Sri Lanka captain Thisara Perera whilst praising the type of wickets prepared for the Hero Nidahas T20 tri-series blamed poor execution of his batsmen for their six-wicket defeat at the hands of India in the return match played at the R Premadasa Stadium on Monday.

“The failure of the middle order to contribute runs was the biggest reason for the defeat,” said Perera at the post-match press conference. “We lost two or three wickets in quick succession. We should have stuck around during that period, and if we did that, we could have got around 180 easily. The bowlers need at least 175 to defend on this pitch. We didn’t bat well enough.

“We need to have 175 or 180 on the board, because from the first or second over, the ball is wet. It’s hard to grip, so we need those runs. In the first six overs we couldn’t bowl well. That’s not an excuse but we should be prepared for that,” Perera said.

“Our goal is to play good cricket. More than have the ball go this way and that way, it’s better to have pitches like this. We chased 173 and hit 214 on these pitches - things that we had never done before in T20Is. More than the ball turning a lot and staying low these kinds of pitches are better.”

Perera defended the move to play an extra bowler in place of a batsman for the Indian game when Sri Lanka replaced suspended captain Dinesh Chandimal and gave vice-captain and fast bowler Suranga Lakmal his first match of the series. Lakmal however didn’t fare too well with the ball bowling two overs for 19 runs.

“With this rain we definitely needed another main bowler. Our game didn’t go to plan - that’s the main reason we lost. If we had got 175 or 180, we would have been more competitive. In the previous matches we did really well. Our batting was great. It’s in this match only that we collapsed. We had chased 173 and then hit 214, so our batting is really good. We need to fix the little issues and think about the coming matches,” said Perera.

“In the previous two matches we didn’t need the batsmen coming in at No. 7 or 8. So we thought the batsmen we had was enough. Actually if we look at our first match, we did pretty well. Dasun (Shanaka) and I finished the match. Other than in the last few matches our batting line-up is very good. But today (Monday) we couldn’t bat well - including myself.

“I have to bear the blame as well. I batted well at the start and could have continued. But what I tried to do was to hit a boundary. I think we could have batted better around Kusal Mendis. He batted really well. The main reason for the loss is we couldn’t execute our batting plans. Sad to say this was not a good score to defend on this wicket. It was a really good wicket to bat. We were 30-25 runs behind,” he said.

Sri Lanka are now left with a “must win” situation in their final league game against Bangladesh on Friday to qualify for a place in the final.

Man of the Match Shardul Thakur whose career best figures of 4 for 27 triggered a Sri Lanka middle order collapse said, “I have told one thing before: I love challenges.

I am taking it as a challenge. If other senior bowlers are missing from the team, then I have to step up. I have done this previously for other teams that I have played for. I have come in place of Zaheer Khan, Dhawal Kulkarni and Ajit Agarkar while playing for Mumbai. I had to step up in that role. When senior bowlers are rested, I have to step up and fill that role to lead the pace attack.”

Battered for 27 runs in one over in the first match, Thakur came back with a vengeance to bowl India to victory in the return game with the best figures in the ongoing tournament so far.

TODAY: India play their final league match against Bangladesh.

England assistant coach Paul Farbrace is believed to have turned down an offer to become Bangladesh head coach.

Farbrace quit as Sri Lanka coach in 2014 to take up his role with England under Peter Moores.

The 50-year-old former Kent wicketkeeper then stayed in position after Trevor Bayliss replaced Moores.

Sri Lanka continued their winning streak in the Junior Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Pre-qualifiers when they beat Tajikistan with a comfortable clean sweep win (3-0) in their Group ‘D’ tie at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts yesterday.

Meanwhile the Lankan lasses followed their fellow Junior Davis Cup lads in the Junior Fed Cup Asia/Oceania pre-qualifiying Group ‘A’ opener at the same venue, thrashing Maldives in a whitewash victory (3-0). Opening day Junior Davis Cup winners Kavisha Ratnayaka and Ashen Silva were in fine form and won the two singles rubbers in straight sets.

Kavisha had no trouble in defeating his opponent Muhammad Firdavs Kosimov 6/0, 6/1 and Ashen went on to beat the other singles rival Mirzobahodur Muminov with much ease 6/0, 6/0.

Lankan doubles pair Kavisha Ratnayaka and Chathurya Nilaweera made no mistake to continue the Lankan dominance in the doubles match, downing Muhammad Firdavs Kosimov and Gayrat Siyovushi in straight sets 6/0, 6/0. Vietnam beat Saudi Arabia (3-0) in yesterday's other Group ‘D’ tie. Sri Lanka will meet Vietnam in today's Group ‘D’ Junior Davis Cup Pre-qualifier.

