Sports
Dharmaraja hold the edge
With the experience of playing tough opponents in the Division I segment of the Under 19 schools cricket tournament and two Sri Lanka Under 19 players featuring in their playing XI, Dharmaraja will hold the edge when they meet arch rivals Kingswood in the 118th Battle of the Maroons which commences at Pallekele Stadium on April 4.
Kingswood have done well this season to close the gap that existed between them and Dharmaraja to a great extent in the field of cricket. But Kingswood are still playing in Division II of the country’s premier schools cricket tournament. However they have some positives to take to the annual Big Match.
Kingswood have cleared the first hurdle in their quest to regain the Division I promotion. By reaching the final of the Division II Tier ‘B’ tournament they have booked their Tier ‘A’ promotion. A similar performance in the Division II Tier ‘A’ tournament will elevate them to Division I. Kingswood were scheduled to compete against Vidyaloka College Galle in the the Tier ‘B’ final from Saturday. The three-day encounter is expected to provide them much needed exposure to prepare for the challenges at the annual battle which is played as a three-day encounter for the first time.
At the last edition Kingswood suffered a heavy defeat. But this time they are a much better side.
Kingswood are skippered by Kavija Gamage whose stylish batting earned a place in the Sri Lanka Under 19 team for the Under 19 Asia Cup. He has scored over 1000 runs and has captured over 90 wickets with his off spin. Gamage forms the batting line up with his deputy Nikeshala Nanayakkara (over 600 runs), Chanul Kodituwakku (over 600 runs), Aadil Sherif and Yosath Abeykoon.
In the bowling department Yosath Abeykoon opens the pace attack, while left-arm spinner Kenula Pihilianga is expected to play a lead role with his spin alongside Upadi Jayawardane.
Dharmaraja could not make a big impact in the Division I Tier ‘B’ tournament this season. They avoided relegation scares thanks to an outright victory against St. Sylvester’s. It helped them end the tournament proper as the seventh placed team in the nine team group.
Sri Lanka Under 19 batsman Pulindu Perera leads Dharmaraja. The prolific top order batsman has amassed over 900 runs this season and will be the mainstay in their batting lineup. The left hander has two centuries and eight half centuries against his name. The other youth cap Lakvin Abesinghe who has three centuries this season, wicketkeeper batsman Isuru Pannala (over 600 runs) and Nisala Abeyrathne form the backbone of Dharmaraja batting.
The pace attack is spearheaded by Nisala Abeyrathne while Dakshika Manukalpa and Onija Sesath take greater share of spin bowling responsibilities. Left-arm spinner Manukalpa has over 40 wickets against his name.
Kingswood College Team (Seated from left) Kavija Gamage (Captain), S.P.K.Basnayaka (Head Coach), M.W.G.L.Thilakarathne (PoG), H.M.D.A.Herath (Principal), Indika Tennakoon (MiC), Hishara Bandara(Assistant Coach), Norman Jeyakumar (Assistant Coach) (Second row from left) Pamuditha Bandara, Sadeesha Rathnayake, Chanul Kodithuwakku, Umantha Kithsiri, Dominsara Pieris, Nadeesha Bandaranayake, Eshan Ayodya, Gayan Thennakoon, Upadhi Jayawardana, Gauranga Bandara. (Back row from left) Yosath Abeykoon, Aadil Sherif, Rizwan Rasak, Kenula Pihilianga, Theshan Daganpola, Heshan Weerasinghe, Dilshan Weerawansa, Manula Wijethunga
by Reemus Fernando
Shammi Silva has once again taken guard at the top of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), securing a fourth consecutive term as President at the Annual General Meeting, held amidst much fanfare at Colombo’s Cinnamon Grand Hotel yesterday.
Already calling the shots as President of the Asian Cricket Council, Silva’s crowning achievement in recent years has been bringing the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup to Sri Lankan shores. The marquee tournament will be co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India next year, a feather in the cap for the country’s cricket administrators.
Silva’s administration has made a concerted effort to bridge the yawning gap between domestic and international cricket. One of the bold strokes in this innings has been trimming the number of First-Class teams – a move aimed at upping the quality and sharpening the edge of domestic cricket.
SLC Ex-Co also played a straight bat when it comes to developing cricket beyond Colombo’s city limits. High Performance Centres have sprung up across the outstations, rolling out the red carpet for raw talent from the hinterlands, who had previously been left in the pavilion.
