Sports
Giant killers Asoka Vidyalaya encounter formidable Jaffna Central
Under 19 Division II Tier B Limited Overs Cricket Final
by Reemus Fernando
Not many expect a team ranked fourth at the end of a league stage to reach the final of a schools cricket tournament. And not many expect a team bowled out for a score as low as 65 runs to bounce back to win. Asoka Vidyalaya captained by Umesh Caldera have beaten odds to reach the final of the Under 19 Division II Tier ‘B’ tournament after being ranked fourth in their group and staging a dramatic fight back in the quarter-final. Jaffna Central, their opponents in the final have remained a formidable force in this Division for some time now. That is likely to produce an intriguing contest at today’s final at Bandaragama.
The performances of the two teams during the league stage were a complete contrast. Jaffna Central skippered by Nishanthan Ajay registered six victories and conceded just two defeats during the league stage. Competing in Group ‘Y’, they were the runners up to Christ King College, Ja Ela. The better average points they maintained during the league stage stood in good stead for Jaffna Central to advance after their quarter-final against Henegama ended without a result. In the semi-final Jaffna Central knocked out P. de S. Kularathna, Ambalangoda.
Asoka Vidyalaya had to be content with three wins during the league. Four of their Group ‘X’ matches ended in no decisions. They were ranked fourth behind P. de S. Kularatne, Kingswood and Henegama Central in their group.
During the knockout stage Asoka turned tables on Chris King and Kingswood. After being bowled out for 65 runs, Asoka rattled Christ King for 22 runs to record a remarkable victory. Vidura Eshan and Seneth Anuja shared nine wickets between them in that match. Eshan, Anjula, Suwan Mindika and Ishara Sandamal who has two four-wicket hauls in the tournament are the bowlers to watch in the Asoka camp, while Venura Kaveethra, Eshan, Thasitha Nayanajith and skipper Caldera are expected to shoulder most of the batting responsibilities.
Ranjithkumar Newton, who set the stage for their semifinal victory with a six wicket haul, Vikneshwaran Paruthi, Murali Thison, Thakuthas Abilash and Vikneshwaran Paruthi have all contributed with the ball for Jaffna Central, while Sutharshan Anushanth, Nishanthan Ajay, Sathakaran Similton, Arumaithurai Sinthujan, Shakadevan Sayanthan and Thakuthas Abilash have been the leading run getters.
Jaffna Central (from): Nishanthan Ajay (Captain), Thakuthas Abilash, Sathakaran Similton, Kevin Derixsan, Ranjithkumar Newton, Jagatheeshwaran Aswithana, Murali Thison, Vikneshwaran Paruthi, Sutharshan Anushanth, Shakadevan Sayanthan, Antonreshan Abishek, Arumaithurai Sinthujan, Shanthalingam Rilaxsan, Kaneshalingam Mathususanth, Ranjith Kumar Akshayan. Officials: S. Uthayanan (Master in Charge), T.R. Kingsly (Prefect of Games), F.K. Shelton (Coach)
Asoka Vidyalaya (from):
Umesh Caldera (Captain), Venura Kaveethra (Vice Captain), Ishara Sandamal, Bulitha Mintharu, Pasindu Hirushan, Udayantha Abhilasha, Vidura Weththasinghe, Thasitha Karunarathna, Moditha Jayawickrama, Sasindu Malshan, Seneth Anuja, Chathura Theekshana, Keesara Gunasekara, Suwan Mindika, Inuka Palapage, Nethula Boshitha, Kavindu Palihawadana, Rashmika Perera. Officials: Jaliya Jayantha (Master in Charge), Lahiru Wickramasinghe (Head Coach), Charith Gunawardana (Asst. Coach)
The final week of the year is like a Roman feast for the Test cricket fan, and Boxing Day this year promises mouth-watering contests in Melbourne and Centurion but look this way too, will you? Bulawayo is set to host Zimbabwe’s first Boxing Day Test 8n 28 years too, and with unpredictable Afghanistan on the other side, a real tussle is expected between the two teams, who despite their recent underwhelming performances, would feel like they’re favourites. After all, the last time either side won a Test was against each other.
But that was way back 8n 2021. Since then, they have not found a way to win. And one look at the Zimbabwe and Afghanistan squads for this two-Test series suggests that they’re both looking to change that by taking a different direction for 2025 and beyond. A splattering of Test debutants are expected – theoretically, there could be as many 15 debuts across the two XIs – and this series could very well be the one that births a new generation.
Under 19 Cricket
by Reemus Fernando
Mahinda College, Galle took firm control of their two-day Under 19 Division I Tier ‘B’ cricket encounter as they reached 213 for nine wickets at stumps after restricting Moratu Vidyalaya to 96 runs at Galle on Wednesday.
After Arosha Udayanga grabbed five wickets to trouble the visitors, the home team topped 200 runs thanks to a century by open batsman Dulsith Darshana and a half century by Senuka Dangamuwa.
While Darshana scored 13 fours and a six in his 106 which came in 143 balls, Dangamuwa hammered nine fours and a six in his 50 which came in 51 balls.
Mahinda are in search of their first outright victory in the tournament proper after having earned first innings points in two out of the three matches in their group.
Moratu Vidyalaya too have completed three matches and have scored first innings points on one occasion.
Scores
Moratu Vidyalaya
96 all out in 45.2 overs (Sanjana Senavirathna 31, Shehara Fernando 20; Arosha Udayanga 5/35)
Mahinda
213 for 9 in 52 overs (Dulsith Darshana 106, Senuka Dangamuwa 50; Isuru Nidharshana 2/64, Nishitha Fernando 5/45)
by Reemus Fernando
Sri Lanka Athletics has suspended track and field official S. W. Nimalsiri for four years after a three member committee appointed by the sports governing body found him guilty of manhandling leading athletic official G.L.S. Perera within the Sri Lanka Athletics premises in Torrington.
“The executive committee of Sri Lanka Athletics decided to hand Nimalsiri a four year suspension after the three member committee concluded that he was guilty of manhandling the respected official,” Saman Kumara Gunawardhana, the secretary of Sri Lanka Athletics told The Island.
At the time of the suspension Nimalairi was a committee member of Sri Lanka Athletics and is the president of the Ace Athletics Club and secretary of the Colombo District Athletics Association.
The three member committee that inquired the incident involving Nimalairi and Perera was headed by retired district court judge Upali Samaraweera. Others in the committee were former director of sports Padma Siriwardana and disciplinary committee chairman of Sri Lanka Athletics Chandana Ekanayake.
Nimalsiri has also been suspended from officiating in track and field competitions.
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