Richmond College Galle and Madampagama MMV won their matches in the ‘Singer Trophy’ Under 19 inter- schools cricket tournament yesterday. Richmond beat Maliyadeva College Kurunegala by 10 wickets at Kurunegala and Madampagama MMV beat Ananda Central Elpitiya by 193 runs at Madampagama. The rest of the matches ended in draws.

RESULTS:

* At Kotahena: Match drawn.

St. Anthony’s Katugastota: 242 and 71/1 (11.3) (Chamindu Wickramasinghe 45, Gihan Ebert 25)

St. Benedict’s Kotahena: 307/9 decl. (43/1 o/n) (97.5) (Shehan Fernando 67, Pasan Suwahas 60, Ashen de Soysa 45 Vihanga Ruwanara 44, Hasindu Kavirathne 35, Gihan Ebert 4/93, Nimnaka Jayathilake 2/80)

* At Kurunegala: Richmond won by 10 wickets.

Maliyadeva: 77 and 81 (52.3) (Amesh Thennakoon 21, Gayana Weerasinghe 21, Dilum Sudeera 5/25, Sugeeth Nimnada 4/14)

Richmond Galle: 158 (55.4) (139/8 o/n) (Thaveesha Abhishek 43, Dimuth Sandaruwan 29, Sakindu Wijerathne 4/29, Brian Karunanayake 2/22) and 4/0 (0.3)

* At Kurunegala: Match drawn.

St. Anne’s Kurunegala: 184 and 135/8 (43) (Muizz Rafeel 47 n.o., Dinuk Vishal 3/19)

St. Anthony’s Wattala: 147 (68) (24/1 o/n) (Romesh Suranga 59, Dinuk Vishal 20, Manaan Muzammil 4/65, Kavindu Ranasinghe 3/32, Pasindu Tennakoon 2/13)

* At Madampagama: Madampagama MMV won by 193 runs.

Madampa MMV: 216 (50) (Chamod de Silva 89, Savindu Nimesha 52, E. Fernando 5/47, Vinod Lakshan 3/15) and 187 (48.2) (Kavindu Dulanga 78, Kavinda Sureshana 29, Chavindu Achintha 24, Movindu Lakshan 2/9, K. Jayakodi 4/64, S. Senaviratne 2/35)

Ananda Central Elpitiya: 100 (35.3) (Gihan Gayanath 31, Chavindu Achintha 5/29, Malsha Tharupathi 3/28) and 110 (20.2) (Gihan Gayatry 24, C. Weerasekara 20, Kavindu Soyza 5/24, Malsha Tharupathi 4/54) 

Thevindu Dickwella hit a brilliant 101 off 59 balls with 10 fours and 8 sixes to help Isipathana College beat Thurstan College by four wickets in their 40th annual limited-over cricket encounter played at the P Sara Oval yesterday.

Inspired by Dickwella’s knock Isipathana knocked off the target of 203 with 5.3 overs to spare to record their first win in four years.

Thurstan: 202/9 (50) (Avishka Kaushalaya 44, Jayavihan Mahawithana 40, Vihash Thewmika 22, Dhanajaya Silva 47 n.o., Vihanga Jayanama 20, Savindu Uthsara 4/34)

Isipathana: 203/6 (44.3) (Thevindu Dickwella 101, Ravindu Ratnayake 34, Dhananjaya Silva 3/38)

Awards: Man of the match - Thevindu Dickwella (Isipathana), Best batsman - Dhananjaya Silva (Thurstan), Best bowler - Savindu Uthsara (Isipathana), Best fielder - Leshan Amarasinghe (Isipathana) - YK

Mahinda College Galle advanced to the quarterfinal of the ‘Singer Trophy’ Under 19 Division One inter-schools cricket (limited overs) tournament beating St. Anthony’s College Matara by 5 wickets in the pre-quarterfinal played yesterday.

