Sports
Under 19 Division II Tier ‘A’ Cricket Final :Holy Cross encounter formidable Lyceum
Formidable Lyceum International, Wattala will meet Holy Cross College, Kalutara in the final of the Under 19 Division II Tier ‘A’ cricket tournament at BRC ground today.
Holy Cross, a former Division I team were at the receiving end when these two teams met during the first round. Holy Cross captained by Sasindu Kaushan will be looking forward to turning tables on Lyceum who suffered just a solitary defeat this season in the limited-overs format.
Skippered by Yugath Premathilaka, Lyceum have in their ranks one of the brightest prospects in the junior circuit in Garuka Sanketh who earned accolades at the recently held Inter-Provincial tournament.
Sanketh who has over 30 wickets against his name will spearhead the bowling attack with Mohammed Rifnaz. The duo played key roles for Lyceum to restrict their opponents to low scores this season.
Lyceum beat Karandeniya Central, Vidyartha College, Kandy, St. Peter’s College, Negombo, Dharmaloka College, Kelaniya, Holy Cross, St. John’s College, Panadura and Tissa Central, Kalutara in the first round. Their blemish against Sri Sumangala College, Panadura placed them second in the points table.
During the knockout stage, they edged out Piliyandala Central (quarter-final) and St. Sebastian’s College, Katuneriya to book a well-deserving spot in the final. While Nethmal de Zoysa ( over 300 runs), Lakshitha Udesh and Jayathu Chathuranga are their leading batsmen, Premathilaka, Chathumal Nimansa and Vihanga Theekshana also featured prominently in the batting department during the knockout phase.
For Holy Cross, Rashen Kethaka with over 200 runs and Sanuka Cheran are the leading batsmen, while Pasindu Wimansa, Hansaja Brian and Aakash Dewmina are the players to watch in the bowling department.
During the first round, the team from Kalutara beat St. John’s College, Panadura, St. Peter’s College, Negombo, Dharmaloka College, Kelaniya, Sri Sumangala, Panadura, Tissa Central, Kalutara and Karandeniya Central while going down to Vidyartha and Lyceum. During the knockout stage they beat Galahitiyawa Central (quarter-final) and Sri Sumangala, Panadura (semi-final).
Both schools have experienced the agony of not being able to earn the deserving promotion to the top division since the Covid 19 pandemic altered the dimensions of schools cricket tournaments in 2020. With normalcy returning this season the two teams will look forward to climbing up the ranks when the league tournament of the innings format commences shortly.
Teams:
Holy Cross (from):
Sasindu Kaushan (Captain), Deshan Perera (Vice Captain), Hansaja Brian, Kethaka Silva, Pasindu Wimansa, Sonal Perera, Hiven Kenula, Dewmina Fernando, Hansaka Fernando, Cheran Silva, Gimhan Fernando, Nethru Silva, Sathsara Gamage, Abhishek Samaraweera, Steeve Roshaka, Gayantha Nadeesha, Deshan de Silva, Tharuksha Silva, Patrik Thisera, Vishmitha Fernando.
Officials:
K.D.S.P. Samantha (Master in Charge), Nimal Dabare (Head Coach), Lakshitha Ranasinghe (Asst. Coach)
Lyceum International (from):
Yugath Premathilaka (Captain), Rayan Perera, Sanujan Baskaran, Nethman de Soysa, Laksitha Udesh, Jayathu Chathuranga, Garuka Sanketh, Mohammed Rifnaz, Madhuka Perera, Kevin Perera, Shahila Prabhashwara, Shavindu Silva, Vidusha Wijerathne, Bimsara Weerasinghe, Travin Nishanthan, Sadeesha Silva, Thushan Fernando, Omalka Hapuarachchi, Malinda Mulgama, Danidu Nawarathne.
Officials:
Manjula Prasanna (Master in Charge), Lal Senarathne (Head Coach), Dishan Saminda (Coach), Sanjeewa Mendis (Coach).
By A Special Sports Correspondent
Kandy Sports Club crowned themselves as ‘Cup Championship’ winners in the inter-club league rugby tournament when they overcame their final hurdle by beating Havelocks Sports Club by 50 points to 24 at Nittawela last evening.
Kandy SC was anyway assured of the title this season before this final game of the season even began, given that they were unbeaten thus far in the league tournament. Kandy SC collected their points through seven tries, six conversions and a penalty while Havelocks Sports Club responded with a three converted tries and a penalty.
