Bombay cannot quite match Colombo when it comes to Test venues. Colombo boasts four Test grounds, while Bombay has three. India’s first ever Test match in 1933 was staged at the historic Bombay Gymkhana, but international cricket soon shifted down the road to the Cricket Club of India, a stone’s throw away, before finally settling along the sweeping Marine Drive at the Wankhede Stadium, which now hosts all men’s international fixtures. Gymkhana and the CCI, meanwhile, play host largely to women’s internationals and domestic cricket.

All three venues are top-notch facilities and there is plenty Sri Lankan clubs could learn from these Indian institutions. Our clubs carry rich traditions and colourful histories, but when it comes to member comfort and modern amenities, there is room to raise the bar.

Bombay Gymkhana, established in 1875, celebrated its 150th anniversary last year and the ground is steeped in history. In its early days it was a club reserved strictly for Europeans, with locals permitted only as workers. That rule had to be bent for India’s inaugural Test in 1933 so that Indian cricketers could walk through its gates. The policy was finally scrapped in 1947 following India’s independence.

Today, membership at the Gymkhana does not come cheap. The entry fee is eye-watering, and corporate entities rather than individuals are the ones who can comfortably afford it.

The club offers a smorgasbord of sporting activities, cricket and rugby among them, although India has yet to make serious strides in the latter. Indoor pursuits such as badminton and table tennis are also available, while those who prefer a quieter afternoon can retreat to rooms dedicated to card games. The billiards and snooker room, immaculately maintained with more than a dozen tables, remains one of the club’s prized attractions. There was a time when Sri Lanka’s own M.J.M. Lafir held court here, the cynosure of all eyes with cue in hand.

For book lovers there is a splendid library and for those who fancy forty winks there is even a siesta room. Several bars and coffee shops dot the premises, while a mini-supermarket caters to members’ daily needs. A well-stocked wine store sells both local and foreign beer and spirits at reasonable prices.

The food, of course, is a feast for the senses, an impressive spread of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes that would make even the most seasoned diner loosen the belt a notch.

It is remarkable that such facilities exist right in the heart of the city. That people had the foresight a century and a half ago to set aside acres of prime land purely for recreation speaks volumes of the wisdom of those who were calling the shots.

Bombay as a city too has come on in leaps and bounds over the last two decades. New highways have sprung up, including one that cuts across the sea. An underground tunnel emerges just a stone’s throw away from Wankhede Stadium, easing what was once nightmarish traffic. The metro network now connects most key parts of the city and continues to expand.

For a metropolis that never stops moving, Bombay’s infrastructure push deserves a tip of the cap.

Rex Clementine in Bombay

Royal fought back on the back of a valuable five wicket haul by Himaru Deshan to earn first innings points against Richmond in the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ match at Reid Avenue on Thursday.

‎In their second essay, the home team posted 209 for one wicket at close with Rehan Peiris producing an unbeaten century.

‎Rehan and Hirun Liyanarachchi added 163 runs for the first wicket.

‎Rehan’s unbeaten 102 runs came in 112 balls and it included ten fours and a six.

‎Hirun’s aggressive knock of 75 runs was scored in 76 balls. He scored 12 fours and a six.

‎Earler on Richmond struggled to post 204 in reply to Royal’s 254 runs. Open batsman Risinu Rupasinghe (62) was the top scorer, while Ameesha Rasanjana and Tenusha Nimsara made 20s.

‎For Royal, Mihiru Kodituwakku (2/22) and Dushen Udawela (3/36) were the other two bowlers to take wickets.

15TH MCA G DIVISION T 20 LEAGUE TOURNAMENT

Star Garments, CBC Finance, Allianz Insurance, VS Information Systems, Home Land and Millennium IT ESP registered wins in the MCA G division league stage matches played last Monday.At the Nationalised Services Cricket Association grounds at Rathmalana, Nadeesha Rajakaruna scored 54 runs and Chathuranga Dilshan claimed a four-fer to help Star Garments overcome AIA Insurance by 8 wickets.

In the afternoon game at the same venue, an unbeaten half ton by Dilan Buddika and a four fer by Pradeep Kumar saw CBC Finance defeat Ceyline Holdings by 101 runs.

An unbeaten 116 off 52 balls which included 17 boundaries and 4 sixes by Dulan Avishka and three wicket hauls by Charinda Fernando and Naveen Vass Alianz Insurance overcome Trans by 169 runs in the morning.

