St. Joseph’s College, Colombo 10 held its annual inter-house sport meet at college grounds recently under the patronage of Rev. Fr. Travis Gabriel, Rector of SJC.

Krishan Thillekaratne, Old Josephian sportsman was in attendance as the chief guest and gave away the awards.

Bonjean House won the overall championship while Marque, Courdert and Melizan Houses were placed second, third and fourth respectively.

Pawan Ishara (Bonjean) and Sheshan Kariyawasam (Marque) won the junior and senior champion athlete awards respectively.

Here are the age group

champions:

Under 12– Pramesh Mudalige (Marque)

Under 13– Ivano White (Marque)

Under 14– Aneesha Perera (Bonjean)

Under 15– Naveen Marasinghe (Melizan)

Under 16– Pasindu Malshan (Coudert), Teran Karunanayake (Bonjean)

Under 17– Gayan Darshana (Bonjean), Sanuth Perera (Maruqe)

Under 18– Dillon Lodowyke (Courdert)

Under 20- Shavin Rumeshka (Bonjean), Kavindu Navarathne (Marque) 

St. Joseph’s College Athletic Captain and House Captains lighting Olympic lamp at the opening ceremony.
Picture by Joseph Pius – Wattala Special Correspondent.     

It really was a thrill for me to bump into Shanthi Peiris at the Parliament walking track after 53 years long years. We last met and played in our big match at the Oval in 1965. Shanthi was the unfortunate captain of the losing Nalanda team and I was the fortunate vice captain of the victorious Ananda team. A.G.Perera who had a magnificent game captained Ananda.

Although it was more than a half a century ago where we displayed our off spinning skills at that big match. I could recognise Shanthi immediately, his prominent nose, the broad shoulders and the shuffling gait was unmistakeable. I was baffled by Shanthi’s sharp memory; he knew every minute detail of that match. On paper the Nalanda team was the weaker of the two. He was quite emphatic to point out that he had a team full of freshers, 8 of them to be precise. Shanthi vividly recalls that the Anandians were so cocky about their victory that a rumour was in the air that the Anandians were to win the match in a day. Shanthi agreed that it was psychological warfare.

Ananda won the toss and elected to bat and the Anandian openers A.G. Perera and Ananda Sumanadasa went off to a comfortable start with A.G. belting a couple of boundaries in quick succession but with the score at 19, Perera fell to a full blooded pull shot smartly taken by Amaraweera. Ananda thereafter had a mini collapse, 3 wickets going down within the space of half an hour. Although the wicket was ideal for batting it was poor batting by the Anandians that led to that mini collapse. At that stage Ananda pinned their hopes on G.C. Perera and on me who had a century under my belt in the previous year against St Benedict’s. That partnership blossomed to 70 runs in 77 minutes when I got out for 25 runs. Brilliant bowling by Shanthi accounted for Lalith Gunaratne and Sunil Wettimuny. Meanwhile Perera batted stolidly, scoring 57 runs in two hours. Ananda folded up for 122 runs, on the final analysis Shanthi was quick to point out that the partnership of Perera and De Silva (sounds a bit like a firm of chartered accountants, yes they were adding to the credit balance) was of immense value and Shanthi adds that Ananda would have been in dire straits with a paltry score of 52 runs, if not for that partnership. Shanthi laments that 52 was chicken feed for them and they would have won that match! He had no regrets and stated that the game of cricket was the winner.

CLUB CRICKET

After leaving school, Shanthi was invited to play for Saracens by late Gerry Gooneratne. Saracens were on the verge of relegation at the time and Shanthi salvaged them. He played club cricket for 15 years. He was also picked for trial matches for the impending tour of Pakistan, which never took place due to the prevailing situation in the country at that time.

He was picked as the 12th man. Shanthi was of the opinion that club cricket then was of a higher standard than now for the obvious reason that few clubs participated at the highest level. Shanthi recalled that in his days there were bowlers of genuine pace with T.B. Kehelgamuwa topping the list and Sylvester Dias and stocky Norton Fredrick not far behind. In some instances, the bouncers they bowled were so quick that the moment Shanthi ducked, in double quick time he could hear the “clang bang” sound of the ball hitting the tin sight screen.

Those good old days Shanthi mentioned that thigh pads were never heard of and he was fed up of getting hit on the thighs from pacies and as a result he improvised a kind of a thigh pad which was homemade. Shanthi went to the nets wearing this contraption and Gerry Gooneratne spotted this and asked Shanthi to remove it saying that if you have a good eye all you need is a bat to defend yourself. These words were uttered by that famous coach simply due to the reason that he knew Shanthi was a fantastic on side player and hence needed no protection for his left thigh. Another important point, Gerry Gooneratne pointed out was that to duck if the ball was head high on the leg side and weave if it was whistling past your face. Shanthi does not think much of the helmets that are worn these days.

Shanthi too is critical about the modern day coach and stated that they should be knowledgeable and independent.