The school cricket circuit too has been given a shot in the arm, with infrastructure development and skill enhancement taking centre stage. By strengthening the grassroots, the current administration hopes to widen the talent pool and unearth future stars of the game.
SLC’s balance sheet tells its own story – healthy and in the black. Over the past five years, the board’s financial stability has not only benefited cricket, but has also allowed it to lend a helping hand to other sports disciplines, at the request of the Ministry of Sports.
With over three decades of experience under his belt as a sports administrator, Shammi Silva is the long-serving President of the Colombo Cricket Club (CCC), one of the game’s oldest institutions in the country.
The 64th AGM was largely a case of “same XI, new season,” with only one notable change to the playing field – Secretary Mohan de Silva making way for seasoned campaigner Bandula Dissanayake. No stranger to the inner workings of SLC, Dissanayake has previously chaired the Tournament and Umpires Committees, and brings a wealth of experience to the table.
Dr. Jayantha Dharmadasa and former First-Class player Ravin Wickramaratne retained their Vice-President slots, while Sujeewa Godaliyadda continues to hold the Treasurer’s post. Chryshantha Kapuwatta and Lasantha Wickremasinghe will once again don the hats of Assistant Secretary and Assistant Treasurer, respectively.
The election, part of SLC’s biannual cycle, was overseen and greenlit by the Election Committee chaired by retired Court of Appeal Justice Malani Gunaratne.
Vidyaloka College fought back on the back of a valuable century by Nimesh Aavinda to pull off two wickets victory over Kingswood in the Under 19 Division II Tier ‘B’ cricket tournament final played at Saliyapura, Anuradhapura on Monday.
Vidyaloka had a deficit of 36 runs in the first innings but a combined effort helped them restrict Kingswood to 161 runs in the second essay. They were left with a target of 198 runs to chase. And they achieved it with Nimesh Aavinda top scoring with 115 runs.
Scores
Kingswood
227 all out in 83.3 overs (Chanul Kodituwakku 33, Aadil Sheriff 69, Kavija Gamage 25, Nikeshala Nanayakkara 56; Seniru Ninduwara 4/74, Lidula Nuwanga 2/58, Nimesh Aavinda 2/48, Pulindu Chamuditha 2/19) and 161 all out in 65.3 overs (Kavija Gamage 57, Nikeshala Nanayakkara 45; Seniru Ninduwara 2/45, Pulindu Chamuditha 2/07)
Vidyaloka
191 all out in 79.3 overs (Lidula Nuwanga 81, Seniru Ninduwara 34, Tharusha Jayamith 23; Kavija Gamage 4/63, Upadi Jayawardane 2/41) and 200 for 8 in 48.3 overs( Nimesh Aavinda 114, Lidula Nuwanga 34, Seniru Ninduwara 28; Kavija Gamage 3/80, Dominsara Peiris 2/51)
by Reemus Fernando
There was a growing sense of uncertainty surrounding the hosting of the 120th edition of the Lovers’ Quarrel Big Match after Richmond College raised concerns over an attempt by Mahinda College to field a newly recruited player in the team at the historic match which was scheduled to commence on Thursday.
Richmond College authorities have informed Mahinda that they would pullout from the match if the newly recruited player who played for St. Aloysius’ in the just concluded Under 19 cricket tournament is included in the Big Match team.
According to sources Mahinda College have recruited St. Aloysius’ skipper Charya Paranavithana at the end of the Under 19 cricket tournament and are yet to register him under their name with Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association. They have included the player in the Big Match squad.
A source close to Mahinda said that though the player is included in the squad he was not certain to be in the playing XI.
Heavy rainfall of about 100 mm are likely at some places in Central, Sabaragamuwa, Western, Southern and Uva provinces and in Kurunegala and Polonnaruwa districts
Netanyahu nominates new Israeli spy chief despite court order
Underworld leader threatens police over arrest of his father and brother
-
Sports2 days agoSri Lanka’s eternal search for the elusive all-rounder
-
Features6 days agoCelebrating 25 Years of Excellence: The Silver Jubilee of SLIIT – PART I
-
Business6 days agoCEB calls for proposals to develop two 50MW wind farm facilities in Mullikulam
-
Business4 days agoAIA Higher Education Scholarships Programme celebrating 30-year journey
-
News3 days agoGnanasara Thera urged to reveal masterminds behind Easter Sunday terror attacks
-
Features6 days agoNotes from AKD’s Textbook
-
News2 days agoComBank crowned Global Finance Best SME Bank in Sri Lanka for 3rd successive year
-
Features2 days agoSanctions by The Unpunished