Kandy SC set the pace for the game from the kick off itself and recorded first half tries through Dinal Ekanayake, Srinath Sooriyabandara, Kenula Hettiarachchi and Dahan Wickremaarachchi and all four conversions were slotted in by Tharinda Ratwatte. Havelocks SC got most of their points in the first half through Sandesh Jayawickreme who scored a try and booted through a conversion. The penalty for the Park Club was kicked right by Samuel Maduwantha.
Kandy SC faced some resistance from Havies after the turn around, but the side from Nittawela found the try line by breaking through a barrage of tackles from the men wearing the pink and chocolate jerseys.
Dahan Wickremaarachchi started the ball rolling for Kandy with a try after the turn around which took the side’s score to 38 with the conversion. Havies played in patches thereafter and scored through Jayathu Rajaratne and Janidu Fernando. Jayawickreme was spot on with the conversions.
Kandy’s Ethen Schneider Loos smashed his way through for the side’s sixth try which was converted by Ratwatte. Kandy had the game in the bag despite Havies playing attacking rugby whenever they had possession. But the score line deference that Kandy maintained throughout the game made it hard for Havies to make a real comeback into the game.
The Nittwala side erupted in jubilation when Ekanayake punted ahead and sent crowd favourite Nigel Ratwatte for the seventh and final try. There was speculation throughout the game that this would be Nigel’s final game for the Kandy SC side. Surprisingly Tharinda missed the conversion.
At the awards presentation ceremony after the game, Kandy Sports Club’s Tharinda Ratwatte was named as the highest points scorer for the 2024/25 league rugby season. He has accumulated 139 points this season.
Havelocks Sports produced the highest try scorer for the season. That award went to Jayathu Rajaratne of Havies. He has had 16 touchdowns this season. Havelocks Sports Club had to be satisfied with the runners-up trophy at the awards presentation. Players from both sides including the coaching staff were presented with medals by the organisers of the tournament.
Meanwhile CR&FC did well in their last outing in the Cup Championship segment of the league tournament when they beat Air Force by 31 points to 16 at Longden Place.
In the two Plate Segment matches, Sri Lanka Navy beat Sri Lions by 41 points to 38 at Race Course.In the other match of the Plate segment, Police SC beat Army SC by 24 points to 17. The match was played at Police Park.
Mutthusami Sivarajan and Rasara Wijesuriya won the men’s and women’s Cross Country Championships of the National Sports Festival conducted in Nuwara Eliya.
Sivarajan representing Central Province returned a time of 34 minutes and 21 seconds to finish ahead of Samantha Pushpakumara and Damith Hemantha Kumara.
In the women’s category, Wijesuriya from Eastern Province clocked 38 minutes and 41 seconds finish ahead of Madhushani Herath and Chamini Herath.
Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ Limited Overs Cricket
by Reemus Fernando
Trinity advanced to the final of the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ Limited Overs Cricket tournament with six wickets victory over arch rivals St. Anthony’s in the semi-final played at BRC ground on Saturday.
Open batsman Dimantha Mahavithana held Trinity’s batting together with a valuable knock of 74 runs inclusive of six fours. He was out after leveling scores. Chaniru Senarathne added a fourth wicket stand of 82 runs with Mahavithana and remained unbeaten on 44.
Deciding to bowl first, Trinity did well to take three quick wickets.
Malith Rathnayake who opened bowling with Sethmika Senavirathne took three wickets as he completed his full quota of ten overs for 23 runs. Senavirathne did not take a wicket but he bowled an economical spell giving away just 20 runs in his eight overs.
Sweath Anurajeewa took three wickets for 25 runs (8 overs) while Chaniru Senarathne, Vathila Udara and Jayavi Liyanagama grabbed a wicket each.
Trinity will now meet St. Joseph’s in the final which will be played after the O/L exams.
St. Joseph’s eliminated Gurukula to book their final berth.
Trinity are in the semi-final stage of the two-day tournament as well.
Scores:
St. Anthony’s 158 all out in 50 overs (Sadew Amarakoon 31, Kaushika Kumarasinghe 35, Kevan Fernando 34n.o.; Malith Rathnayake 3/23, Sweath Anurajeewa 3/25)
Trinity 159 for 4 in 45.3 overs (Dimantha Mahavithana 74, Aadham Hilmy 22, Chaniru Senarathne 44n.o.; Ryan Gregory 2/30)
Showers in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Kandy district after 2.00 p.m.
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