Scores:

St. Thomas’ Matara: 106 (31.2) (Hirantha Lakshan 39, Kushan Madusha 3/24, Kavindu Lakshan 3/24)

Mahinda Galle: 109/5 (22.4) (Navod Paranavithana 69, Sathira Theekshana 3/16) -YK

Havelock Sports Club moved above CR&FC in the points table after securing victory over Air Force by 30 points (4 tries, 2 conversions, 2 penalties) to 19 (1 try, 1 conversion, 4 penalties) in their Dialog inter- club second round match played at Havelock Park yesterday. Havelocks led 15-12 at half time.

Sandesh Jayawickrama scored the first points via a penalty for Havies in the 8th minutes and five minutes later skipper of the Air Force Gayantha Iddamalgoda equalized also with a penalty to make it 3-all. Air Force received another penalty due to Havies mistakes and Iddamalgoda booted it successfully to make it 6-3 in favour of the Airmen.

Havies regained the lead when Shanaka Kumara scored a try which was converted by Sandesh Jayawickrama in the 24th minute making it 10-6. In the 30th minute Air Force received their third penalty and Iddamalgoda once against replied well with his boot to make it 10-9. Six minutes later Azmir Fajudeen scored for Havelocks which went unconverted and Air Force were awarded with another penalty which Iddamalgoda put over as the first half ended with the scores 15-12.

The second half saw Fajudeen touched down for his second try which was converted followed by a penalty put over by Sandesh Jayawickrama for Havies to lead 25-12.

Air Force finally broke the Havies defence when Ranuka Medagedara went over for their first try which was converted by Iddamalgoda, but a few minutes later Randy Silva ensured a Havies win when he scored to make it 30-19 before the final whistle.

CR&FC SUSPENDED

The match between CH and FC against CR and FC scheduled for yesterday was not played due to the temporary suspension of CR following their walk out of the field during their match against Police SC. The tournament committee of Sri Lanka Rugby has decided to suspend CR and FC from playing further part in the ongoing league rugby tournament until an inquiry is held.

Defending league champions Kandy Sports Club scored six tries as they beat Police SC by 40 points (5 goals, 1 try) to 24 (3 goals, 1 penalty) in their Dialog inter-club second round rugby match played at Nittawela yesterday. The winners led 19-17 at half time.

This game was played in really difficult conditions with the humidity unbelievable. The Policemen were forced to play hard and took the game to Kandy SC with a barrage of attacks with both forwards and backs teaming up well. However, the champions attacked and gained possession to clear their lines and after a series of forward drives they elected to defend and attack with their big forwards and three quarters making use of short passes and off loads.

In the second half, Kandy SC made the better start from the kick fielding the ball and carrying it into the visitors 22 which helped them to score points.

In this half saw Police SC were on total defence and though they played some superb rugby for much of this period they were bedeviled by the occasional lapse in the game and began to lose their momentum. With some aggressive defence they managed to hold out the home team’s scoring efforts. But Kandy who are experts in winning matches mounted a series of attacks with both forwards and three quarters making great yardage in the middle.

For Kandy SC Shehan Pathirana, Kavindu Perera, Danesh Dayan, Roshan Weeraratne, Mohamed Shabeer and Nigel Ratwatte scored a try each and Tharindu Ratwatte did the kicking. For Police SC Rasitha Silva, Hashan Fernando and Lahiru Pavithra scored and Yohan Peries goaled them and also put over a penalty.

Referee: Priyantha Gunaratne.

All-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, who sustained a left hamstring injury while fielding during the 2nd T20I vs West Indies will be out from the game for several weeks.

Hasaranga has done an MRI scan on Saturday and the report is expected on Tuesday. Meanwhile wicket-keeper/batsman Kusal Perera who sustained an injury to his right middle finger (right finger contusion), while keeping wickets during the 2nd T20I vs West Indies is expected to be fit in two weeks.