Anjalika Kurera clinched the first Junior Fed Cup singles win beating Mariyam Hashma Hanim 6/1, 6/0 while her teammate Savini Jayasuriya won the second singles with a win over Aishath Yala Hussain 6/3, 6/1. Savini along with Oneli Perera comfortably defeated their doubles opponents, Yala and Aishath Yumn Yumn 6/0, 6/1 putting Sri Lanka in a commanding position in Group ‘A'. Pacific Oceania routed Lebanon 3-0 in yesterday's remaining Junior Fed Cup Group ‘A’ Pre-qualifier. Sri Lanka will take on Vietnam today in the Junior Fed Cup Group ‘A'.

The Sri Lankan Junior Fed Cup team comprised Anjalika Kurerera, Savini Jayasuriya, Oneli Perera, Senuri Alexander and non playing captain cum coach Dineshkanthan Thangaraja.

The Lankan Junior Davis Cup team consists of Kavisha Ratnayake, Chathurya Nilaweera, Ashen Silva, Nenuka Jayathilake and non playing captain cum coach Ganendran Subramaniam.

Sri Lanka's first ever artificial football ground was declared open by Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara at the Beddegana National Football Centre recently.

The Rs. 75 million facility has been funded by the world football governing body FIFA and has facility to play matches under any weather condition. To mark the opening of the new facility, a friendly soccer match between Sports Ministry team led by Minister Jayasekara and Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) team was played. The Sports Ministry team emerged winners beating FFSL team 6/1.

Earlier the Sports Ministry completed a soccer training centre with lodging facility for 40 players and 15 officials along with a physical training centre. The new artificial football ground will be linked with the training centre and physical training centre.

FFSL president Anura de Silva, its secretary Jaswar Umar and representatives from the provincial leagues were also present at the occasion.

Sri Sumangala College Panadura advanced to the quarter finals of the ‘Singer Cup’ Under 19 division II inter Schools Limited Overs Knok-out Cricket tournament yesterday. by beating Vidyartha College Kandy by 6 wickets at St. John’s College grounds, Panadura and St. Sebastian’s College Katuneriya beat St. John’s College Jaffna at St. Sebastian’s grounds, Katuneriya in the pre quarter finals.

q At Panadura. Sri Sumangala Panadura won by 6 wickets.

Vidyartha Kandy: 35 in 12.5 overs (Janidu Inuwara 3/11, Anuka Jayasinghe 3/13, Pasindu Madusanka 2/09)

Sri Sumangala Panadura: 39/4 in 5.2 overs (Nipuna Deshan 12 n.o., Ravishka Upananda 2/21)

q At Katuneriya. St. Sebastian’s Katuneriya won by 87 runs.

St. Sebastian’s Katuneriya:156/7 in 23 overs (Sheshan Udara 61 n.o., Ayon Fernando 24, V. Jathushan 2/16, M. Abhinash 2/24)

St. John’s Jaffna: 69 in 16.1 overs (V. Jathushan 30, Sheshan Silva 3/09, Dishan Pramod 2/02, Sithum Akilanka 2/16, Ashen Charuka 2/17) (YK)

Lyceum International School, Nugegoda booked a berth in the Inter-International schools under 17 cricket tournament 2018 when they beat Wycherly International School by seven wickets.

Wycherly batting first scored 153 for 6 and in reply Lyceum Nugegoda notched up the required score for the loss of three wickets with Gamitha Pawan scoring 42 runs.

Wycherly International – 153/6 in overs – (Rashad Rushdy 26, Umar Salam 34, Navin Pahasara 2/18).

Lyceum International – 154/3 in 28.4 overs – (Gamitha Pawan 42, Hansaja Bandara 31, Yasiru Chatumal 34, Aron Fernando 2/47).

The first ‘One Belt, One Road’ cultural football camp organized by the Shanghai freelykick sports development pvt. concluded on a grand note in China recently. Over 80 students from Sri Lanka, Serbia, Panama, Kenya and the hosting country China participated.

This camp provided training and football knowledge to students between the age of 9 to 12. Altogether ten students from Sri Lanka participated along with Swarnamali Wijesinghe, the head of freelykick branch in Sri Lanka and Palagasinghe the head coach. The Lankan squad included six students from St. Mary’s National School, Hambantota (A.G. Janith Chamika, M.M.R.M. Badallage, T. Ravindu Lakshan, M.M. Shenas Masthoor, H. Mohomod Athif and I. Imshath Kamil), two students from Al-Akbar College - Ambalantota (Musthaq Jazeel and M.R.M. Riyath) and M.F.M. Falil from Tzu Chi National School, Hambantota.