He has a lot feathers in his cap: Shanthi has coached Nalanda, Royal and Wesley and stresses that he was not in the habit of cowing down to the old boys who have become a major menace in leading schools today.

He too has a sort of a record in captaining 3 Division one sides namely Saracens, CCC and Liberty CC.

Shanthi was full of admiration for Chandika Hathurusingha. The unassuming Shanthi is really an unsung hero, he still dabbles in coaching.

Our budding cricketers could learn a lot from this guy who has gone thru the mill in all aspects of cricket and never hesitated to call a spade a spade. 

Gurukula Vidyalaya, Kelaniya has booked a berth in the Super Eight of the on going inter school under 19 division one limited over Knock out Cricket Tournament. They beat formidable Maris Stella College Negombo by three wickets at Katuneriya.

Batting first Maris Stella scored 198 runs with Ravindu Fernando scoring 41 runs and Yushan Malik claimed 3 for 23 and in reply Gurukula were 202 for 6 with Malindu Viduranga and Imira Nayanatharu scoring unbeaten 44 and 42 runs respectively. Lasith Croospulle captured 3 for 31.

Maris Stella– 198 in 44.3 overs (Ravindu Fernando 41, Yushan Malik 3/32, Lasindu Arosha 2/27.

Gurukula 202/7 in 47.2 overs (Malindu Viduranga 44, n/o, Imura Nayanatharu 42, Nuwan Chanaka 27, Lasith Croospulle 3/31). 

Cricket equipment was distributed to Kalmunai Wesley College recently. The ceremony was held in the school premises. The sports gear was handed over by chief guest on this occasion Sports Deputy Minister H.M.M.Harees. The event was presided over by Kalmunai Wesley College Principal V.Prabakaran. The Sports Ministry distributed cricket equipment to schools with the aim to develop school cricket. The Kalmunai Wesley College senior and junior cricketers receiving the donation at a ceremony. (Text and Pictures by: I.L.M.RIZAN, Addalaichenai Central Correspondent) 

The Dialog Challenge Trophy was shared between Royal and S Thomas as the 139th Battle of the Blues. ended in a draw Thomian skipper, Dellon Peiris and Pasindu Sooriyabandara – Captain, Royal College, Colombo, receive the Dialog Challenge Trophy from Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya - Corporate Executive Vice President & Regional Chief Executive for South Asia, Axiata Group Berhad. Also in the picture (from left), Supun Weerasinghe – Group Chief Executive, Dialog Axiata PLC, Rev. Marc Bilimoria - Warden, S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavnia and Prime. Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe 

Port Elizabeth: Kagiso Rabada put aside his disciplinary concerns to set up a series-levelling win for South Africa on the fourth day of the second Test against Australia at St George’s Park on Monday.

South Africa won by six wickets after Rabada’s fast bowling ensured they needed to chase a modest 101 runs for victory.

The fast bowler, who faces a ban from the remaining two Tests of the series, took six for 54 as Australia were bowled out for 239 in their second innings.

South Africa lost four wickets before Theunis de Bruyn hit the winning runs.

AB de Villiers, whose 126 not out enabled South Africa to lead by 139 runs on the first innings, hit a quick 28 off 26 balls before he was caught at short leg off Nathan Lyon with 20 runs still needed.

Rabada took the first three of the five Australian wickets that fell for the addition of 59 runs on Monday.

He had match figures of 11 for 150 – the fourth time in his 28-Test career that he had ten or more wickets in a match.

There was a shadow hanging over the 22-year-old fast bowler, however.

He attended a disciplinary meeting convened by match referee Jeff Crowe on Sunday night after being charged with a level two offence following an incident in which his shoulder made contact with Australian captain Steve Smith on the first day.

The verdict was expected to be announced after the match. If found guilty Rabada will face a two-Test ban because of previous offences on his record.

Rabada was hit with a further charge on Monday, a level one offence, following a send-off of David Warner on Sunday.

Rabada struck in the first over of the morning when he bowled Mitchell Marsh for 45 with a ball which swung in sharply.

Pat Cummins fell to a sharp catch at gully by Theunis de Bruyn and Mitchell Starc edged a drive to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock.

Lyon was caught behind off Lungi Ngidi and last man Josh Hazlewood hit a quick 17 before being caught in the deep off left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj.

Tim Paine was left unbeaten on 28.

Lyon was brought on for the last over before lunch and with his first ball caught Dean Elgar off a leading edge as the left-handed batsman stretched forward. It was a near-replica of Elgar’s dismissal to the off-spinner in the first innings of the first Test in Durban.

Aiden Markram had an escape in the second over of South Africa’s chase. With his score on six he was dropped at first slip by Mitchell Marsh off Hazlewood.

Markram made 21 before he was caught by Smith at second slip off Hazlewood.

