Sports
Prasad’s eccentrics will be missed not his service
There is a bus stop in Nagoda, just before Kandana junction on Negombo road. It’s called ‘No ball Handiya’. Not because of Dilhara Fernando but as even Dhammika Prasad, who represented Sri Lanka in 25 Test matches, hails from the same vicinity. Both fast bowlers attended the same school – De Mazenod. They had a fine coach – Vernon Senanayake, even he couldn’t rectify their overstepping problems.
Prasad was quite a handful with the new ball as he could generate genuine pace. Once in Galle he dismissed Chris Gayle and celebrated it by lying down on the pitch with outstretched arms. The embarrassment was just around the corner. Umpire Richard Kettleborough approached him to inform that it was a no ball. Gayle would go onto score a career best 333 with 34 fours and nine monstrous sixes with most of them landing on the Galle bus halt!
Not sure whether any other Sri Lankan fast bowler has had an impressive debut as Dhammika Prasad. It was against India at P. Sara Oval. He took three wickets in the first innings. Guess the names? Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag.
There was lot of bad blood during Sri Lanka’s tour of England in 2014. The England and Wales Cricket Board had reduced Sri Lanka’s Test matches to two and instead hosted India for five Tests. Sri Lanka’s Head Coach Paul Farbrace had defected to England ranks just two weeks prior to the tour. Then, there was the Mankading of Jos Buttler, ordered by of all people Marvan Atapattu, one of the nicest guys to play the game of cricket.
The first Test at Lord’s was a thrilling draw. Kumar Sangakkara playing his last Test at The Home of Cricket scored a hundred. Sri Lanka’s last pair saw off some tensed moments thanks to the DRS.
The tourists fought tooth and nail in the second Test at Headingley. After conceding a lead of over 100 runs in the first innings, they fared better in the second innings. Sri Lanka were 150 runs ahead with four wickets in hand and needed 100 or so more to set England a decent target. Captain Angelo Mathews was their biggest hope. When Dhammika Prasad joined him, the instructions were clear. Mathews was going to do the scoring, Prasad had to block. But our man had a brain fade. The first ball he faced, Prasad slashed Liam Plunkett and was caught at third man. Mathews was furious and threw his bat away.
As Prasad was nearing the dressing room, team manager late Michael De Zoysa told all his players and support staff to give the batsman, who had just collected a pair, the cold shoulder. Not a single person in the dressing room spoke to Prasad that afternoon.
This angered Prasad. What followed was an aggressive spell of fast bowling. Prasad finished with career best figures of five for 50. More importantly, Sri Lanka went onto win their first ever Test series in England.
By 2015, Prasad had emerged as Sri Lanka’s leading fast bowler. That year he finished as one of the top ten wicket takers in the world in Test match cricket. We weren’t short of Prasad’s eccentrics. He picked up a fight with India’s Ishant Sharma at SSC. Prasad peppered Ishant with a barrage of short pitched bowling and exchanged words. Team mate Dinesh Chandimal came to Prasad’s aid and even brushed shoulders with the lanky Indian fast bowler. All three were charged by the Match Referee Andy Pycroft.
Later that day, as Pycroft entered Taj Samudra he saw a sight that warmed his heart. Prasad and Ishant were having coffee at the lobby. The Match Referee treated Prasad with kid’s gloves but banned Chandimal for one match. Chandimal did not speak with Prasad for several weeks.
We never saw Prasad’s full potential. He was very unlucky with injuries; like ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2015. On the eve of the curtain-raiser in Christchurch, Prasad hurt his hand attempting a return catch and was sent home. He played little cricket from thereon.
Despite all eccentrics, Prasad’s team mates vouch that the bloke has a heart of gold. Successive Sri Lankan captains have valued his service for he makes their jobs so easy.
Most cricketers can be found in Colombo-7s posh clubs socializing with friends when they have day-offs. To trace Prasad you have to go to the local bar. He will either be found spending time with his villagers at Sensasia in Peralanda or CASA in Ragama. Once established, most players prefer to move to Colombo. Prasad has remained in his village – Ragama, not too far away from No Ball Junction.
Prasad feels the pain of his fellow Sri Lankans. As the country went into a lock-down following the outbreak of the pandemic last year, Prasad was busy collecting dry rations and distributing them among daily wage earners. Jesus fed 5000 people in Capernaum. Prasad fed 2000 families in Gampaha, week after week. He will announce his retirement from cricket today. He will be missed.
by Rex Clementine
The first round of Sri Lanka Cricket’s Major League Tournament came to a close last week, with Bloomfield and NCC emerging as the table-toppers in their respective groups. The two Colombo-based powerhouses are now set to lock horns in the grand finale, which begins tomorrow (March 5) at the R. Premadasa Stadium. The four-day First Class match promises to be a high-stakes battle for domestic supremacy.
However, the real headline of the tournament wasn’t the two finalists but the stunning relegation of SSC – Sri Lanka’s most storied cricket club. For the first time in its illustrious history, the club will be without First-Class status for at least two years, a fall from grace that has sent shockwaves through the country’s cricketing circles.
Alongside SSC, Ragama Cricket Club, Negombo Cricket Club, and Kandy Customs have also been shown the exit door, having finished in the bottom half of the table. But SSC’s relegation, in particular, is akin to a giant being felled – an unthinkable scenario for a club that has long been the nursery of Sri Lankan cricketing greats.