The aim of this winter camp was to promote China’s exchange relationships and to integrate with the Belt and Road countries. Through this they created cross- cultural interactions among the young and also comprehensively enhanced the overall literacy among young people in terms of cultural awareness and teamwork, National spirit and world vision of the younger generation.

These students were involved in activities like Chinese wushu,Chinese wrestling, specifically soccer training and were given training and fun challenges to improve their skills and to enhance their understandings. The chairman of Shanghai Football Association, Zhu Guang said that they hope to widen their scope attracting more countries in future events.

The One Belt One Road initiative will further continue by deepening links with many more countries like Czech Republic, Slovenia, Russia, Jamaica, Chile and Argentina and will conduct a Summer Camp, Winter Camp and a Transnational League Tourney in the future paving a greater platform to youth world-wide.

 Abans Auto Deputy General Manager Tijith Rathnayake, presenting “Hero Man of the Match” award of the 5th T20 Hero-Nidhas Trophy Sri Lanka vs India match to Shardual Thakur, on behalf of Hero MotoCorp.

Sri Lanka's first ever artificial football ground was declared open by Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara at the Beddegana National Football Centre recently.

The Rs. 75 million facility has been funded by the world football governing body FIFA and has facility to play matches under any weather condition. To mark the opening of the new facility, a friendly soccer match between Sports Ministry team led by Minister Jayasekara and Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) team was played. The Sports Ministry team emerged winners beating FFSL team 6/1.

Earlier the Sports Ministry completed a soccer training centre with lodging facility for 40 players and 15 officials along with a physical training centre. The new artificial football ground will be linked with the training centre and physical training centre.

FFSL president Anura de Silva, its secretary Jaswar Umar and representatives from the provincial leagues were also present at the occasion.

Zahira Vidyalaya, Akkaraipattu mixed Kids’ team emerged champions and won the gold medal in the All Island Kids Athletics Competition grade three segment as the national level contest concluded at the Bogambora grounds, Kandy recently. The event was sponsored by the Nestle Lanka PLC.

Twelve kids’ teams from 10 schools in the Akkaraipattu, Addalaichenai and Pottuvil Educational Divisions under the Akkaraipattu educational zone took part at the national level contest.

Result:

Grade-3

Gold medal

– Mixed team - Zahira Vidyalaya, Akkaraipattu

Silver medal

– Girls’ team - Zahra Vidyalya, Addalaichenai

Bronze medal

– Boys’ team - Madeena Vidyalaya, Oluvil

Grade -4

Bronze medal

– Mixed team - Al-Jaiza Vidyalaya, Oluvil

Colombo: Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah said Tuesday the underdogs, fresh from upsetting Sri Lanka, plan to hone their "brand" of Twenty20 cricket against India in a key tri-series showdown.

The visitors staged a 215-run chase to defeat hosts Sri Lanka in their second match of the tournament, rebounding from a loss in their opener against India.

Bangladesh, 10th in the world T20 rankings behind Afghanistan, will be in strong contention for the tri-series final if they beat table-toppers India on Wednesday.

Mahmudullah, who was named captain after Shakib Al Hasan was ruled out of the tri-series due to injury, said the minnows entered the series wanting "to create a Bangladesh brand of cricket".

"I think the skills are there. We need to be smart to take that calculated risk," he told reporters in Colombo, saying his side had to compensate for its lack of power hitters. "Taking on a particular bowler who we think can be targeted, these sort of things we need to apply when we are playing. These things will give us that Bangladesh brand of T20 cricket."

The Tigers have beaten top sides in Test and one-day internationals, but struggled to find consistency in the shortest format of the sport, having lost nine of their last 11 T20s.

Mahmudullah urged his bowlers to learn from their Indian counterparts, who have utilised the batting-friendly conditions at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Rising Indian pacemen like Jaydev Unadkat and Shardul Thakur have been instrumental in elevating India to the top of the table in the series. Spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar have also chipped in with disciplined bowling and crucial strikes.

Bangladesh's left-arm quick Mustafizur Rahman has picked up five wickets in two matches but leaked close to 10 runs an over. Mahmudullah backed his strike paceman to come good in the remaining matches in conditions he believes are tough for bowlers.

"I think he is a great bowler for our team, he has been doing really well. It's just the wicket that suits the batsman most," said Mahmudullah.