Hashim Amla and De Villiers added 49 before both were dismissed with the total on 81. Amla was caught behind off Pat Cummins for 27 and De Villiers fell to Lyon three balls later. AFP

Sri Lanka national under 18 captain and St Joseph’s College centre Gamunu Chethiya with three tries single-handedly masterminded his school’s stunning win over S. Thomas’ College Mt Lavinia by 33 points (5 tries, 4 conversions) to 10 (2 tries) in their opening Singer ‘A’ division league rugby first round game played at Havelock Park yesterday. At lemons Joes led 21-5.

With this superb win St. Joseph’s retained the Lady Jayathilake Shield played between the two schools for yet another year.

St.Joseph College captain Sameesha Viranga receiving the winners Lady Jayathilake Shield. Pictures by Samantha Weerasiri.

A thriller was on the cards before the commencement of the match and also a ‘surprise’ was expected from the Thomian outfit to pull off this game.

But it was the opposite that took place as the Josephians fought like terriers in the first half giving no room for their opponents and they collapsed after relentless pressure from the Josephian back division.

The Joes under head coach Nilfer Ibrahim used different ploys to penetrate the Thomian defence. They broke the ‘ice’ in the eighth minute of the game and went into a 7-nil lead when winger Cheka Jayawardena touched down after a superb 50 meter dash side stepping five defenders to score. Fly half Santhush Algama added the extra points.

Then in the 20th minute of play Thomians cut down the lead after number eight Lashendra de Silva crashed into score a try from a rolling maul. Centre Aaron Ferdinando missed the conversion and the score read 7-5.

St.Joseph scored again when centre Gamunu Chethiya collected a chip kick off Cheka and sliced through to touch down for a try. Algama made the conversion and Joes took a 14-5 lead. Just before lemons Chethiya powered his way to touch down for a try and Algama made the conversion to go into a 21-5 lead at half time.

After the turn around with pressure mounting on the Thomians, St Joseph added more pressure on the Mount Lavinia boys, when their star center Chethiya covered good ground effortlessly and breezed pass the try line to touch down for his third try of the match. Algama missed the conversion and the score read 26-5.

The Thomians cut down the lead to 26-10 when their prop forward Adeesha Hadunpathirana barged through for a unconverted try as Ferdinando missed the conversion.

Joes sealed the game in style, when their winger K.D. Kavinda scored a try which Algama slotting the conversion to make the score 33-10. It was a resounding win for the Josephian outfit who won the match against all odds.

Referee - Rohan Fernando 

Sri Lanka opened their Junior Davis Cup (B-16) campaign in a winning note when they recorded a clean sweep victory (3-0) against Saudi Arabia in the Asia Oceania Pre-qualifying tie worked off at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts yesterday.

Kavisha Ratnayaka put Sri Lanka on winning track with a thrilling victory in the first rubber beating his Saudi opponent Qassem Mohammed Alobaidan 6/0, 6/7(6), 6/3. Kavisha won the first set comfortably, but it has been a tough battle in the following set as Qassem bounced back to win in a tie-breaker. Kavisha came up with some superb attacking performance in the third set and sealed his victory while putting Sri Lanka in a steady position.

Chathurya Nilaweera won the second singles beating Abdullah Tawfeeq in easy straight sets 6/1, 6/1. It has been a one sided game from the beginning as Lankan lad dominated the match through out.

Even though Kavisha and Chathurya entered the doubles match as much fancied pair after winning both singles, the Saudi duo Qassem and Tawfeeq handed them a shock defeat in the first set (4/6). Two Lankans displayed a good teamwork and turned the tables in the following two sets 6/3, 10/7 to record a clean sweep win in their opener.

Vietnam beat Tajikistan (3-0) in yesterday’s remaining Group ‘D’ tie.

Sri Lanka will battle against Tajikistan while Vietnam will take on Saudi Arabia in today’s Group ‘D’ ties.

Sri Lnaka Junior Davis Cup team comprised Ashen Silva, Chathurya Nilaweera, Kavisha Ratnayaka, Nenuka Jayathileka and non playing captain cum coach Ganendran Subramaniam.

Sri Lanka is slotted in Group ‘D’ along with Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, and Tajikistan. 

Tharanga Paranavitana scored a century for Tamil Union in their win over Navy SC in the SLC Premier Limited Overs Inter-Club cricket match played at Welisara yesterday.

Paranavitana, the former Sri Lanka Test opener scored 118 runs off 120 balls with 12 fours and a six and shared a third wicket stand of 173 with Sithara Gimhana.

Ragama CC recorded their second win while CCC, Army SC, Tamil Union and Badureliya CC also won their matches. Other matches ended in no-result due to rain.

RESULTS

* At CCC: CCC won by 82 runs.

CCC: 169 in 24.5 overs (Wanindu Hasaranga 40, Ashan Priyanjan 37, Sachith Pathirana 24, Hasitha Lakmal 3/2, Manjula Jayawardhane 2/22, Chamod Piyumal 2/27)

Police SC: 87 in 20.1 overs (Manjula Jayawardhane 29, Ashan Priyanjan 3/18, Madhawa Warnapura 3/28, Lakshan Sandakan 2/11)

* At Panagoda: Army SC won by 5 wickets.