England’s 23-year-old uncapped right-arm leg-spinner Matt Parkinson made an early claim for a Test place when he captured four wickets 68 runs off 17 overs to send the Sri Lanka Cricket XI spinning to 245 all out in reply to England’s first innings of 316 on the second day of the 3-day warm-up match played at Katunayake yesterday.

By the close England who had a first innings lead of 71 had extended it to 110 by scoring 39 for one.

SLC XI skipper Ashan Priyanjan top scored for the local team with a patient 77 off 126 balls (11 fours). The match continues on its final day today.

Scores: England XI 316 and 39-1 (8) (Zak Crawley 27 n.o.)

SLC XI 245 (80) (Lahiru Milantha 31, Ashan Priyanjan 77, Priyamal Perera 29, Manoj Sarathchandra 35, Dom Bess 3/54, Chris Woakes 2/21, Matt Parkinson 4/68)

ROYAL COLLEGE 1ST XI CRICKET TEAM 2020: Front row standing (from left): Prashan Kalhara, Lahiru Gagewaththa, Resandu Thilakarathne, Sadisha Rajapaksha, Sehan Herath, Dasis Manchanayake. Back row standing (from left): Ahan Sanchitha, Isivara Dissanayake, Kaushan Kulasuriya, Lahiru Madusanka, Manjula Perera, Thevindu Senaratne (captain), Kavindu Madarasinghe, Kavindu Pathirathne, Kamil Mishara, Gishan Balasooriya, Tithira Weerasinghe. (Picture by Herbert Perera)

Royal College, the biggest school with a big image, with a misfiring and a mediocre run, till recently, enter the hugely-hyped big match against traditional rivals S. Thomas’ College with a point and a potential to prove in the 141st Battle of the Blues cricket encounter to be played on March 12, 13, 14 at the SSC grounds.

One significant setback was having to break the shackles and dust-off the upset of falling short of progression in the ongoing Under 19 tournament.

Nevertheless, the Royalists have resurged in time for the big occasion, looking to quench the thirst in the quest of reclaiming the D.S. Senanayake Shield. In their last Under 19 two-dayer prior to the Royal- Thomian, against another sound side Trinity, they had dominated the entire encounter, including a brilliant unfinished double-ton from their yesteryear skipper, Kavindu Madarasinghe.

They last won the shield in 2016 and not been up to standards. They will be having only a list extended goals and the pick and the priority will be to return the compliment against the Thomian grit.

Nevertheless, not entering the knockout stages of the Under 19 two-dayer, their tally reads four outright wins and an unbeaten record.

Eyes and hopes will be on top-order batsman Kamil Mishara, also an off-spinner, and Ahan Wickramasinghe, the other, to lead the batting attack and both of whom are Royal’s representatives of the Sri Lanka Under19 squad.

Gishan Balasuriya will play, as the highest wicket-taker this season, with 61 scalps and growing, while their leading run-scorer is Kavindu Madarasinghe with 578, who’s 200 alone came in the last game against Trinity

Despite the odds Royal simply cannot be treated lightly. The Reid Avenue lads are capable of turning the tide and leaving the opposition stunned as they did in 2016, toppling the Thomians, who were cruising.

Their head coach Jehan Mubarak said, “Royal-Thomian is a very difficult game to predict. However much you have had a good or a bad season, the magnitude of the game is very big. I still think, our chances are good, compared to last year, because S. Thomas’ are without Kalana Perera, their leading bowler.

“Yes, throughout the season, we have had our ups and downs. But, I am very happy with the progress the boys have made and I do believe we are peaking at the right time,” the one-time national cricketer said.

“The team is good. Like I said they have had a bit of ups and downs but their mind sets have been good. So, even though, we have bad periods, they have always stood strong through that and I am very happy with the way they have come through,” explained Mubarak, reflecting on his side.

“Winning and losing is part of playing cricket. Losing at the Royal-Thomian is very hard, specifically, when you had the Shield for so long. But, I think that has motivated them more. Lots of the boys, who played, lost and relinquished the Shield are playing this year. So, they’ll be hurting and making it count this time,” Mubarak said touching on the mindset of the boys.