"Mustafiz is in great shape and is our strike bowler and I will always back him up."

Bangladesh have never won a T20 tournament since they started playing the format in 2006.

AFP

Sri Sumangala College Panadura advanced to the quarter finals of the ‘Singer Cup’ Under 19 division II inter Schools Limited Overs Knok-out Cricket tournament on Tuesday. by beating Vidyartha College Kandy by 6 wickets at St. John’s College grounds, Panadura and St. Sebastian’s College Katuneriya beat St. John’s College Jaffna at St. Sebastian’s grounds, Katuneriya in the pre quarter finals.

q At Panadura. Sri Sumangala Panadura won by 6 wickets.

Vidyartha Kandy: 35 in 12.5 overs (Janidu Inuwara 3/11, Anuka Jayasinghe 3/13, Pasindu Madusanka 2/09)

Sri Sumangala Panadura: 39/4 in 5.2 overs (Nipuna Deshan 12 n.o., Ravishka Upananda 2/21)

q At Katuneriya. St. Sebastian’s Katuneriya won by 87 runs.

St. Sebastian’s Katuneriya:156/7 in 23 overs (Sheshan Udara 61 n.o., Ayon Fernando 24, V. Jathushan 2/16, M. Abhinash 2/24)

St. John’s Jaffna: 69 in 16.1 overs (V. Jathushan 30, Sheshan Silva 3/09, Dishan Pramod 2/02, Sithum Akilanka 2/16, Ashen Charuka 2/17) (YK)

Lyceum International School, Nugegoda booked a berth in the Inter-International schools under 17 cricket tournament 2018 when they beat Wycherly International School by seven wickets.

Wycherly batting first scored 153 for 6 and in reply Lyceum Nugegoda notched up the required score for the loss of three wickets with Gamitha Pawan scoring 42 runs.

Wycherly International – 153/6 in overs – (Rashad Rushdy 26, Umar Salam 34, Navin Pahasara 2/18).

Lyceum International – 154/3 in 28.4 overs – (Gamitha Pawan 42, Hansaja Bandara 31, Yasiru Chatumal 34, Aron Fernando 2/47).

Kalutara Central Special Corr.The second Swarna-Neela Cricket Encounter”, the historic Girl’s Cricket Big Match, played between Wadduwa Central College and Mahanama M.V., Panadura at Panadura playground on the 12th March ended in a draw.

Winning the toss, Mahanama invited the Centralians to bat.

The match was limited to 64 overs. Wadduwa Central scored 149 runs for 7 wickets in 38 overs. In reply, Mahanama managed only 29 runs losing four wickets.

The match was stopped around 5 pm due to heavy rains. The best fielder was Sachini Umega of Mahanama.

The best bowler was Savindi Nimesha of Mahanama.

The best Batswoman was Navodya Nethmini of Wadduwa Central College.

Ishini Hansika of Wadduwa Central was the Woman of the Match.

At one time Kingswood College proved to be one of the most promising outfits among the rugby playing schools. This school’s forte has always been rugby. With the facilities that Kingswood College enjoys its high time they produced one more champion team and add that feat to their rugby history.

They were the first school to play rugby in Sri Lanka, at that time they were known as Kandy Boys High School and it was in 1898 that the name Kingswood College was introduced.

The founder of the school is an old Trinitian L.E. Blaze who introduced the game. He learnt the game of rugby and the rules of rugby when he was teaching in India, and it was in 1893 Kingswood became the first school in Sri Lanka to start rugby. They have produced some outstanding players over the years.

Their first inter-school rugby match was against Trinity College in 1906, the game ended in a draw at the Bogambara grounds. The following year they gave up the game and didn’t reintroduce the sport till the 1970s.

In the past wherever Kingswood plays, their players have exhibited the skills needed for rugby. If one goes down memory lane in the annals of Kingwood rugby, an interesting statistic dots its rugby records. In 1981 they emerged B Division champions under coach Z.M. Zarook.

That year they won the Tyrell Muttiah Trophy and were promoted to ‘A’ Division. Nineteen eighty-eight marks one of the finest years in their school’s rugby when under the captaincy of Malik Weerasinghe they won nine matches out of eleven.

Sad to say this time they lost their first fixture to Royal College. They are hoping for an improved performance in the rest of the first round matches. They are blessed with a talented set of players and they have robust forwards and a speedy set of three quarters and should finish among the first five teams. This time they are in Division 1 - Segment – IA. Rest of the matches are against S. Thomas’ (19th), Trinity (24th), St. Anthony’s (7th April), St. Joseph’s (20th) in the first round.