Lankan CC: 98 in 21.5 overs (Ruchira Tharinda 5/14) Army SC: 99/5 in 16.4 overs (Dilshan de Soyza 34 n.o., Lakshitha Madhushan 27, Navin Kavikara 3/22, Dinushka Malan 2/21)

Army SC 99-5 in 16.4 overs (Dilshan de Soysa 34 n.o., Lakshitha Madushantha 27, Naveen Kavikara 3/22, Dinushka Malan 2/21)

* At Welisara: Tamil Union won by 101 runs.

Tamil Union: 262/8 in 46 overs (Tharanga Paranavitana 118, Sithara Gimhan 53, Kusal Edusuriya 2/34, Ishan Abeysekara 2/44, Nuwan Sampath 2/55)

Navy SC: 161 in 34 overs (Buddhika Hasaranga 36, Kusal Edusuriya 34, Dinuk Wickramanayake 3/43, Pramod Madushan 2/33, Ramith Rambukwella 2/37)

* At Katunayake: Badureliya SC won by 2wickets.

Air Force SC: 263/8 in 50 overs (Lasith Fernando 75, Roscoe Thattil 71, Shohan Rangika 28 n.o., Dilip Tharaka 25, Chamikara Hewage 24, Asanka Silva 2/47, Dilesh Gunaratne 2/54)

Badureliya CC: 267/8 in 49.5 overs (Pethum Nissanka 58, Sanjaya Chathuranga 48, Nadeera Nawela 36, Shiran Rathnayake 32, Dilhan Cooray 30, Ramindu De Silva 25, Shohan Rangika 2/53)

* At Kadirana: Ragama CC won by 2 wickets.

Negombo CC: 233 in 49.3 overs (Akeel Inham 89, Tharindu Weerasinghe 29, Praveen Fernando 27, Sahan Nanayakkare 3/31, Ishan Jayaratne 3/51)

Ragama CC: 234/8 in 49.2 overs (Roshen Silva 81 n.o., Lahiru Milantha 78, Nishan Peiris 22 n.o., Sevwinda Silva 2/37, Sehan Weerasinghe 2/40)

* At Colts: No result.

Colts: 101/6 in 22 overs (Avishka Fernando 27, Dilruwan Perera 21, Malinda Pushpakumara 3/12)

Chilaw Marians: 66/3 in 20 overs (Shehan Jayasooriya 40)

* At SSC: No result.

Moors SC: 94/3 in 16 overs (Irosh Samarasooriya 31, Adeesha Thilanchana 26 n.o., Pabasara Waduge 23, Jeffery Vandersay 2/30) vs SSC

* At NCC: No result.

BRC:121/5 in 21 overs (Rumesh Buddhika 50 n.o., Deshan Dias 33, Farveez Maharoof 2/12) vs NCC

* At Bloomfield: No result.

Bloomfield: 156/7 in 25 overs (Lahiru Jayakody 40, Adeesha Nanayakkara 32, Ramesh Mendis 31, Nipuna Kariyawasam 3/27, Pasindu Madushan 2/17)

Kalutara TC: 67/8 in 12 overs (Eranga Rathnayake 26, Nipun Karunanayake 2/02, Ramesh Mendis 2/8, Malith de Silva 2/15) - YK

Skipper Avishka Sheik’s injury time try helped Trinity College edge past valiant St. Anthony’s College by 15 points (3 tries) to 11 (1 try, 2 penalties) in an evenly poised inter-school’s division I first round rugby match played at Nittawela grounds yesterday.

The winners should be thankful to their tireless set of forwards for this win.

At half time the Antonians led 11-5.

It was Antonians who led from the first half till injury time, but they had not brought the match winning luck from Katugastota. The Antonians should be credited for holding Trinity for the entire 70 minutes of play.

Led by Kavinda Amarakoon they deserve immense credit for the superb display of rugby. Though finishing on the losing side the way they played should give the Antonians confidence for the rest of their matches.

For Trinity Lenok Caliyaratne, Weron Weerakoon and Avishka Sheik scored the tries and for the Antonians the try came from Ishara Liyanage and the two penalties came off the boot of Mohamed Makarim.

H.P. Veranga refereed.

The under 16 game too went in favour of Trinity 24-12.

Port Elizabeth: South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada was on Monday banned for the two remaining Tests against Australia – and admitted that he would have to change how he celebrates wickets.

Rabada was found guilty of “inappropriate and deliberate physical contact” with Australian captain Steve Smith after dismissing Smith in the first innings.

He was fined 50 percent of his match fee and issued three demerit points after a disciplinary hearing following his denial of the charge.

That took his total of points after three previous offences to eight and triggered an automatic two-Test ban.

“It’s going to have to stop,” he said. “I’m letting the team down and letting myself down.”