“We have increased our intensity at training. Mental intensity at practice makes sure they are switched-on, all the time. They are able to take decisions on the field and, they are on their own, in the middle. Just making sure they have confidence in taking decisions,” he said.

Colombo, Monday: Sri Lanka Monday named a 16-member squad, including two injured players, for the two-match Test series against England starting next week.

Sri Lanka Cricket said Kusal Perera was included in the squad even though the injury-hit wicketkeeper may only be fit to play in about two weeks.

Another injured player, Wanidu Hasaranga, was also included in the squad despite never having played at that level before.

A replacement for Hasaranga will be named before the first Test against England on March 19 in Galle, the board said. The second Test is due to start on March 27 in Colombo.

Sri Lanka squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (captain), Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Dilruwan Perera, Lasith Embuldeniya, Lakshan Sandakan and Wanindu Hasaranga. AFP

The three-day practice match between touring England XI and Sri Lanka XI ended in a tame draw at BOI Sports Complex, Katunayake yesterday.

England XI piled up 320/7 for their second innings with Z. Crawley top scoring 91 runs. O.J. Pope scored 77 runs and B. A. Stoke added 43 runs. D.S. Tillakaratne and K. Anjula bowled best for Sri Lanka capturing two wickets each. Earlier England XI scored 316 for their first innings and Sri Lanka IX replied with 245.

Brief scores:

England XI: 316 and 320/7 (Z. Crawley 91, BA Stokes 43, O.J. Pope 77, J.L. Denly 27, D.S. Tillakaratne 2/62, K. Anjula 2/45, C. Karunaratne 1/17, P.H.T. Kaushal 1/39, M.M.M.S. Cooray 1/18)

Sri Lanka XI: 245

Tissa Central College Kalutara scored 133 runs for 6 wickets against St. John’s College Panadura in day one in their ‘Singer Trophy’ Under 19 inter Schools Cricket tournament match played at Kalutara yesterday.

St. John’s College Panadura bowled out for 272 runs.

* At Kalutara. St. John’s Panadura: 272 (59.1) (Dhananjaya Kumara 58, Dakshina Pasindu 57, Sisith Manupriya 49, Ashen Dilhara 32, Danuka Nishad 4/54, Pasindu Malshan 3/41, Rohan Sanjaya 3/55)

Tissa Central Kalutara: 133/6 (33) (Ashen Kalana 34, Sumudu Udara 3/26). YK

Defending champion Devapathiraja College and Rathnawali Balika Vidyalaya advanced to the final of the ‘Singer Trophy’ Under 19 Division One inter schools Girl’s cricket tournament yesterday.

Devapathiraja College beat Anula Vidyalaya Nugegoda by 58 runs and Rathnawali Balika Vidyalaya beat Wadduwa Central College by one wicket in the semifinals played at Army ground Mattegoda yesterday.

Devapathiraja College will meat Rathnawali Balika Vidyalaya at the same venue today in final. Defending champions Devapathiraja College enetered to the final for the sixth consecutive year.

* At Mattegoda (Devapathiraja Rathgama won by 58 runs)

Devapathiraja: 151/7 (25) (Kaveesha Dilhari 52, Shikari Nuwantha 46, Samidi Nethmini 2/18, Janadi Anali 2/33)

Anula Nugegoda: 93 (23.1) (Telishiya Chathurangi 3/16, Imesha Dulani 2/07, Kaveesha Dilhari 2/16)

* At Mattegoda (Rathnavali Gampaha won by one wicket)

Wadduwa Central: 137/9 (25) (Navodya Nethmini 57, Ishini Sewwandi 20 n.o., Vishmi Dewmini 3/15, Vidushika Perera 2/29)

Rathnavali Gampaha: 138/9 (24.1) (Amadi Kavindya 33, Thulakshi Sansala 2/16, Nethmi Poorna 2/20). YK

Ibbagamuwa Central College advanced to the quarter final of the ‘Singer Trophy’ Under 19 inter Schools Division Three Level 1 Cricket tournament yesterday.