In the afternoon game VS Information Systems registered their second win of the tournament to lead group F by defeating DSI group by three wickets.

At the D S Senanayake College grounds half tons by Suranga Gamage [65 not out] and Thevindu Senarathne [55] helped Hoe Lands Group overcome Swisstek Ceylon by nine wickets with 8 overs to spare. Powered by a four wicket haul [4-04] and an unbeaten 34 by Uvindu Andurajith, Millenium IT ESP beat Coats Thread by seven wickets In a low scoring game in the afternoon.

At NSCA ground Ratmalana

Star Garments won by 8 wickets

AIA Insurance

118/10 in 20 overs [Sasanka Kularathna 44,Nuwan de Silva 21, Sujith Siriwrdana 13; Suwahas Yapa 1-29, Dunik Perera 1-13, Dulanjana Abeysinghe 2-29, Chathuranga Dilshan 4-08]

Star Garments

122/2 in 11.1 overs [Nadeesha Rajakaruna 54, Dileep Fernando 43, Dunik Perera 11*; Isuru Madhusanka 1-21, Avindu Fernando 1-31]

CBC Finance by 101 runs

CBC Finance

162/7 in 20 overs [Asanka Fernando 15, Methusha Wijethilaka 19, Harsha Fernando 21, Shehara Fernando 26, Dilan Buddhika 50*, Keshika Dilshan 11; Anushka Fernando 2-35, Tharindu Munasinghe 1-14, Chameera manamperi 1-12, Devindra Fernando 1-31, Kaviru Sannasooriya 1-37]

Ceyline Holdings

61/10 in 12.4overs [Tharindu Munasinghe 10, Shane Deshabandhu 10, Anushka Fernando 12; Ravindu Nimsara 2-17, Dilan Budhdhika 2-14, Pradeep Kumar 4-12, Keshika Dilshan 2-06]

At MCA grounds

Allianz Insurance won by 169 runs

Allianz Insurance

243/3 [Yohan Ravishka 58, Dulan Avishka 116*, Sameera Fernando 40, Ranga Dias 10*; Shiran Chathuranga 2-33, Dasun Gunathilake 1-55]

Trans

74/10 in 19.1 overs [Sachin Silva 12, Thilanka Sachin 28; Charinda Fernando 3-06, Mayura Ranasinghe 2-21, Naveen Vaas 3-14, Sameera Fernando 1-10, Ranga Dias 1-0]

VS Information Systems by three wickets

DSI Group 114/9 in 20 overs [Ochintha Nadeeshan 14, Avishka Madushan 13, Yasas Weerasekera 13, Udith Indunil 32, Mahesh Wediwardena 11; Adeesha Bandaranayake 1-29, Chamath Chamupathi 3-17, Nimnada Kirindage 1-12, Ayesh Lakmal 2-16, Kasun Bandara 2-28]

VS Information Systems 118/7 in 19.4 overs [Nimnada Kirindage 10, Chamath Chamupathi 18, Shamilka Wickramathilaka 51, Shan Aniketh 19*; Mahesh Wediwardena 2-20, Asitha Wijesekera 1-40, Udith Indunil 1-23, Nilinda Maddumage 2-17]

At D S Senanayake College grounds

Home Lands Group by nine wickets

Swisstek Ceylon

156/8 in 20 overs [ Lasith Karunathilake 13, Danidu Wijekoon 20, Supun Wijesinghe 30, Dushmantha Dias 23, Tihan Senanayake 37; Sanura Dias 1-13, Umesh Lakshan 1=22, Thiwanka Ginige 1-24, Malith Fernando 3-21, Reshan Basnayake 1-30]

Home Lands Group

157/1 in 12 overs [Suranga Gamage 65*, Thevindu Senarathne 55, Sehan Herath 11*; Gamini Wanasingha 1-31]

Uvindu powers Millennium IT ESP to seven wicket win

Coats Thread

57/10 in 16.1 overs [Ravi Lakshan 22; Uvindu Adurajith 4-04, Yehan Hettiarachchi 3-10, Eeshan geethanjana 2-14, Charith Rathnaweera 1-05]

Millennium IT ESP

61/3 in 7.5 overs [Uvidu Andurajith 34*; Thushan Malintha 2-14, Arun Nagalingm 1-19