He was speaking after a man of the match performance in South Africa’s six-wicket win in the second Test against Australia, but before the verdict from the International Cricket Council was announced.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) immediately announced they had 48 hours to appeal the decision and were seeking legal opinion. CSA said Rabada would remain suspended unless a judicial commissioner was appointed early and allowed him to play pending a final decision.

Rabada accepted a second charge after a send-off of David Warner in the second innings and received a further fine of 15 percent of his match fee and an additional demerit point.

Match referee Jeff Crowe said: “I found that there was contact between Rabada and Smith, and in my judgement the contact by Rabada was inappropriate, and deliberate.

He had the opportunity to avoid the contact, and I could not see any evidence to support the argument that the contact was accidental.

“It is also disappointing that this has happened the day after the pre-match meeting I had with both teams, where the importance of respect for opponents was highlighted.”

Rabada said he would need to avoid getting into close proximity with opponents.

“I won’t change the way I express myself but I will get far away from the batter,” he said. AFP

Indian Wells, Monday: World number one Roger Federer finished off Federico Delbonis in a rain-disrupted match on Sunday to reach the third round at Indian Wells as five-time champion Novak Djokovic was toppled.

Federer returned to stadium court on Sunday afternoon and needed an hour to close out his second-round victory 6-3, 7-6 (8/6).

"It's been a long time since I have been interrupted at night and have to come back the next day," Federer said.

His title defence got off to a soggy start Saturday night when play was suspended because of rain showers with Federer up a set and tied 2-2 in the second.

The clouds rolled in just before the start of their match on Saturday and after a short delay to start the first set they managed to play until the skies blackened and the heavy rains came in the second. After another 90-minute delay organizers suspended play for the night.

Federer is making his 17th appearance in the California desert and is assured of remaining world number one if he makes it to the semi-finals. He extended his 2018 win streak to 13 matches and has only dropped three sets from 34 played this year.

Federer hit five aces and won 74 percent of his first serve points in the match which took a total of one hour and 41 minutes over the two days.

He will face 25th-seed Filip Krajinovic in the third round.

Federer and 10th seed Djokovic both came into the tournament seeking to become the first six-time winner of the event.

But Djokovic fell at the first hurdle with a shock loss to Japanese qualifier Taro Daniel, who sent the out-of-sorts Serb tumbling with a hard-fought 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-1 victory. AFP

India came back strongly to stay in contention for a place in the final of the Hero Nidahas trophy T20 tri-series when they defeated Sri Lanka by six wickets in the return match played at the R Premadasa Stadium yesterday.

Beaten in the first match by five wickets India played better cricket than Sri Lanka to come up with a win where the credit should go to their bowling unit for keeping Sri Lanka pinned down to a score of 152-9 in a contest reduced to 19 overs a side after persistent rain had delayed the start by 80 minutes.

Kusal Mendis drives for runs during his half-century for Sri Lanka against India in the Hero Nidahas tri-series T20 match played at the R Premadasa Stadium yesterday. Pic by Susantha Wijegunasekara

Sri Lanka’s middle and lower order batting was undone by Mumbai Indians 26-year-old right-arm medium-pacer Shardul Thakur who took a career best four wickets for 27 runs to carry away the Man of the Match award. Only the other day in the first game against Sri Lanka, Thakur was taken to the cleaners for 27 runs in an over by Kusal Perera – what a great leveller this game of cricket is.

After a stutter when they lost four wickets 85 runs India were seen home and dry in the 18th over by their fifth wicket pair Manish Pandey and Dinesh Karthik who steered them to victory with an unbroken partnership of 68 off 46 balls for the fifth wicket.

Pandey finished on 42 not out scored off 31 balls with one six and three fours and Karthik had five fours in his unbeaten 39 that came off 25 balls.

Sri Lanka playing an additional bowler vice-captain Suranga Lakmal for suspended skipper Dinesh Chandimal just did not have enough firepower in their line-up going with only four specialist batters. Their total was always going to be insufficient to test the Indian batting that had the experience of virtually all the players carrying the experience of playing in the IPL.

India knew exactly how to get about overhauling the not too imposing target picking the singles and twos and hitting the odd boundary that carried them towards their target without taking any undue risks.

Sri Lanka’s only bright spark was the magnificent knock of 55 off 38 balls by Kusal Mendis – his fourth fifty in five innings that comprised three sixes and three fours.

Mendis and Upul Tharanga (22) carried Sri Lanka to a strong position of 96-2 figuring in a third wicket partnership of 62 off 46 balls before the Indian spinners and Thakur came into play.

After spinner Washington Sundar had removed Tharanga for 22, the rest of the innings fell apart with hardly any worthwhile contribution coming from the rest of the batters as Sri Lanka lost six wickets for 38 runs in the final seven overs. In the defeat against Bangladesh it was the Lankan bowlers who were badly exposed on a flat track and yesterday it was their batting that failed to put up a total that would have challenged India’s batting.

