Sports

Centurion Nalanda still rooted in cricketing class and tradition

Published

11 months ago

2025/07/27

Many players from Nalanda College have gone on to represent Sri Lanka in Test match cricket and Mahela Jayawardene with 149 Test appearances, is the greatest product from the school

In a country where cricket is religion and education its sacred scroll, Nalanda College — one of Sri Lanka’s proudest institutions — turned 100 this week, bringing up its century with the poise of a seasoned Test cricketer.

What began in 1922 as a humble offshoot of Ananda College at Campbell Place has since carved out its own identity, a name synonymous with discipline and distinction. From military leaders to medical pioneers, business magnates to political stalwarts, Nalanda has been a cradle of excellence. But where it’s truly bowled the nation over is in sport — especially cricket.

For decades, Nalanda has punched above its weight, producing a steady pipeline of Test cricketers and captains of the highest pedigree. From Bandula Warnapura, Sri Lanka’s first Test skipper, to Mahela Jayawardene, Nalanda College has contributed strokes of brilliance to the canvas of Sri Lankan cricket.

There’s an old-world charm in the way Nalanda approaches its sport, a brand of play that values grace over grit, style over slog. They’ve often been ahead of their time, the first school to erect an indoor basketball court, a move even seasoned basketball playing schools have struggled to match. With school basketball now mushrooming, this facility has served not just Nalanda but also the national and international school circuits with distinction. And in true Nalanda spirit, the court was gifted anonymously by an old boy — a gesture of such quiet nobility that it puts many so-called benefactors to shame. Catholic schools have much to learn from Nalanda.

When it comes to cricket, Nalanda’s production line has always been about polish and poise. Not content with just winning matches, the school focused on building the complete cricketer. This philosophy owes much to men like Nelson Mendis, who wore many hats — English teacher, Master-in-Charge, and eventually coach. A stickler for values, Mendis placed character above scorecards. Winning was never everything. Instead, he drilled into his players the importance of respect — for the laws of the game, the opponents, the umpires, and most importantly, the self. As a result we had a gentlemen like Roshan Mahanama.

Gerry Gunaratne, another stalwart in the coaching corner, built on this foundation, shaping generations of players who served both school and country with aplomb. Meanwhile, Stanley Jayasinghe, one of Nalanda’s early greats who later went on to play county cricket in England, brought a wealth of experience that added layers to the school’s sporting culture.

In more recent times, Jayantha Senevirathne brought a breath of fresh air. His mantra was simple yet daring: there’s no shame in losing a game while trying to win it. His fearless brand of cricket encouraged risk-taking, not recklessness, but a calculated aggression that made Nalanda a joy to watch. If it came off, there was glory; if not, there was still pride in the attempt.

Senevirathne, a keen believer in the intellectual side of the game, urged players to read about cricket’s history and study biographies of greats, to not just play the game, but live and breathe it. The likes of veteran broadcaster Premasara Epasinghe, in his role as Master-in-Charge, also ensured that values were treasured passing on cricket’s finer points with an old-school sense of reverence.

The results spoke volumes. Under Senevirathne’s stewardship, Nalanda produced players who left an indelible mark. Anecdotes abound. Mahela Jayawardene, for instance, once struggled with the lofted on-drive, too often caught in the deep. At most places, coaches would have clipped his wings and told him to keep it along the ground. Not at Nalanda. There, they backed the batsman to play his natural game, tweaking technique without killing flair. The result? A master of the on-drive, who would one day make bowlers pay in all corners of the globe.

Dilshan Munaweera, too, had his demons with the cut shot, repeatedly picked out the point fielder. Again, rather than put the stroke in cold storage, they worked with him until he could cut with conviction and even muscle it over deep point for six.

That, perhaps, is the secret sauce of Nalanda cricket, don’t kill the gift; shape it. Don’t sandpaper talent; polish it. The school never churned out robots. It nurtured artists.