SSC might feel hard done by, as fate seemed to conspire against them this season. The weather gods were unkind, washing out crucial games they could have won. Injuries, too, played a major role in their downfall, with key bowlers like Nisala Tharaka, Kasun Rajitha, and Pramod Madushan spending more time on the treatment table than on the field.
But some insiders believe the club was also a victim of its own star power. With many of their marquee players tied up with national duties, SSC often found itself fielding understrength sides. To make matters worse, several senior players prioritized franchise cricket, leaving the club in the lurch at critical moments. Although they returned midway through the league, the damage had already been done, and SSC found itself staring down the barrel.
While some clubs in the past have resorted to backdoor moves and legal loopholes to avoid the drop, SSC’s management deserves credit for taking relegation on the chin. They didn’t plead for special treatment or try to move the goalposts in their favour.
Not too long ago, a prominent club was saved from relegation through some questionable maneuvering, and others have even sought legal recourse to cling to First-Class status despite tournament rules being crystal clear. But SSC, true to its stature, accepted its fate with dignity, setting an example for others to follow.
Sri Lanka Cricket has been on a mission to streamline domestic cricket, reducing the number of First-Class teams to improve the quality of competition. Not too long ago, the tournament had a bloated 26-team structure. But with the numbers being trimmed – down to 14 teams next season and 12 the year after – SSC now finds itself in the unenviable position of having to claw its way back into the top division.
Despite the setback, SSC is already plotting its comeback. The club’s Cricket Committee Chairman, Samantha Dodanwala, made it clear that they aren’t looking for excuses – just a way back.
“At the end of the day, we have to take responsibility rather than offering excuses. Now we are duty-bound to fight our way back into the top division. The good thing is that all the players have agreed to stay on and help us reclaim our rightful place,” Dodanwala told ‘The Island‘.
Royal College, renowned for its rich cricketing legacy and consistent excellence in the sport, proudly announced the continued support of Chrelisa Global (Pvt) Ltd, one of the world’s leading ceramic tile manufacturers from Italy to the development of cricket at Royal College by extending its sponsorship for the second consecutive year. Under the leadership of Dhilip Vedamanikkam, Chairman of Chrelisa Global (Pvt) Ltd, the company has once again stepped forward to support Royal College Cricket. With its roots in Italy and a strong presence in Sri Lanka through its showroom in Nawala, Chrelisa Global has demonstrated its dedication to empowering the next generation of cricketing stars.
Royal College has long been a powerhouse in Sri Lankan school cricket, consistently producing top-tier players who have gone on to represent the national team. The school’s cricketing excellence is evident across all levels, from junior to senior cricket.
At the junior level, Royal College has dominated the scene, with the Under-15 and Under-13 teams making history by clinching all-island championships across A, B, and C divisions. This remarkable achievement underscores the strength of Royal’s cricketing pipeline and its commitment to developing future talent.
The Royal College Junior Cricket Academy continues to grow, with over 150 young players undergoing structured training to hone their skills and prepare for the future. This initiative ensures a steady flow of talent into the senior ranks, maintaining the college’s reputation as a cradle of cricketing excellence.
(Right to Left) Royal College 1st XI Captain Ramiru Perera, Chrelsa Global Chairman Dhilip Vedamanikkam, alongside Principal, Krishantha Silva and Vice-Captain, Rehan Peiris, celebrating the continued partnership supporting the cricketing excellence of Royal College.
The Senior Cricket team has consistently demonstrated outstanding performance, securing numerous accolades in recent years and producing players who have gone on to excel at the highest levels of the sport.
The renewed partnership with Chrelisa Global (Pvt) Ltd is a significant boost for Royal College Cricket. This collaboration not only highlights the strength of cricket at Royal College but also reflects Chrelisa Global’s dedication to supporting grassroots sports and community development.
Dhilip Vedamanikkam, Chairman of Chrelisa Global (Pvt) Ltd, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “We are proud to continue our support for Royal College Cricket, an institution that has consistently produced exceptional talent and upheld the highest standards of sportsmanship. At Chrelisa Global, we believe in empowering the next generation, and this partnership aligns perfectly with our vision of fostering excellence both on and off the field.”
The Royal College Cricket community is deeply grateful for Chrelisa Global’s unwavering support, which will undoubtedly contribute to the continued success and growth. Together, Royal College and Chrelisa Global are committed to nurturing the cricketing stars of tomorrow and upholding the legacy of excellence that defines Royal College Cricket.
Under 19 Division I Tier A Cricket
by Reemus Fernando
Left-arm paceman Tharusha Kodikara rattled Richmond batting line up with a six wicket haul to lead Gurukula to 159 runs win in the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ limited overs tournament quarter-final played at Mattegoda on Monday.
Kodikara produced remarkable figures giving away just six runs in his ten overs, which included six maidnes.
Chasing 199 runs to win, no Richmond batsman could reach double figures.
Batting first, Thathsara Eshan top scored with 82 runs for Gurukula to reach 298 runs.
Gurukula will now meet the winners of the other quarter-final between St. Joseph’s and St. Servatius’ in the semi-final.
Scores
Gurukula
198 all out in 46.1 overs (Hiruna Nimsara 27, Thathsara Eshsn 82, Denura Dimansith 39; Malith de Silva 3/29, Thamindu Pradeeptha 2/12, Nethsara Akash 2/30, Pubudu Mihiranga 2/38)
Richmond
39 all out in 21.3 overs (Tharusha Kodikara 6/05, Poorna Kalhara 3/07)
Prevailing showery condition over the island is expected to be reduced from today (04).
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