In the opening game played in Colombo they had a difficult task of facing the Royalist, mainly in the second half of the game. They also had limited match practice, but still came out with an encouraging performance in the first half.

Dinesh Gamage a product of the school, who helped the under 18 team to win the championship few years back will continue as coach. He did a good job last season. He has been with the Kingswoodians for quite a sometime, from junior coaching. Indunil Wickramasinghe will assist him. Both these coaches are all-out to give their best and keep the team on top in rugby.

The squad: G.G.R.L. Chandraratne (Loose Head), H.M.C.B. Herath (Hooker), D.G.M.S. Weerasinghe (Tight Head), W.C.S. Zoysa (Locks), C.H. Gunasekarara (Locks), B.W.A. Poornajith (Flanker), R.G.J.H. Rajanayake (Flanker), G.H.M.S.C. Gedaragoda (No. 8), R.M.D.N. Gunathilake (Scrum Half), W.A. Seneviratne (Outside Half), Thumula Dilshan Waligampola (Wing), Tharindu Dilshan Waligampola (Center), M. Shazan (Center), S.M.S.B. Seneviratne (Wing), K.D.S. Ekanayake (Full Back), T.I. Jaleel - Reserve (Prop), P.W.G.D.A. Wijesundara – Reserve (Prop), D.G.S.V. Ranatunga – Reserve (Hooker), A.M.N.B. Bandara – Reserve (2nd/3rd Row), T.M.K.M. Tennakoon - Reserve (2nd/3rd Row), B.W.H.N. Sampath (Scrum Half), D.P.V. Athukorala (Center/Three-Q), I.M.Insham Reserve (Full Back), A.W.G.H.N. Seneviratne – Reserve, S.A.Wijesinghe - Reserve. Master In Charge - Kosala Devage, Dinesh Gamage - head coach and Indunil Wickramasinghe - assistant coach.

MCA history creators, Citizens Development Business Finance PLC (CDB) is well poised to win their 3rd MCA title on the trot, as they lock horns with Kanrich Finance ‘B’ once again, this time in the final of the 7th Prestige Automobile (Pvt) Ltd., sponsored, ‘BMW-Hyundai’ Trophy – MCA ‘C’ division 50-Over League Tournament 2018, on March 17 at the MCA grounds, commencing 10:00 am.

CDB won MCA ‘E’ division in 2016, beating Lankem and went in to win the ‘D’ division in 2017, beating Kanrich Finance ‘B’.

CDB and Kanrich Finance ‘B’ were both drawn to play in the same group this year, but they failed to test their strength, as their league game got washed out on 30 th January at the MCA.

On February 28, CDB got into the MCA record books when they created a MCA Ground record by scoring 529 for 07 in 50 overs, in their league match against Colombo Dockyard PLC and going on to win the match by 412 runs.

The 529 runs was compiled in 239 minutes of batting, facing 304 balls. It contained 38 sixes 42 fours, 01 century and 04 half centuries.

CDB besides beating Dockyard, their other 4 wins in the league were against Commercial Leasing by 38 runs on the D&L method, Std. Chartered Bank by 8 wickets. Stafford Motors by 149 runs and Peoples Leasing by 6 wickets, CDB as Group ‘A’ leaders, went cock-a-hoop into the elimination quarter finals, but only to face some stiff competition; Softlogic Holdings (4th placed team in group ‘B’) gave them a good run for their money, before losing narrowly by 3 wickets in the quarter finals and so did Nations Trust Bank ‘A’ (No. 2 in group ‘B’), who went down by 2 wickets on the D&L method in the semi finals.

The top performers for CDB are: Dhanushka Dharmasiri (321 runs with 02 centuries and 01 half century), Hasitha Iranga Perera (295 runs with 3 half centuries), Chenutha Wickramasinghe (286 runs with 1 century and 1 half century). Shanuka Silva (12 wickets for 143 runs), Savin Gunasekera (11 wickets for 105 runs) and PH Hewage (11 wickets for 258 runs).

Kanrich Finance ‘B’ blemished their record when they lost their last league tournament match to Standard Chartered Bank by 5 wickets. Up to then they were unbeaten, winning against Stafford Motors by 4 runs, Col Dockyard by 170 runs, Commercial Leasing by 3 wickets and Peoples Leasing by 32 runs.

They came up with an improved performance in the elimination stage, beating Pyramid Wilmer by 139 runs in the quarter finals and PABC Bank (Group ‘B’ leader) by 09 wickets in the semi finals.