Yet, even giants stumble. Recent years have seen Nalanda cricket hit a lean patch, the scoreboard reading more lows than highs. The situation is mirrored across Punchi Borella, where archrivals Ananda too are going through a rebuilding phase. For Sri Lankan cricket to roar again, both these powerhouses must rise from the ashes. A strong Ananda and a strong Nalanda isn’t just nostalgia; it’s necessity.

by Rex Clementine ✍️

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Sports

Sri Lanka claim ODI series 1-0 after another washout in Kingston

Published

2 hours ago

2026/06/10

Sahan Weerasooriya

Kusal Mendis poses with the series trophy

For the second game running in Kingston, persistent rain forced an ODI between West Indies and Sri Lanka had to be abandoned without a ball being bowled. This one – the third and final ODI in this series at Sabina Park – meant Sri Lanka secured the trophy with a 1-0 margin, courtesy the 41-run victory they enjoyed in the series opener.

The umpires had several inspections, but after discussing with curators they decided that getting play started by the cut off of 8.02pm for a 20-over-shootout was almost impossible.

While the mood around both camps might be damp, both literally and metaphorically following two straight washouts, the outcome is still a landmark one for the visiting Lions. It is their first ODI-series victory in the Caribbean in 23 years – the last coming in 2003. A positive start for their newly appointed head coach Gary Kirsten and their new ODI captain Kusal Mendis, although they would’ve liked to have seen more in-game action from the players.

“Very happy to win the series, we did really well in that one game – in all three departments,” Mendis said. “There are not a lot of matches ahead of next year’s World Cup, happy with my first series victory as captain. Got support of the staff too.” He also praised the bowling unit.

For West Indies, the weather and the subsequent series result is undoubtedly a frustrating blow. Denied a chance to avenge their opening game defeat, it’s not only a first series loss at home in three years but, more critically, it’s a result that hinders their pursuit of vital ICC ranking points required for automatic, direct qualification for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

West Indies, for now, remain in tenth place in the ODI rankings, just outside of the top eight qualifying spots. They have ODI series campaigns against New Zealand (World No. 2) and India (No. 1) coming up next.

“You can’t control mother nature,” Shai Hope said. “Credit just be given to the Sri Lankan team for the way they played in the first game. [T20I series next] We need to look ahead, understand conditions. Adaptability will be key in Jamaica. We’ve got some experience, hope to bounce back there.”

Both sides will rapidly shift focus to the shortest format as a three-match T20I series is scheduled to kick off on Thursday, June 11, with subsequent matches on June 13 and June 14.

However, the teams will not be changing hotels just yet; all three T20Is are slated to take place at the exact same venue in Kingston. With rain expected to be a presence across Jamaica over the coming week, groundstaff will have their work cut out for them to ensure the upcoming matches escape a similar watery fate. Those matches will all start at 7.30pm local time.

[Cricinfo]

Sports

Hirun, Menula steer Isipatana to five-wicket win over St. Benedict’s

Published

2 hours ago

2026/06/10

Sahan Weerasooriya

Isipatana College Colombo produced a disciplined all-round performance to register a comfortable five-wicket victory over St. Benedict’s College Kotahena in their Under-17 Division I cricket encounter at BRC ground on Tuesday.

‎Chasing a modest target of 165, Isipatana suffered an early setback when Hasindu Kethmina fell with only three runs on the board. However, Savain Wijewardana and Hirun Wattegedara steadied the innings with a valuable second-wicket stand.

‎Savain made 30 off 48 balls before being dismissed, while Hirun anchored the chase with a composed 66 off 104 deliveries that included three fours and two sixes. His knock laid the foundation for the successful run chase.

‎Menula Dambakumbur

අ played an aggressive innings of 47 from just 45 balls, striking three boundaries and a six. His partnership with Hirun carried Isipatana close to victory before both batters departed late in the innings.

‎Kumar Abishek remained unbeaten on 3 as Isipatana reached 165 for 5 in 36.4 overs, sealing victory with many overs to spare.

‎For St. Benedict’s, Thisum Perera was the most successful bowler with figures of 2 for 31 from 10 overs, while Paranthaman Rohinth, Sethun Perera and Theumika Perera claimed a wicket each.