Ibbagamuwa Central College won first innings against Methodist High School Moratuwa in the pre-quarterfinal played at Ibbagamuwa yesterday.

* At Ibbagamuwa: Methodist High School Moratuwa: 130 (44.3) (Lakshan Chamika 55, Kaveen Fernando 25, Madusha Ekanayake 3/16, Sithija Wijerathne 3/18, Kavishka Pushpakumara 2/6) and 205/9 decl. (44) (Thilina Fernando 60, Sasanka Fernando 31 n.o., Tharanga Premathunge 2/45)

Ibbagamuwa Central: 228 (76.1) (Prabuddha Premalal 96, Pasindu Palipana 27, Kamil Fernando 3/31, Lakshan Chamika 3/34, Vidushan Fernando 2/13) and 103/5 (24). YK

The Girls’ under 19 Singer Schools cricket tournament division 1 final will be played at the Mattegoda Army grounds, Mattegoda today from 12.30 p.m. onwards between the winners of semi-finals. The semi-finals took place yesterday at the same venue.

Asuncion, Monday: Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho did not deliberately use a fake passport and should be released by authorities in Paraguay, his lawyer said.

The two-time world player of the year and his brother Roberto, who was detained with him, spent their third night behind bars in the capital Asuncion on Sunday after using forged travel documents to enter the country.

Their Brazilian lawyer Sergio Queiroz said he would ask for the pair to be released and allowed to return to their home country when they next appear before a judge on Monday.

“Ronaldinho did not commit a crime because he did not know that the passport they gave him was faked,” he said.

Queiroz said that prosecutors had agreed that the footballer had acted in good faith and the decision by a judge to order their detention was unwarranted. Ronaldinho, considered one of the greatest footballers of all time, was the star of Brazil’s 2002 World Cup win and played for Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and Barcelona, among others.

He and his brother arrived in Asuncion from Brazil on Wednesday and showed their passports to immigration police, who did not immediately notice any problem with the documents.

Hours later, when the passports were determined to be fake, investigators raided the room Ronaldinho was staying in and seized the brothers’ identity cards and travel documents.

Ronaldinho said the passports had been given him by people who had invited him to attend conferences sponsored by charities working with disadvantaged children. AFP

Los Angeles, Monday: The ATP and WTA tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, has been cancelled over concerns about the outbreak of the new coronavirus, making it the first major sporting event in the US to be scrubbed due to health concerns.

The tournament, one of the biggest outside the four Grand Slams, was cancelled just days before it was due to begin.

Officials said in a news release on Sunday that they opted to cancel after the health department of California’s Riverside County declared a public health emergency for the Coachella Valley -- in the desert east of Los Angeles -- after a confirmed case of COVID-19 locally.

No further details of the case were given.

Days earlier, organizers had said they planned to go ahead with extra health measures in place such as hand sanitizing stations, beefed up cleaning protocols and gloves for ball kids, volunteers and food workers.

The ATP and WTA had also issued virus-related guidelines, telling players not to accept items from fans to be autographed.

Even before the cancellation the tournament, which draws more than 400,000 fans each year, had offered refunds to anyone who bought tickets but did not want to attend. Many of the players have already arrived in Indian Wells for the event with qualifying matches scheduled to start on Monday and the main draw set to kick off on Wednesday.

“We are very disappointed that the tournament will not take place, but the health and safety of the local community, fans, players, volunteers, sponsors, employees, vendors, and everyone involved with the event is of paramount importance,” said tournament director Tommy Haas.

“We are prepared to hold the tournament on another date and will explore options,” Haas added.

The number of American coronavirus cases is now at over 500 and involves some 30 US states.

California officials are also battling to contain an outbreak on a cruise ship off the coast where 21 people have tested positive for the virus among the 3,500 people on board.

