwicket, before Dean Foxcroft swung him down the ground for a third boundary. Jacobs struck Rishad Hossain through midwicket soon after, before Mondol was sent high over mid-off for a six.
Jacobs reached his fifty with a six off Rishad’s next over. Parvez Hossain Emon could have taken a catch at long-on, but instead punched it over for the maximum. Jacobs then slammed a straight boundary, before slog-sweeping Rishad for a six over midwicket to complete the chase with a sequence of 6, 4, 6.
Before the rain, Nathan Smith gave New Zealand a solid start with two wickets off consecutive deliveries in the fifth over. Smith burst through Tanzid Hasan with a delivery that held its line as Tanzid went for a heave across the line. Next ball, Parvez Hossain’s upper cut was poorly timed, as it lobbed towards Ish Sodhi at short third.
Before the double strike, left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox became the third New Zealander to take a wicket with his first ball in T20Is. On debut, Lennox outfoxed Saif Hassan into giving a simple catch to Robinson at cover. Before Lennox did on Saturday, Lockie Ferguson and Cole McConchie had taken wickets with their first ball on debut.
When play resumed after a lengthy rain break, Clarkson removed Litton, who was caught at the deep-cover boundary after he made 26 off 17 balls. Towhid Hridoy survived a run-out chance in the next over when wicketkeeper Cleaver dislodged the stumps before the throw came in from the point fielder, with Hridoy stranded outside the crease.
Bangladesh’s luck, however, ran out soon, when Sodhi removed Shamim Hossain in the 12th over. Clarkson dismissed Hridoy and Mohammad Saifuddin off consecutive balls in the next over. Robinson took a great low catch, about which he was unsure of initially; he eventually finished with three catches in the innings,the most by a New Zealand outfielder in Bangladesh.
Rishad was run out trying to complete a second, before Ben Sears, fresh off the plane from the PSL, bowled Shoriful and Mondol early in the last over.
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Chamari Athapaththu’s all-round heroics carries Sri Lanka to 3-0 sweep of Bangladesh
Sri Lanka completed a clean sweep of Bangladesh after winning the third T20I by three runs. In the rain-affected match in Sylhet, Chamari Athapaththu once again led the visitors with an all-round show. After her 41 runs from the bat helped Sri Lanka to 87 in nine overs, she bagged 2 for 15 with the ball when defending the total.
Sent in to bat first after a two-and-a-half hour delay, Sri Lanka sped off to 40 runs in the shortened powerplay of three overs. Offspinner Sultana Khatun removed Imesha Dulani in the fourth over after she made 19 off 10 balls with four boundaries.
Athapaththu played a lone hand henceforth while wickets fell at the other end. She struck five fours and a six, some of them blistering through the in field, and a couple of flicks, as she held the Sri Lanka innings on her own.
Harshitha Samarawickrama fell to Sanjida Akter in the fifth over, before Sultana removed Hansima Karunaratne and Nilakshika Silva in the sixth. Kavisha Dilhari struck two fours and a six in her seven-ball 15 which bolstered Sri Lanka towards the end of their innings.
In the chase, Athapaththu removed Dilara Akter in the second over before Juairiya Ferdous and Sobhana Mostary added 30 runs for the second wicket. Captain Nigar Sultana couldn’t get a move on, as she made 13 off nine balls, and Bangladesh couldn’t get to the target in the end. They needed 14 runs off the last over, with Sultana only getting a single boundary off Athapaththu.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka Women 87 for 6 in 9 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 41, Imesha Dulani 19, Kavisha Dilhari 15; Sultana Khatun 3-08, Sanjida Akter Meghia 1-16) beat Bangladesh Women 84 for 6 in 9 overs (Juairia Ferdous 15, Sobhana Mostary 21, Nigar Sultana 13; Chamari Athapaththu 2-15, Sugandika Kumari 2-22, Nimasha Meepagr 1-16, Mithali Ayodhya 1-13 ) by three runs
[Cricinfo]
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