Under 23 cricket final
SSC encounter CCC today

By Dhammika Ratnaweera
Two lending clubs SSC and CCC will meet in their under 23 inter club final cricket fixture today at SSC grounds.

This three-day game is very important for up and coming cricketers who are knocking at the door of the National team. Both SSC and CCC have maintained an unbeaten record in their preliminary round matches and are evenly balanced. A keen tussle is to be expected.

SSC led by experienced batsman Mahela Jayawardane play the final with a strong batting line up.

Both Mahela and Shantha Kalawitigoda made double centuries in their semi final against Colts CC last week. SSC got outright victory against Kandy CC, Matara SC and recorded first innings victory over Sebastianites and Kurunegala YCC. They drew with Panadura CC, Ambalangoda Sinha SC and NCC in their first round matches.

SSC have a very strong pace attack with Suresh Perera, Ruchira Perera and Dilhara Fernando leading the way. If Nuwan Soyza passes the fitness test he could be the most dangerous bowler in the side.

The hard hitting left hander Aviska Gunawardane, Tilan Samaraweera and only school boy of the side Upeka Fernando from S. Thomas, Mt. Lavinia are the main stroke makers of the SSC side.

The CCC side led by opener Bradman Ediriweera who is also the National ÔB' pool player together with former Royal skipper Anushka Polonnowita, wicket keeper Damitha Hunukumbura, Hemantha Boteju and Romesh Fernando are their key batsmen of the side.

The pace duo Indika Gallage and Hemantha Boteju are expected to make an early damage.

Boteju who crossed over from Bloomfield had match bag of nine wickets which guided to make eight wickets victory over NCC in their semifinal fixture last week end. They had to make 108 runs in 26 overs in the semi final.

Skipper Bradman Ediriweera, the former Isipatana player made a brisk half century helped to get their victory target.

CCC recorded first innings victories over Galle CC Old Anthonians SC, BRC and Colts while they ended with no decision against Tamil Union and Bloomfield in their first round matches.

CCC have already won the under 23 championships twice under the leadership of Asanga Seneviratne and Roshan Mahanama while SSC who also won the title last year under the leadership of Suranjith Silva are expected to make their winning form this time too.

The teams:
SSC (from) Mahela Jayawardane (Capt.), Suresh Perera (V. Capt.), Aviska Gunawardane, Shantha Kalawitigoda, Upeka Fernando, Tilan Samaraweera, Wesley Fernando, Mahesh Dissanayake Ruchira Perera, Nuwan Soyza, Dilhara Fernando, Sanjeewa Pieris, Rashantha Sureshchandra, Tilina Embuldeniyal Kavinda Nanayakkara.

CCC from Bradman Ediriweera (Capt.), Anushka Polonnowita (V. Capt), Damitha Hunukumbura, Indika Gallage, Hemantha Boteju, Romesh Fernando, Roshan Wimalasena, Bathiya Karunaratne, Arshad Junaid, Nalliah Rajan, Nisitha Rupasinghe, Hemantha Alles, Janaka Siriwardene, Dinesh Fernando, Sanka Fernando, Danuka Dayaratne.

Caltex sails for the 38th year

The Ceylon Motor Yacht Club will come alive for the 38th year in succession when the race for the prestigious Caltex Cup begins at 10.00 a.m. at the Bolgoda Lake, on Sunday 29th November.

The Caltex Cup has been a much sought after trophy during its existence of 38 years in Sri Lanka. It portrays the Caltex, presence in Sri Lanka and exemplifies the companies commitment in maintaining continuity and high standards in all operations it undertakes.

The bold and vibrant image of Caltex will be further strengthen through this competition and will be complimenting to the corporate positioning of Energy in Action.

The Caltex challenge trophy is a single fleet race - GP 14, Enterprise, where the boat handicap will apply. About 20 are expected to take part and will either be crewed or manoeuvered single-handed on a 75 to 90 minute course.

In the afternoon an exciting Optimist Race for children between ages of 8-14 will be worked out.

Caltex is an active promoter of sports in this country including Motor Sports, Cricket, Athletics and Rugby Football.

Two of CMYC's star performers will be seen in action at the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok where Caltex is the official partner of the region. Caltex has contributed five million US dollars for the Asian Games.

Peter P. Martin, Managing Director of Lanka Lubricants Limited will be the chief guest at Sunday's event.

The Asian Games sponsorship will associate Caltex's new identity with the skill and performance of the best athletes from across Asia. With millions of people watching the games from all over the region, it will further establish the Caltex Brand with a large number of existing and new customers. This sponsorship, like the Asian Games itself, will move the Caltex Brand beyond the boundaries reinforcing its stand as a truly regional operation.

International Marathon on Sunday

by Shirajiv Sirimane
The inaugural International Marathon Co-sponsored by Lanka Sportsrizen, Airlanka, Nestle Lanka and Austr Asia tours of Germany will be held on November 29 around Galle and Hikkaduwa.

The race will be conducted according to International Rules and Regulations and will comprise of two section, namely the full Marathon over a distance of 42.195km and the Half Marathon which will be over a distance of 21.0975km. The race will be open to both men and women, local as well as overseas.

It is expected that around 40 to 50 overseas competitors and over 200 local runners will be seen in action at this historic event. A good number of 17 Germans, 11 Japanese and 2 Englishmen have already confirmed their participation.

The Amateur Athletic Association of Sri Lanka has given the green light to organize this event and also has assured its assistance to conduct the event.

The International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) has assured the organizers that after two years of successful conduct of the event under the supervision of the local Controlling Body The Amateur Athletic Association, it will be taken into their International Calendar thereby promoting it internationally as an event to be run by them with the AAF.

The selected date last Sunday in November, which is the 29th this year falls in between two very well established Marathons in Asia viz the Bangkok which is one week earlier and the Singapore which is one week after. This decision helps in attracting many runners who are keen to take part in one or more Marathons.

In addition, the selected date is within the traditional high tourist season in Sri Lanka and would have a large number of foreign visitors resident in the Hikkaduwa Resort Area as spectators and in view of the fact that it being a Public Holiday in Sri Lanka (Sunday) will have a lot of local spectators to cheer up the runners through the course.

The Southern Provincial Council headed by the Governor with assistance of Galle Municipal Council and the Hikkaduwa Pradeshiya Sabha has finalized all arrangements to make this event a colourful and a memorable one with the assistance and other organization under the purview of the Council.

The Hikkaduwa Hoteliers Association with the official Hotel Reefcomber are eagerly awaiting to welcome the participants.

Lanka Sportrizen together with Nestle Lanka Ltd., are leaving no stone unturned to make this Marathon an eventful one.

The organisers also cautioned the, public to take note of traffic disturbances that will arise due to the marathon from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. in Hikkaduwa and Galle.

Neville Kanakaratne, Governor, Southern Province will be the chief guest.

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