Sports
Lyceum and Maris Stella out to retain unbeaten tag
Under 15 Division III Cricket
by Reemus Fernando
Lyceum International School, Wattala and Maris Stella College, Thimbirigaskatuwa will go all out to keep their unbeaten status in the tournament intact when they meet in the Inter School Under 15 Division III cricket final at the Thurstan College ground today. Lyceum captained by Mihila Jayaweera advanced to the knockout stage as an unbeaten team. They registered an outright victory against Anura Central, Yakkala and beat Bandaranaike College, Meerigama, President’s College, Mahara, Nalanda College, Minuwangado and Dharanagama Central on first innings.
During the knockout stage they beat President’s, Kadawatha and Royal College (C), Colombo before beating Aluthgama Vidyalaya in the quarter-final. At the semi-final hurdle they edged out Christ Church, Baddegama. Lyceum have in their ranks a batsman who has scored over 800 runs in this tournament. Vihan Sadeesha Silva has aggregated 887 runs with five centuries, including back to back centuries in the match against Dharanagama Central.
Their leading bowler is left-arm spinner Adeesha Attanayaka who has captured 22 wickets so far. Maris Stella captained by top order batsman Ravindu Rajapaksha reached the final after beating Rangiri Dambulla National School in the semi-finals. In the quarter-final they beat Niwaththaka Chethiya MV, Anuradhapura. During the knockout round they beat Taxila, Horana, Marawila Boys School, St. Joseph’s, Anuradhapura and Ratnayake Central, Walala in a row to reach the last eight.
During the first round they scored first innings wins against St. Sebastian’s, Kandana, St. Peter’s Udugampola and Nalanda College, Minuwangoda. The other team in their group Sumeda College, Gampaha were not available for their match. They could aggregate points only against three teams meaning they were placed third in the group.
Pawan Muthukuda is their leading batsman. He has a century against his name and will be looking to do well in the final encounter. Left-arm spinner Wishwa Peiris with over 30 wickets is their key strike bowler. According to Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association more than 350 schools competed in the Under 15 Division III tournament this year.
Teams
Lyceum International (from): Mihila Jayaweera (Captain), Danidu Nawarathne, Randir Dewapriya, Sadeesha Gimhan, Adheesha Attanayake, Dinev Punchihewa, Vindiya Abesinghe, Mohamed Shuhaib, Vidusha De Zoysa, Sahiru Roshen, Trevan Kulathunga, Gagan Perera, Jeshwara Vishwanathan, Mandara Hewapathirana, Vihan Silva, Sasiru Senarathne, Vikashitha Jayasiri, Vishara Randunu.
Officials: Minon Dilshan (Master in Charge), Sanjeewa Mendis (Coach), Viraj Weerasekara (Coach).
Maris Stella (from): Ravindu Rajapaksha (Captain), Pawan Muthukuda, Dullein Perera, Vishwa Pieris, Shenash Panchama, Kavish Vimasha, Athila Appuhamy, Yuthika Wijesinghe, Nimantha Silva, Gethmin Lokuvithanage, Gavin Liyanarachchi, Dinuka Jayaweera, Manuja Nawarathne, Enosh Kaveesha.
Officials: Roshan Jayasinghe (Coach and Master in Charge), Sameera Meduragoda (Assistant Coach)

Latest News
England call up Crane and rest Archer for Pakistan series
Leg-spinner Mason Crane could play for England for the first time in eight years after being recalled for the one-day international tri-series in Pakistan.
The 29-year-old won his only Test cap against Australia in Sydney in 2018 and is now given an opportunity in the series which also involves Sri Lanka next month.
Crane, who also played two T20 internationals in 2017, could also push his case in the fight to be England’s number one spinner in Test cricket.
Sam Curran and Adil Rashid both return after injuries, and uncapped pair James Coles and Henry Crocombe are included.
Jos Buttler is out with the hamstring injury he sustained last week, while Jacob Bethell is continuing his recovery from knee surgery.
Brydon Carse, who is under an investigation from the Cricket Regulator following an incident outside a nightclub in Derby in August, remains absent.
England are on a diet of white-ball cricket until three Tests in South Africa in December as they build up to the 50-over World Cup in southern Africa next year.
The tri-series in Pakistan involves the three teams taking part playing each other twice, with the top two advancing to the final. Following the trip to Pakistan, England play three one-day internationals and five T20s in Australia in November.
As England continue to shape their backroom staff following the arrival of Stephen Fleming as Test coach, Jeetan Patel, Mike Yardy, David Saker and Carl Hopkinson will assist white-ball head coach Brendon McCullum in Pakistan.
That means Marcus Trescothick, who took temporary charge of the Test team for the series against Pakistan in the home summer, misses the trip.
It is understood the make-up of the coaching staff is part of a plan to rotate the coaches – fielding coach Sarah Taylor and fast-bowling coach Tim Southee are also not going to Pakistan.
All of Trescothick, Taylor and Southee are likely to be part of England’s coaching team for other tours this winter.
England squad for tri-series in Pakistan:
Harry Brook (Yorkshire – captain), Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Sonny Baker (Hampshire), Tom Banton (Somerset), James Coles (Sussex), Jordan Cox (Essex), Mason Crane (Glamorgan), Henry Crocombe (Sussex), Sam Curran (Surrey), Liam Dawson (Hampshire), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Will Jacks (Surrey), Jamie Overton (Surrey), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire).
(BBC)
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