      |
|
Lumbini
in a strong position Two fine all round performance by Ranil Dhammika and Manjula Priyantha assured Lumbini Vidyalaya firm grip in their inter-school cricket match over Siri Piyaratne Vidyalaya at Colts grounds yesterday. Both Dhammika and Priyantha bowled a tantalising spell to capture nine wickets among them and bundle out Piyaratna for a paltry 73 runs. Dhammika claimed five wickets for 25 runs with his left arm leg spinners while Priyantha accounted four wickets for 14 runs. Later in the batting these two slammed two blistering half centuries to boost their first innings score to 330 for nine wickets at close of play. • Scores: Siri Piyaratne 73 all out. (R. Dhammika 5/25, Manjula Priyantha 4/14) Lumbini 330 for 9 wkts. (M. Priyantha 84, D. Elvitigala 51, R. Dhammika 51, C. L. Perera 30, M. Wickremasinghe 22, R. de Alwis 20, T. B. Paberiya 2/31) Jayakody strokes unbeaten 171 to put Wesley
in command Wesley College skipper and opening batsman Dharshika Jayakody cracked a majestic unbeaten knock of 171 runs to guide his side to a formidable first innings total of 288 for 3 wickets declared as Maris Stella College were reduced to a wobbly 56 for 4 at stumps on the first day in their Inter-School cricket fixture which began at Campbell Park yesterday. Captain Jayakody who enjoyed a great season with the bat in the 97-98 season, simply destroyed the Maris Stella attack to pieces whilst opening the batting for his school, with his innings lasting 260 minutes and coming off 217 balls with the help of 23 spanking fours as well as 3 mighty sixes. Jayakody and co-opener Rakhitha Wijethunga who made only 17 put on 43 runs for the first wicket after which the best batting display for the day was seen between the former and No. 4 bat Dhanushka Dissanayake who struck an elegant 73 associating themselves in a brilliant partnership of 186 runs for the third wicket. This huge stand virtually knocked the sting out of the Maris Stella side as the Negombo School bowlers were put to the sword by these two batsmen on what promised to be a very good wicket for the batsmen. Dissanayake’s 73 which came off 117 balls was studded with eleven crisply hit boundaries. For Maris Stella medium pacer Buddhika Fernando picked up 2 for 79 while the rest were sent on a leather hunt by Jayakody in particular. Maris Stella College who commenced the reply soon after the tea break found run making a tough-task and at close were badly placed with four of their top batsmen back in the pavilion with only a meagre score on the board. With the match due to start play at 9.45 a.m. Maris Stella will have to score another 132 runs more to make Wesley bat again with only six wickets in hand and everything would point to an absorbing finish at Campbell Park today. Scores: Wesley 1st Innings 288 for 3 wkts. dec. (D. Jayakody 171 (not out), D. Dissanayake 73, R. Wijetunge 18, B. Fernando 2 for 76.) Maris Stella 1st Innings 56 for 4 wkts. in 34 overs, (A. Jayalath 12, P. Chandrasekara 2 for 6, H. Ziard 1 for 8, C. Sumathipala 1 for 13). Kingswood College Spinner, Thushara Madanayake’s fine figures of 7 for 32 was the highlight of their drawn inter-school cricket fixture against Dharmapala Vidyalaya concluded at Pannipitiya over the week-end. Kingswood College scored 163 with Lasitha Ekanayake top scoring 71. In their second innings they were 179 all out with half century hit by Milinda Wattegedara. Pannipitiya lads were 123 all out and they had to get 219 runs to win. But they were 123 for seven wickets at close. SCORES:Kingswood 163 all out. Lasitha Ekanayake 71, Chamara Senarath 16, C. Jayasinghe 3 for 53, M. Ratnayake 3 for 23) and 179 all out. (Lasitha Ekanayake 27, Milinda Wattegedara 51, R. Mosath 23, Thushara Madanayake 10, S. Jayasinghe 4 for 44, M. Ratnayake 3 for 22). (DR) Spiker Ekanayake awaits go ahead to
represent foreign club Sri Lankan skipper Lionel Chandra M. C. Ekanayake has had the rare honour of being offered a two year contract by the Shaheer Volleyball team in Lebanon to sign a USD 1,500 (nearly Rs. 100,000 a month). Ekanayake attached to the Sri Lanka Volleyball team, is now awaiting permission from the local authorities. The Lankan spiker was offered this contract when he toured Lebanon with the Sri Lanka Army Volleyball team in September during the Asian men's volleyball championships. In Lebanon, the army team was up against strong teams which had a host of international ranked players. Although the Army team lost, Ekanayake was adjudged the 'Best Spiker' of the championship. Incidentally, this is the first time a Sri Lankan spiker has received such an award. It is unique in that Ekanayake was singled out from at least 20 internationally ranked spikers. The offer to turn out for this Lebanon club was made by the Shaheer administration. In Lebanon the volleyball arena is highly professionalised. Their cup finals offered prize money running into several thousand USD. On receiving this offer Ekanayake contacted the manager of his team Colonel Edema who informed him that he needs permission from the top to pursue this matter. On returning to Sri Lanka, Edema through Brigadier P. G. Charles (Secretary Volleyball Interim Bord.) made representations to the Army top brass and the matter is pending. The Army Commander Rohan Daluwatte who was overjoyed promoted Ekanayake to the rank of Staff Sergeant. The Volleyball Interim Board was quick to recognise and honour Ekanayake. They presented Ekanayake a cash donation of Rs. 25,000 last week. "I am pleased that I could bring the highest individual honouring to this national sport to Sri Lanka" said Ekanayake. "But I hope someone will negotiate and make this offer a reality", he said. Never decamped. Of late Sri Lanka's sporting image has been tarnished with sportsmen decamping. Among weight lifters, cyclists, spikers and netballers, the highest number of players who have gone missing have been on volleyball tours. Therefore it is in this light that 'Eke' as he is popularly known on the volleyball scene refused a legal "Professional Player Status' offer. None of the players who had decamped did so officially and none of them were offered USD 1500 per month. Board inactive The Volleyball Interim Board, after presenting Rs. 25,000 to Eke seems content, and have simply washed their hands off. |
 |