The defeat was Sri Lanka’s second in successive matches having lost to Bangladesh in the first leg on Saturday and it puts them under pressure to win their return match against Bangladesh on Friday if they are to qualify for the final.

India play Bangladesh on Wednesday in their final round robin match and will qualify for the final if they win, which would leave the winners of the last round robin match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to decide on the other finalist.

Sri Lanka men’s national hockey team beat Chinese Taipei 4/1 in the semi finals of the Asian Games qualifiers at the Quaaboos Artificial Hockey Turf in Muscat, Oman yesterday. Lankan stickers led 2/1 at half time. After a tough score-less first quarter Lankans took the lead scoring two goals while restricting opponents to one in the following quarter. The other two Lankan goals came in third and fourth quarters respectively. Anuradha Suresh hit the board twice while Sandaruwan Priyalanka and Ishanka Jayasundara scored a goal each for Sri Lanka. With this victory Sri Lanka has qualified to next Asian Games.

Earlier Sri Lanka thrashed Kazakhstan 6/0 after leading 2/0 midway. Dhammika Ranasinghe scored two goals while Anuradha Suresh, Damith Bandara, Rajitha Kulatunga, and Sandaruwan Priyalanka added a goal each to winners. Host Oman beat Sri Lanka 5/1 after leading 2/0 at half time during the group stage. Anuradha Suresh scored the solitary goal for Sri Lanka. 

The postponed 101st Battle of the Blues between Trinity College and St. Anthony’s College will take place on March 16 and 17 at the Asgiriya Stadium.

For these two schools there are no games bigger than this clash. St. Anthony’s and Trinity are the two of the oldest colleges and this encounter is also the sixth oldest Big Match in Sri Lanka. This season both schools are evenly balanced with good records going into this match. Trinity have been in good form so far, without losing a game, they have won six. St. Anthony’s who lost to St. Peter’s College have won nine matches. Meanwhile the 60th Battle of the Babes between St. Sylvester’s College and Vidyartha College will be played on March 16 and 17 at the Pallekelle Stadium.

The talk in Kandy is can Vidyartha break the 51-year-old hoodoo? They last won in 1967 under R.M. Lafir, the famous cricketer who played for Government Services. This match was not played for about eight years, in the 1970s, because of a misunderstanding.

When you are appointed the captain of your country along with it come responsibilities, and one of them is to ensure the team plays the game in the right spirit and discipline is maintained at all times.

If a captain gets copped for slow over rate and thereby gets suspended for one match or a number of matches he is being unfair by the team he leads and the country he represents. It is the duty as the captain to ensure his bowlers bowl the number of overs within the stipulated time limit given for an innings and it is also imperative that the senior cricketers in the team also help the captain to stick by it.

Failure to do so will result not only in the captain but also the team members being fined as well. Worse still is when a team loses its captain at a crucial phase of a tournament. Sri Lanka has experienced it on more than one occasion. The recent ban of Dinesh Chandimal for two matches in the ongoing Hero Nidahas trophy is one such instance where Sri Lanka was to meet India and then Bangladesh in the return matches to qualify for the final. Chandimal has been suspended from both these matches and he is not even the country’s white ball captain. Chandimal was appointed to the post because official white ball captain Angelo Mathews is recovering from a leg injury. Following the suspension on Chandimal the onus of leading the country in both these crucial matches fell on all-rounder Thisara Perera who had captained his country in this format before. If Sri Lanka fails to make it to the final then Chandimal would have played his last game in the tri-series. Such is the sad scenario that instances of this nature should not be allowed to happen as it upsets the team strategies and balance. Chandimal was also the wicket-keeper of his team and came to bat in the middle order. His absence has forced Sri Lanka to hand over the wicket-keeping duties to Kusal Perera who without this burden has been scoring freely and winning matches for his country purely on his aggressive batting. He was man of the match in Sri Lanka’s win over India in the tri-series opener.

The Sri Lanka team has been talking about playing smart cricket and taking smart options, but they have not been quite smart enough where the over rate is concerned and it is an area they need to strictly implement some discipline into.

Last year when Sri Lanka underwent one of their worst performances in international cricket Upul Tharanga who led his country in ODIs was suspended twice for serious over rate offences. He was first suspended for two matches in the ICC Champions trophy in June 2017 and then again suspended for a further two matches in the five-match ODI series against India in August two months later. This sort of indiscipline from a captain of a country is unpardonable. He may not be doing it intentionally but he must be aware of his responsibilities as captain. It is also the duty of the rest of the team members to be aware of what is happening on the field and to keep an eye on the clock and the over rate at all times.

Sometimes you need to be street-smart to outmaneuver the rules as Sri Lanka did during the 2012 edition of the ICC World Twenty20 which they hosted when they “swapped” captains to help Mahela Jayawardene avoid a possible suspension.

Having already been fined, and facing the prospect of suspension again, Kumar Sangakkara took over the duties of the toss. On the field, though, Jayawardene did all the commandeering.