‎Earlier, St. Benedict’s were bowled out for 164 in 47.1 overs despite a fighting half-century from Paranthaman Rohinth. Rohinth top-scored with 54 runs off 75 deliveries, striking five fours and a six, while Sethun Perera contributed 19 and Daham Premasiri added 19 lower down the order.

‎St. Benedict’s struggled to build substantial partnerships as wickets fell at regular intervals. Rohinth’s dismissal at 101 for 4 in the 29th over triggered a middle-order collapse, leaving the innings heavily dependent on contributions from the lower order.

‎Isipatana’s bowlers shared the workload effectively. Nithila Athukorala and Kumar Abishek claimed two wickets apiece, conceding just 21 and 19 runs respectively. Abiru Walpola also picked up two wickets, while Hirun Wattegedara, Hiruna Vidushan and Anuhas Pandithage chipped in with one wicket each.

Scores:

‎St. Benedict’s 164 all out in 47.1 overs

(Paranthaman Rohinth 54, Sethun Perera 19, Daham Premasiri 19; Nithila Athukorala 2/21, Kumar Abishek 2/19, Abiru Walpola 2/33).

‎Isipatana 165 for 5 in 36.4 overs (Hirun Wattegedara 66, Menula Dambakumbura 47, Savain Wijewardana 30; Thisum Perera 2/31).

‎In the other matches played on Tuesday, Kingswood beat St. Thomas’ Matale y seven wickets while St. Sebastian’s Katuneriya beat Maris Stella, Thimbirigaskatuwa by two wickets.

[RF]

Sports

44th Executive Committee to steer MCA in 2026/27

Published

2 hours ago

2026/06/10

Sahan Weerasooriya

The 44th Executive Committee of the Mercantile Cricket Association

Seated from left:

Lakmal de Silva [Exco Member] .Rohan Somawansa [Vice President], Thushan Amarasuriya [Senior Vice President] Sirosha Gunatilake [President ], Achintha Hewanayake [General Secretary], Tarinda Kaluperuma [Vice President] , Hasitha Dassanayake [Treasurer ]

Standing from left:

Samantha de Mel [Exco Member], Sajith Atapattu [Assistant Treasurer ], Ajith Siyambalapitiya [Assistant Secretary], Pramodth Fernando [Exco Member], Anil Hapugoda [Exco Member], Ashan Peris [Exco Member], Feroze Ahamed [Exco Member]

Founded in 1911 as the ‘Mercantile Cricket Competition’, the Mercantile Cricket Association (MCA) has evolved under the stewardship of distinguished cricketing personalities — from its first President, to Sirosha Gunatilake its 44th President and the 30th Sri Lankan to hold the post.

Over the years, the MCA has made significant investments in cricketing infrastructure to further the development of the sport across the country and continues to play a vital role in nurturing cricketing talent within the mercantile sector and beyond.

Today, the MCA is recognized as one of the foremost cricket-promoting associations in Sri Lanka and has served as a model for many of the tournament structures adopted by Sri Lanka Cricket.

The Association annually conducts seven major tournaments and more than 500 matches, including the Super Premier League to Rising Leagues, the Mercantile Six-a-Side Tournament, the Over-40 Sixes, T10 and T20 competitions, the MCA Inter Academy Invitational Tournament, and the MCA Ladies Sixes (Softball) Tournament, which was introduced to promote women’s cricket and encourage greater participation of ladies in hard-ball cricket.

The 44th Executive Committee that will steer Sri Lanka’s premier corporate cricket association through 2026 / 2027:

President

– Sirosha Gunatilake Managing Director, (Trendex Lanka (Pvt) Ltd)

Senior Vice President –

Thushan Amarasuriya Managing Director/ Executive Director, (Singer Sri Lanka PLC)

Vice Presidents-

Tarindra Kaluperuma Executive Director , (Stafford Motors Co. Ltd)

Rohan Somawansa Head of Marketing and Corporate Communication / Director (DSI Samson Group (Pvt). Ltd)

General Secretary

Achintha Hewanayake Director/CEO/President , (CL Synergy Limited)

Treasurer

Hasitha Dassanayake Chief Sales & Digital Business Officer, (Citizen Development Business Finance PLC)