“There is too great a risk, at this time, to the public health of the Riverside County area in holding a large gathering of this size,” said doctor David Agus, professor of medicine and biomedical engineering at the University of Southern California.

“It is not in the public interest of fans, players and neighboring areas for this tournament to proceed. We all have to join together to protect the community from the coronavirus outbreak.”

Indian Wells lasts two weeks and draws some of the largest crowds for a tennis event in North America. The number of competitors and lucrative prize money being offered for the men and women has helped earn it the nickname “Fifth Slam”.

There is also a men’s and women’s tournament schedule for Miami later this month but there was no word on any changes to that event.

Following Miami, the tours head to Europe for the beginning of the clay court season. The run up to the French Open includes the ATP and WTA event in Rome, Italy, the hardest hit European country with 366 deaths from the virus.

The virus now known as COVID-19 originated in Wuhan, China, late last year and quickly spread across the globe. AFP

Taking her tournament-best bowling figures to seal Sri Lanka’s first victory in almost 18 months - whoever writes Shashikala Siriwardena’s scripts got the finale spot on.

Match-winning figures of four for 16 in her final international appearance was the most fitting of farewells for Siriwardena, perhaps the most dedicated sportswoman Sri Lanka has known.

From captaining her country to leading the MRF Tyres T20I All-Rounder Rankings in 2014, Siriwardena has been there and done it all.

And while her four-wicket haul against Bangladesh helped Sri Lanka bow out of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 on a high, Siriwardena’s importance goes beyond winning matches for her country. Just ask Chamari Atapattu.

“She’s the big sister on my team. Actually, she’s a legend,” she said.

“She is the number one all-rounder in our team and in the world. She helped me, our youngsters and our seniors all a lot.

“We call her the legend and today she retired as a champion.”

When Siriwardena walked off the pitch for the last time after Monday’s victory in Melbourne, it was a sight for any sporting fan to behold.

There were hugs, applause and tears as Sri Lanka said goodbye to their former captain followed by Atapattu tearing up in the post-match press conference.

Delving back into Siriwardena’s career, it’s easy to realise why.

Saying goodbye after 17 years of international cricket was never going to be easy, but for Siriwardena, it was a relief to do it on her own terms.

She battled through injuries that nearly cost her career not just once, nor twice but three times.

First was the bone operation on her finger in 2015, before she injured her left hamstring and needed surgery for it to be reattached the following year.

And life didn’t stop testing her there, a few months later she had a bike accident and ruptured her ACL.

It became infected and Siriwardena was stuck in hospital for nearly two months, told time and time again that she needed to forget her cricket dreams.

And if it wasn’t for those around her, she would have followed the doctor’s advice.

“There were times I wanted to stop because these are all happening one after one. It wasn’t easy,” she added.

“But the team players, the officials, the coaches and captain, they’ve all kept supporting me.

“They often let me play without my being fully fit. They would make sure I was kept away from fielding at the hard positions.

“I felt they needed me even though I was injured and that motivated me to keep doing my rehab. In the recent years, I have done more rehab and gym work than batting and bowling. It has not been easy.”

That’s not the first time Siriwardena has considered giving up cricket for good, either.

Once again it wasn’t a decision based on her own talent, but one she thought she had to make as a newlywed.

In a country where it can be customary for women to put a hold on their career after marriage, Siriwardena was ready to accept her time in sport had come to an end.

But not if husband Namal Seneviratne, a cricketer himself, had anything to say about it.

“He said to me: ‘Every woman doesn’t get this chance to represent the country and do well at that; if you are performing well, just focus on your fitness and performance - it’s a big stage’,” she continued.

“I think every woman needs that kind of encouragement to be able to play cricket or any sport after marriage.

“There were a lot of helping hands along the way but it’s because of him I am here today, I dedicate my entire career to him”

One year later, Siriwardena defied the status quo and became the number one all-rounder in T20Is and fulfilled her dream of playing a match at Lord’s for the World XI — the first Sri Lankan ever selected.

