St. Benedict’s face Ananda in U19 Division I Tier ‘B’ quarter-final
Firaz, Thathsara secure semi-final berth for St. Thomas’
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Sri Lanka ‘A’ signed off a near-flawless campaign this week, outplaying New Zealand ‘A’ with the assurance of a side batting on a different pitch. The islanders not only completed a 3-0 whitewash in the limited-overs leg, but also sealed the unofficial Test series 1-0, wrapping up the second game in Galle by an innings before lunch on day four, a result that underlined skill and depth.
It was Ashan Priyanjan’s first assignment as Head Coach of Sri Lanka ‘A’, and the former international came away convinced that several players are no longer knocking politely but banging the door down for national honours.
“There are several of them who stood up when the chips were down,” Priyanjan told The Island. “I feel each one of them is ready to step up to the senior side and deliver.”
Sri Lanka ‘A’ were made to earn their stripes. Throughout the one-day series, they found themselves in tight corners but refused to throw in the towel. Even with the series in the bag, there was no easing off the accelerator. In the third ODI, a dead rubber on paper, they chased down 303 with more than three overs to spare.
The second game had already set the tone. A muscular 368 for nine was posted, with several young batsmen cashing in once they got their eye in, showing the kind of appetite selectors crave.
“Our plan was simple, keep churning out 300-plus totals,” Priyanjan said. “The Powerplay wasn’t our issue. It was the middle overs, between the 11th and 40th, where we had been losing momentum. We addressed that and the results followed.”
Flat decks offered value for shots, but they also demanded sharper thinking from the bowlers, a test Priyanjan believes his attack passed with distinction.
“When you play on good batting surfaces, bowlers have to go back to the drawing board,” he noted. “It was a proper workout, a learning curve and a necessary one.”
The red-ball leg provided its own narrative arc. After the opening unofficial Test in Suriyawewa petered out into a draw, Sri Lanka ‘A’ hit back hard in Galle. Top-order batter Kamil Mishara compiled a fluent 174 at better than a run a ball, while left-arm spinner Dilum Sudeera ran through the visitors with a ten-wicket match bag, a performance that turned the game on its head.
“Our bowlers learned the art of containment in Suriyawewa when the opposition got on top,” Priyanjan said. “That experience helped them in Galle. And it’s encouraging to see batters hungry for big hundreds, that’s the currency at the highest level.”
Fielding, often the poor cousin in development squads, was another box ticked emphatically. Priyanjan was quick to credit improved fitness levels for sharper work in the ring and on the boundary.
“Our fitness standards were high, and that reflected in the fielding,” he said. “The players have put in the hard yards, full credit to them.”
With India ‘A’ due in Sri Lanka in June before a tour of Ireland, the nation’s young cricketers have been kept busy.
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St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena, will take on Ananda College, Colombo, in a much-anticipated quarter-final of the Under-19 Division I Tier ‘B’ Limited Overs Cricket Tournament at the Gajaba Stadium in Saliyapura, Anuradhapura, today.
St. Benedict’s, led by Dinath Senila, will enter the knockout encounter with confidence after securing their place as group champions in the first round. Their consistent performances have made them one of the teams to watch in the competition.
Ananda, captained by Nethula Edirmanna, qualified for the quarter-finals after finishing third best during the group stage. They will be looking to raise their game and produce a strong performance against their more highly placed opponents to keep their title hopes alive.
With a place in the semi-finals at stake, both teams will be eager to make the most of this knockout opportunity.
Dharmasoka encounter Christ King
Meanwhile, Dharmashoka College Ambalangoda are set to meet Christ King College Ja Ela in the semi finals of the Under 19 Division II Tier ‘A’ tournament at Maris Stella College Ground Thimbirigaskatuwa today.
Dharmasok led by Kaveesha Matheesh are in the semi finals after registering several crushing victories including 98 runs win over Royal College Panadura in the quarter final.
Their other big victories included 99 runs win over St. John’s Panadura and seven wickets win over St. John’s Jaffana. They were the leading team in their group in the first round.
Christ King College Ja Ela advanced to the quarter final as the runner up of their group in the first round. They are led by Heli Anjana. (RF)
St. Thomas’ College, Matara, booked their place in the semi-finals of the Under-19 Division I Tier B Limited Over Cricket Tournament with a four-wicket win over Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala as Firaz Ahamed and Thathsara Dewmith played key roles for them at the Uyanwatta Grounds in Matara on Monday.
Chasing a modest target of 138, the Thomians reached 140 for six with many overs to spare with Firaz Ahamed and Thathsara Dewmith scored the bulk of runs in the successful run chase.
Ahamed top-scored with a patient 58 off 83 balls, including five fours and a six, while Dewmith remained unbeaten on 40 off 60 deliveries, striking four boundaries.
Their contributions ensured that St. Thomas’ recovered from a few early setbacks to secure victory.
Earlier, batting first Maliyadeva were dismissed for 137 (in 41.2 overs).
The Thomians’ bowling attack was spearheaded by Punal Pamuditha, who claimed three wickets for 21 runs, while Dewmith also took three wickets for 17 runs. Vindila Chanuth supported them with an economical spell of one for nine.
Dushan Rajapaksha top-scored with 28 off 70 balls, while Thiwanka Dissanayake made 25 and Risith Wijesinghe contributed 18.
For Maliyadeva, Rahal De Silva and Risith Wijesinghe claimed two wickets each, but their efforts were not enough to prevent St. Thomas’ from advancing to the last four. (RF)
The Sri Lanka Tennis Association paid tribute to the late Mr. Suresh Subramaniam, former President and serving Vice President of the SLTA, who passed away on the 15 July In recognition of his outstanding contributions to Sri Lankan and Asian tennis, the Asian Tennis Federation presented a commemorative trophy honouring his dedicated service to the sport. This token of appreciation was presented to his wife, Ranjitha Subramaniam, by the Governor of the Western Province, Hanif Yusoof, in the presence of Iqbal Bin Isaac, President of the Sri Lanka Tennis Association and J. M. Wijebandara, Director General Legal of the Presidential Secretariat.
Mr. Subramaniam served as SLTA President from 2002 to 2007 and later became the first Sri Lankan to serve as Vice President of the Asian Tennis Federation. He also served as ATF Secretary General and contributed to tennis administration at the international level.
His remarkable contribution to tennis and sports administration will remain an enduring part of Sri Lanka’s sporting legacy
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