It was obvious what Sri Lanka were up to, but it was also magnificently cunning and Jayawardene admitted to the trickery.

"I had a warning for an over rates issue, and if it happens again I miss the match, so what we did was have Kumar as the official captain. I don't think that the intentions were wrong. It's a tough system and it's tough to bowl 20 overs in one hour and 20 minutes in a tournament like this. We try our best, but the penalties are harsh. We don't want to miss the big games, so we did it with the right intentions,” Jayawardene said afterwards.

The rules of captaincy were changed following the incident. The captain that is now named before an ICC event is considered to be the captain, if he is playing. That meant that there is no chance for any sort of ruses in future.

Sri Lanka is notorious for forcing the international governing body the ICC towards changing the rules of the game. In 2004 the ICC revolutionized chucking laws by allowing Muthiah Muralitharan to bowl his ‘doosra’ delivery that was earlier reported to be illegal. The committee that had carefully looked into the issue found that it was not only Muralitharan but that many much-admired bowlers like Glenn McGrath, Shaun Pollock, Steve Harmison and Allan Donald bowled deliveries that are illegal under the existing rules. As a result the ICC brought in a new rule allowing bowlers to straighten their bowling arms by up to 15 degrees replacing the existing ones that restricted spinners to five degrees and fast bowlers to ten degrees.

Going back to the question of slow over rates there is no principal ruler watching over cricket and calculating who should be fined. Incidents are reported by the umpires and team managers and the match referees investigate, allowing for things like time wasting by opposition, reviews, injury and so on. While the accepted standard over rate is 15 overs per hour, to find the “actual required over rate”, all of these factors need to be considered. However, the application will always remain inconsistent.

Some teams experience difficulty on over rates on the type of bowlers they use. For instance teams like South Africa, Australia and England for example who depend largely on pace will find it more difficult to whizz through overs than subcontinent teams which are packed with spinners.

In the end, this factor could even influence team selections. The hard part is that some teams are punished for being packed with pacemen, while others can get away with time-delaying tactics because of the amount of spinners in the team. In Sri Lanka’s case there is no excuse for such tardiness.

Richmond-Mahinda annual cricket encounter fondly known among the cricket enthusiasts as 'Galle Lovers’ Quarrel' will be played for the 113th consecutive year on March 16 and 17 at Galle International Cricket Stadium.

It is one of the longest cricket match series in Sri Lanka which was begun in 1905, under the two principals Rev. James Horne Darrel of Richmond College and Frank Lee Woodward of Mahinda College.

Richmond College won the inaugural match and went on to win the next two matches in 1906 and 1907. Mahinda College's first victory was registered in 1908 and their last victory in a big match was recorded in 2008, while Richmond College's last win was recorded in 2015. Having broken a 30-year-long deadlock of draws, Mahindians registered an emphatic 10-wicket win over Richmondites in the 2008 encounter. After a 45-year-long unsuccessful trait, Richmondites also registered a win by an innings over Mahindians in the 2014 encounter and continued to a second consecutive win by an innings in 2015.

Consequently both colleges have registered a similar number of 23 each wins in their long big match history.

Both schools have fared well and emerged as two powerful teams in this year’s inter-school cricket tournament with Richmondites included in the 16 finalists while Mahindians went further ahead securing a slot among 8 finalists in the same tournament.The historical big match saw many prominent personalities playing for the two schools in its long history.

Mahinda squad is led by third year player Reshan Kavinda who has accumulated a total of 365 runs that included three tons. He is assisted by Binura Dulsara who has scored 896 runs during the season with three centuries and three half centuries.

Dananjaya Lakshan who represents Sri Lanka’s U-19 national team captains the Richmond squadron. He has amassed a total of 407 runs that included one century together with three half tons. Another star player of Richmond side is Sri Lanka U-19 skipper Kamidu Mendis who has ensued a aggregate of 507 which includes four centuries. Avindu Theekshana who has gathered 41 wickets and 384 runs to his credit during the season is the vice captain of the Richmond team.

Mahindians have registered seven out right victories against Matara Saint Thomas, Colombo Sahira, Kurunegala Maliyadeva, Kandy Saint Silvester, Kandana Mazenod, Colombo Lumbini and Pannipitiya Dhammapala in 17 games played so far during the season with seven first innings wins including three drawn games.

In contrast Richmondites who have played 15 games so far have secured 6 out right victories beating Kurunegala Maliyadeva, Matara St. Thomas, Pannipitiya Dharmapala, Matara St. Servetious, Ambalangoda Dharmasoka and Colombo Wesley and in their four games against Kelaniya Gurukula, Colombo Ananda, Vennappuwa St. Joseph Vaz, and S. Thomas - Maount- Lavinia they have registered first innings wins.

Both Richmond and Mahinda playing in the division I of inter school cricket tournament are equally commanding with a host of star school cricketers during the season.