The Match referee cum Adjudicator at the final is Sena Nandiweera. The tournament for the first time was played with the white ball and players attired in colored clothing.

The Teams

Citizens Development Business (from): Saman Ambilmeegama (C), Chathuranga Dikkumbura, Dhanushka Dharmasiri Hasitha Perera Buddika Silva, Chenutha Wickramasinghe, Chandima Bandara, Savin Gunasekara Aravinda Akurugoda, Praveen Dilanka, Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Shaluka Silva, Piyumal Hewage, Dinusha Malan, Chathura Obeysekara

Kanrich Finance ‘B’ (from): Rajitha Dilshan Assalarachchi(C), Shiral Kumara Senaratne (VC), Shashika Thiwanka Fernando, Madhawa Sakuranga Fonseka, Ravindu Sanjeewa Soyza, Kasun Chamara Ranasinghe (WK), Harsha Devendra Fernando, Tharushan Iddamalgoda, Chanaka Devindra, Nishantha Sanith de Silva, Udith Madushan, Pramod Maduwantha, Charuka Dayananda, Chandula Weeraratne, Gayan Anton Panditharathne.

The Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year contest, during 40 years of its cherished history, has produced many Sri Lanka cricketers who had stamped their mark as legends in world cricket. The galaxy of stars produced by Sri Lanka’s first ever school cricket awards show, includes six Sri Lanka captains.

Six former Sri Lanka cricket captains, who had enjoyed exemplary careers at school level and stepped into the limelight through the Mega Show, commended the exemplary role played by the Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year contest during the past four decades.

They were of the view that the Mega Show has made a huge contribution to promote school cricket and recognize milestone achievements of schoolboy cricketers, even at a time there had not been any official inter-school tournaments.

Paying glowing tributes to the Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year ceremony and the Sunday Observer, they said that the first award they had won as schoolboy cricketers had been a great source of encouragement.

Former Sri Lanka captain turned Chief ICC Match Referee, Ranjan Madugalle rated his early days as a schoolboy cricketer at Royal as the best moments in his career as a cricketer. Madugalle in a recent interview, said that he was honoured and privileged to become the first-ever recipient of the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Award some four decades ago, although he had “never thought of individual glory”.

He complemented the Sunday Observer and Lake House for understanding the need to recognize the outstanding performances of schoolboy cricketers during an era which did not have any inter-school tournament structure or an award show to inspire schoolboy cricketers.

“We even didn’t know that there was such an award on offer. We played our traditional friendly matches to enjoy the game and not for competition or personal glory. But it was great to feel that your hard work as a schoolboy cricketer is appreciated at the end of the season. It was a great inspiration and a satisfaction to feel that your performances are recognized. It is not merely for individual glory but your performances as a team. It was great for the Sunday Observer to recognize the achievements of school teams and their players”, said the first-ever recipient of the prestigious award.

Sri Lanka’s World Cup-winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga, who had won the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year award twice in 1980 and 1982 when he was playing for Ananda College, still considers that as the most memorable moments in his early cricketing career. Despite going places and winning many other awards at higher levels subsequently, Ranatunga strongly feels that an award won at Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year event remains the most memorable moment in any cricketer’s life.

“Winning the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Award twice remains the most cherished moment in my life. Those titles had given me tremendous inspiration and confidence when I made my Test debut in 1982 as a schoolboy cricketer at Ananda”, he said.

Former Sri Lanka captain and ex-ICC Match Referee Roshan Mahanama, the winner of the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer award on successive years 1983 and 1984 feels that it was a great feeling to be rewarded with the prestigious title.

“Becoming the best schoolboy cricketer is an honor for the hard work during the season was a great encouragement. I was privileged to fulfill one of my dreams. Winning the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year twice was indeed a memorable one. It was my stepping stone as an emerging cricketer. Becoming the best schoolboy cricketer made me more focused and determined, to work harder to reach greater heights as a national player” says Mahanama.

Sanath Jayasuriya, who was adjudged the Most Valuable Player of the series when Sri Lanka won the ICC World Cup in 1996, is another Sri Lanka captain to emerge though the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year contest. As his school St. Servatious’ College, Matara was rated as an outstation team, he was not considered under the all-island category for the top award.

Nevertheless, Jayasuriya’s dashing form in the 1987/88 season won him the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year (Outstation) in 1988. “Winning that prestigious title was the best thing that had happened in my early cricketing career. It was an immense joy when I was playing for St. Servatius. Winning the title gave a tremendous boost, confidence and inspiration. Schoolboy cricketers must be motivated to progress to the next level”, Jayasuriya said.