It’s a comeback story for the ages. When she collected her Player of the Match award in Melbourne, Siriwardena couldn’t believe it was finally complete.

“I was kind of nervous, thoughts in my mind when I got up and thinking that I’m wearing national colours for the last time, representing my country. It was pretty emotional,” she added.

“So I left all the thoughts behind and just played that I’m not retiring. That’s what I was thinking that until this match ends. I’m not thinking about my retirement.

“It’s almost 17 years that I’ve been with them more than my family. It’s a fact that I have spent my life, 70 per cent, 75 per cent with these girls and the team. I will not get that time again.

“It’s a big highlight for me, finishing on a good note.

“I’m truly satisfied that I think that I did something for the country every time when the team needs me.” – ICC 

Indian jockey Irvan Singh finished four of the five races among the top three at the RTC Premier Cup Raceday 2020, including a hat-trick of first three places for the Edwards Stable, kicking off a promising horseracing season, at the Racecourse in Nuwara Eliya yesterday (March 8).

Singh guided the famous ‘Queen of Nuwara Eliya’ Alcazaba to a comfortable win in the main attraction of the day, the RTC Premier Cup, after winning the RTC Alpine Hotel Trophy on Goldie Girl and the RTC Daily Mirror Cup on Zulu Fantacy.

The Irvan Singh-Alcazaba combination is continuing to be a success for the Edwards Stable

Taking the field after almost 11 months, all eyes were on the main race of the day, the RTC Premier Cup, for Class 1 thoroughbreds on a distance of 1400metres. Singh had already completed a double and was left with a final opportunity of recording a hat-trick, riding the famous and reliable mare, Alcazaba, who competed against Baashagar and Western Wind from the Jayaratne Stables and Carlton owned by Anita Dorai.

Yet the tough competition was from their own elks from the Edwards Stable – Roswald and Santos, who was guided by Kuldeep Singh to a first-second finish in the main race. Western Wind came close behind at third, but yards away from Alcazaba.

Singh’s first win came in the RTC Alpine Hotel Cup, a Class 5, 1070metre race, guiding Goldie Girl to win. The next two places were owned by the Jayaratnes – Crimson Quest, ridden by S. Imran and owned by Mr and & Mrs Gamini Jayaratne and at third Waiting for Glory, ridden by S. Asgar and owned by Hasanga Jayaratne.

“I’m really thrilled to record a hat-trick after almost a year for Mr and Mrs Edwards. My trainer, Mr. Mahesh is as thrilled as me to complete three wins from five races.

This is a very good start for the upcoming two races in April. I’m glad that Alcazaba is still in good touch and perfect form, which is a promising fact,” said Irvan Singh, the champion jockey of the day.

On Zulu Fantasy, Singh completed his second win in the RTC Daily Mirror Cup for Class 4 horses on a 1070metre length. S. Imran finished in at second, guiding Night King, owned by Nishara Jayaratne while the successful trainer for the Edwards Stable, S.D. Mahesh, enjoyed a victorious day, after Stormont, ridden by Kuldeep Singh, finished third, recording a ‘first-third’ finish in the race.

The petite Indian jockey flagged off the day placing second in the RTC International Women’s Day Cup with Captain Haddock, following winner Another Ace, ridden by S. Imran and owned by Hasanga Jayaratne. Silver Streak, ridden by K. Sanjeewan and owned by Peter Fernando was placed third in the Class 2, 1400metre race.

The only race Singh could not lay his hand on a win or a place was the RTC Hi Magazine Trophy race, which was comprehensively won by the avenging Vigorous, ridden by local jockey S.D. Janaka and owned by Ajantha de Soyza. Gazaki, ridden by L. Sanjeewan and owned by Peter Fernando finished second ahead of Arabian Gold, ridden by Kuldeep Singh and owned by Mr and Mrs Edwards in the Class 3, 1070metre race.