Former Thomian and present CH and FC third row forward cum Auckland Blues sevens forward Sudarshana Muthuthanthri will lead a young Sri Lanka Sevens squad without the services of their star players in the caliber of Dhanushka Ranjan, Omalka Gunaratna and Jason Dissanayake (side-lined due to injuries) to the upcoming Borneo Sevens Rugby tournament that will take place in Sandakan, Malaysia from 16-18 March. The good news for the Tuskers is the welcome return of diminutive utility three quarter and former Sri Lanka national under 20 sevens captain, Peterite Kevin Dixon to the side after a jaw injury.

The selectors have also drafted in some young players in the caliber of Adeesha Weeratunga (former Isipathana College/Navy SC), Sithum Peiris (ex-Wesley College/Havelock SC) and Buddima Piyaratne (former D.S.Senanayake College/Navy SC) for this tournament. Last year’s tournament was a miserable one for the Sri Lankan Tuskers men’s team as they lost to team “DBKL” in the Plate finals by 15 points to 33.

They were only able to beat Malaysia by 26-5 in the Plate semi-finals in the entire tournament. But it was a different outcome when it came to the Sri Lanka women’s team last year as they claimed their first ever Borneo Seven’s Cup championship after beating Thailand in the final 12-5 under head coach former Sri Lanka national sevens captain Sudath Sampath. Chairman of selectors Michael Jayasekara said, “We are exposing some young players in this tournament especially like Adeesha who has played for the Sri Lanka under 19 sevens team, as some of our experienced players are down with injuries after the local 15 a side tournament. We are targeting the Commonwealth Games as well as the Asian Games and trying our best to see whether we could possibly go for a medal.”

The largest ever Winter Paralympics were officially opened in PyeongChang, South Korea, on March 9. The Games started off with a colourful Opening ceremony that celebrated the themes of passion and peace, held at the PyeongChang Olympic Stadium.

The 2018 Paralympics witnesses the participation of over 570 athletes from 49 nations, and competitions are held across six Winter Paralympic sports. This year’s Games will also offer the most number of gold medals in the history of the Paralympics with 80, eight more than at Sochi 2014. The Games will conclude on March 18. The Winter Paralympics are taking place at the same venues as the Winter Olympic Games, with most snow sports being held in PyeongChang, while alpine skiing events are contested in Jeongseon, 215 Km east of Seoul and all ice sports held in Gangneung, a coastal city in Gangwon Province.

This year, North Korea, along with Georgia and Tajikistan, is participating for the first time at a Paralympic Games. North Korea, which was granted an exceptional invitation by the International Paralympic Committee to take part in the Games, has two athletes in cross-country skiing. North Korea’s participation at the Paralympics marks a wider rapprochement and cooling of tension on the Korean Peninsula.

The Winter Paralympics follows the successfully concluded 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games, which came to a close on February 25. Korea hopes that these second Olympic Games to be held in the country will provide the momentum to accelerate peace and stability not only on the Korean peninsula, but in Northeast Asia and around the world.

At the same time, Korea believes that the PyeongChang 2018 Games will be an excellent opportunity to further promote Olympic values in Asia, while creating a new legacy for winter sports across the region.

Lyceum International School, Panadura will meet Vidura College, Thalawathugoda in the final of the ‘Singer Cup’ Under 13 division III inter schools cricket tournament at Thurstan grounds, Colombo today.

Panadura Lyceum won on bonus points against St. Sebastian’s College, Katuneriya and Vidura College recorded a first innings win Kadawatha Central College in the semis.

Vidura College is led by Chamod Manthilaka and Panadura Lyceum will be led by Nethan Laiyanage.

Teams - Lyceum International School Panadura: Nethan Liyanage (Captain), Yeshith Kalupahana (Vice Captain), Rusiru Fernando, Rahula De Silva, Chamain Fernando, Manuja Pothpitiyage, Akmal Fazly, Mevinu Gunarathne, Akindu Gunasekara, Bisanda Silva, Hirun Peiris, Sanuth Nathavitharana, Adeesha Nissanka, Dulein Fernando, Dilal Amarasinghe, Vishan Joshep, Nishal Thambavita, Tharuka De Silva, Razwin Carrim, Dilnaka Daluwatta, Aidan Cronenbrg, Rumesh Wickramasinghe (MIC), Lalith Perera (Head Coach), Nadeep Jayasinghe (Coach)

Vidura College Thalawathugoda: Chamod Manthilaka (Captan), Ometh Vidumal, Sachintha Basnayake, Hiruna Bandara, Vidun Shanuka, Kumara Rodrigo, Pansilu Wijesiri, Thejan rathnayake, Dineshka fernando, Tevinu rathnayake, Akash karunanayake, Daham Jayawickrama, Yashod Wickramaedirisooriya, Pasindu Perera, Dilan Senevirathne, Senura Sumanadasa, Dilanjan perera (MIC), Milan Hettiarachchi (Head coach), Akash Ferdinanz (Asst. coach). YK