Ex-Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu, who had the honor of holding aloft that glittering Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year award in 1990, considers the rare honor he had was a “certification or a guarantee” and a prediction that he would win a place in the national team.

“As a schoolboy cricketer playing for Ananda, I had been performing well, scoring constantly as a top order batsman. Hence, many considered me as a future national prospect even at that time. Although I too felt that I had a good chance of making it to the national team, there was no guarantee.

Hence almost all previous Observer Schoolboy Cricketers had represented Sri Lanka with distinction I too thought that I am closer to that goal. When I won the title, it gave me the guarantee that I could join that select band”, said Atapattu who had later served as Sri Lanka national coach.

Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal too admits that the Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year title he won nine years ago as Ananda captain, opened a new chapter in his life, enabling him to step into the international arena with greater courage and confidence.

Chandimal led his team Ananda to 13 outright victories in 2008/09 season. In fact, he led Ananda from front with a lavish contribution with his willow, a staggering 1,580 runs in his final season. He was appointed vice captain of Sri Lanka Under-19 team during the same year.

He was just 19 years old when he scored his maiden first-class century against New Zealand in August 2009 while representing the Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI in a three-day practice match. He established a record against Australian schoolboy team by accounting for eight victims behind the stumps.

In the year 2007, he scored 143 against the Indian Schools side and in the limited-over matches against the England Schools team Chandimal struck a fine century (112) and a half-century (65). Sri Lanka’s national mobile service provider, Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel continues to provide that ‘smart connection’ to the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year contest. Under the directions of the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Telecom and SLT Mobitel P.G. Kumarasingha, the Chief Executive Officer of the SLT Mobitel Nalin Perera has made a lavish contribution towards the success of the event during the past decade.

Thanks to the longstanding association of the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA), the Sri Lanka Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), headed by Deputy Speaker Thilanga Sumathipala, the Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year contest has gone from strength to strength.

Meanwhile, voting for the most popular segments of the 40th Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year contest, conducted under three divisions, has reached its peak with the traditional big match season. Voting coupons for the Observer-Mobitel Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year contest appear in the Daily News, Sunday Observer, Dinamina and Thinakaran.

India’s stand-in captain Rohit Sharma made a timely return to form scoring a well-paced out innings of 89 off 61 balls to ensure a place for his team in the final of the Hero Nidahas trophy T20 tri-series.

Sharma’s knock coupled with contributions of 35 off 27 balls from Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina 47 off 30 balls saw India reach 176-3 after a slow start and then restrict Bangladesh to 159-6 to win the contest by 17 runs – the first time in the series a team batting first has won.

This was India’s final league match of the series and they finished with three wins and a loss. They must await the final league match between host Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on Friday to know who their opponents in Sunday’s final are.

Invited to bat first as has been the trend throughout the series India rattled off 105 runs in their final ten overs with Sharma and Raina contributing the majority of it in a stand of 102 off 56 balls.

Sharma named Man of the Match had five sixes and five fours in scoring his 13th T20I fifty which he took time over in compiling. He was dismissed off the final ball of the innings being run out by the bowler Rubel Hossain trying to steal a single.

Raina put up an impressive batting performance striking five fours and two sixes in his innings. Dhawan helped his captain in an opening stand of 70 off 59 balls hitting five fours and a six on a slow pitch that was not easy for batting.

Rubel picked up his wicket as well as Raina’s to end as the most successful bowler with 2/27.

Abu Hider who replaced Taskin Ahmed had a poor game conceding 43 runs in his four overs that included 21 off his final over.

Bangladesh faltered in their run chase as they lost Liton Das as early as the second over for seven – beaten by the flight of Washington Sundar and being stumped. Sundar also accounted for Soumya Sarkar for one off his next over and the key wicket of Tamim Iqbal for 27 to push Bangladesh onto the back foot at 40-3 in the sixth over. He finished with career best figures of 3 for 22.

Yuzvendra Chahal cut short Bangladesh captain Mahmudullah’s stay at the wicket to just 11 runs off 8 balls before having him caught at deep midwicket.

Mushfiqur Rahim continued from where he left off from his match winning knock of 72 not out against Sri Lanka but with the constant fall of wickets at the other end his task became harder.

With the asking rate increasing by the overs the pressure got to the Bangladesh batsmen and Sabbir Rahman the last of their recognised batsmen succumbed for 27 after helping Mushfiqur add 65 off 48 balls for the fifth wicket.