The RTC Premier Cup Raceday was the first event organized by the Royal Turf Club (RTC) for 2020, after their last racing event, which fell on the fateful Easter Sunday on 21st April, 2019. Since then the RTC had attempted to hold horseracing events, but continuous torrential weather prevented any possibility.

After this Sunday’s success, the RTC intends to hold the two upcoming events in April, the Magic Million Raceday on 5th and the Governor’s Cup Raceday on 15th on grand scale.

Results

RTC International Women’s Day Cup (Class 2- 1400m)

1: Another Ace (S. Imran; Hasanga Jayaratne) 2: Captain Haddock (Irvan Singh; Mr & Mrs Jayaratne) 3: Silver Streak (K. Sanjeewan; W.R.M.R. Peter Fernando)

RTC Alpine Hotel Cup (Class 5- 1070m)

1: Goldie Girl (Irvan Singh; Mr & Mrs Edwards) 2: Crimson Quest (S. Imran; Mr & Mrs Gamini Jayaratne) 3: Waiting for Glory (S. Asgar; Hasanga Jayaratne)

RTC Hi Magazine Trophy (Class 3- 1070m) 1: Vigorous (S.D. Janaka; D. Ajantha de Soyza)

2: Gazaki (K. Sanjeewan; W.R.M.R. Peter Fernando) 3: Arabian Gold (Kuldeep Singh; Mr & Mrs Edwards)

RTC Daily Mirror Cup (Class 4- 1070m) 1: Zulu Fantasy (Irvan Singh; Mr & Mrs Edwards)

2: Night King (S. Imran; Nishara Jayaratne) 3: Starmont (Kuldeep Singh; Mr & Mrs Edwards)

RTC Premier Cup (Class 1- 1400m) 1: Alcazaba (Irvan Singh; Deepthika Jayakody, Mr & Mrs Edwards) 2: Santos (Kuldeep Singh; Mr & Mrs Edwards) 3: Western Wind (S. Imran; Gamini, Chamari & Nishara Jayaratne) 

Wurth, Sri Lanka hosted the Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC) monthly medal round and awards presentation on March 7 at the Royal Colombo Golf Club in Colombo in celebration of Wurth Lanka’s 20 years of successful operations in Sri Lanka.

“Wurth Lanka is delighted to come together with the RCGC to host the monthly Medal Awards as part of our 20th Anniversary Celebrations. This is our first in golf and we hope to continue on the success both in terms of the brand and bringing quality to our valued customers. In celebration of this significant milestone, we want to say thank you to our patrons for the loyalty and patronage, said Suranga Kekuluwalage, Sales and Marketing Manager Wurth Lanka (Pvt) Ltd.

The RCGC Monthly Medal Round Awards commenced at 7.30 pm and presented rewards, awards and gifts for participants and winners. The organizers like to thank the airline partners Air Asia and GoCeilio, and Australian property and Migration lawyers, who has offered a ticket to Melbourne and a ticket to Malaysia with one night stay for the overall winner and runner up. To spice up the competition, closest to the Pin and Longest Drive and Raffle Draws for the participants were on the cards to make it a memorable and exciting evening for all.

Emirates, the Official Airline of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, offered tennis fans memorable experiences during the two week run of the much anticipated tennis event. The championship, which ended yesterday, crowned Romania’s Simona Halep as Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) champion while Novak Djokovic from Serbia won the Association of Tennis Professionals 2020 (ATP) title.

Emirates offered tennis fans the opportunity to win tickets to watch the matches and meet the champions.

Emirates Cabin Crew handed out kids products and took photos with youngsters with ‘Fly with Me’ mascots at the Tournament Village. For over twenty five years Emirates has been committed to sponsorship and engaging with sports fans around the world.

In addition to sponsoring the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, the airline sponsors over 60 tournaments in 32 countries, including three of the four Grand Slams – the French Open at Roland Garros, the Australian Open, and the US Open.