Mushfiqur made a valiant effort to get Bangladesh over the line but the task proved impossible in the end and he finished unconquered again on a score of 72 not out scored off 55 balls with eight fours and a six.

It was a fine effort by India’s second line of attack to defend a total of 176 by containing Bangladesh’s strong batting line-up that had only the other day chased down a record total of 215.

Sri Lankan Junior Fed Cup team registered their second clean sweep victory in the Asia/Oceania Pre-qualifiers when the beat Vietnam in a convincing fashion 3-0 in a Group ‘A’ tie at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA) courts yesterday.

The Lankan lasses won their opener against Maldives by a similar margin on Tuesday and lead Group ‘A’ with two wins.

Significantly Lankan girls showed much promise to win all three matches of their tie against Vietnam in straight sets. The Lankan lasses left no room for their Vietnamese opponents to pose a threat and dominated all three matches from the start to finish.

Anjalika Kurera beat Thi Phuong Nguyen 6/1, 6/0 in the first singles and her teammate Savini Jayasuriya had no trouble in defeating Minh Thuy Hang Nguyen 6/0, 6/3 in the second singles. Anjalika and Oneli Perera routed Minh Thuy Hang and Diem Ngoc Tran 6/0, 6/2 in the doubles.

Today will be a rest day for Lankan Fed Cup team and they will be seen in action on Friday’s Play-off tie.

Mongolia had the better of Lebanon beating the latter 2-1 in Group ‘B’ and Singapore recorded a clean sweep win over Philippines (3-0) in Group ‘C’ at the same venue in yesterday’s Junior Fed Cup Asia/Oceania Pre-qualifiers.

Vietnam Junior Davis Cup team broke Sri Lanka’s winning streak when they beat the hosts (2-1) in yesterday’s Group ‘D’ Asia/Oceania Pre-qualifier at the SLTA courts. It was Sri Lanka’s first defeat in the tournament having won both ties they played earlier against Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan in convincing fashion.

Chathurya Nilaweera fought a tough battle in the first singles against Vietnam’s Le Khanh Duy Tu and earned the only victory of the tie winning in a three-setter (7/5, 1/6, 6/2). Kavisha Ratnayaka was defeated by Thai Nguyen Tat 0/6, 4/6 in the other singles match. Chathurya and Kavisha recovered from a first set defeat to win the second set in their doubles match against Tat and Quang Truong Tran, but conceded victory to Vietnam retiring in the third set (4/6, 6/3, 2/10). Sri Lanka will play their first play-off today against Syria.

Yesterday’s remaining Junior Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Pre-qualifiers saw Saudi Arabia beat Tajikistan 2-1 in Group ‘D’, Pacific Oceania beat Bangladesh 3-0 in Group ‘A’, Syria beat Maldives in Group ‘B’, Pakistan beat Kuwait 3-0 in Group ‘C’, Malaysia beat Bhutan 3-0 in Group ‘C’.

St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa will meet St. Joseph’s College, Colombo in the quarter final of the Singer Under 19 division 1 inter schools Two day knock-out Cricket Tournament today and tomorrow.

Sebs beat Maris Stella College, Negombo and Joes beat Richmond College, Galle in the pre quarter finals.

Sebastianites will be led by Tharusha Fernando and Josephians will be led by Jehan Daniel.

St. Joseph’s squad: Jehan Daniel (Captain), Nipun Sumanasinghe (Vice Captain), Revan Kelly, Jehan Fernandopulle, Shevaan Rasool, Cameron Duruge, Dinal Anuradha, Dilesh Perera, Yesith Rupasinghe, Ashan De Alwis, Johanne De Zilva, Lakshan Gamage, Sachintha Ravindu, Ruchira Palliyaguru, Mhiranga Wickramage, Dunith Wellalage, Aaron Gunarathne, Dienth Jayakody, Shalinda Senevirathne, Ashain Daniel, Roger Wijesuriya (Head Coach), Prashantha Ranaweerta (Master In Charge)

St. Sebastian’s College squad: Tharusha Fernando (Captain), Praveen Jayawickrame (vice captain), Nuwanidu Fernando, Malintha Peiris, Dulaj Silva, Nishitha Abilash, Praveen Cooray, Vinuja Ranasinghe, Tashik Perera, Shanel Fernando, Janishka Fernando, Nadeera Fernando, Gihan Senanayake, Nikil Fernando, Sukhitha Prasanna, Lahiru Fernando, Imal Boteju (Head Coach), Tharanga de Silva (Asst Coach), Frank Cooray (Master in charge). YK