First cricket match by children of Wanniyela Aththo!

by S.M. Jiffrey ABDEEN - Kandy Sports Corr.

CRICKET: The first ever schools cricket match by the children of the Wanniyela Aththo was played last week when Hennanigala Vidyalaya played Kandakapupotha Vidyalaya and lost the match by the narrow margin 14 runs in their schools under 13 cricket tournament match played at the Dehiattakandiya Vidyalaya grounds, Dehiattakandiya.

The Hennanigala Vidyalaya had no less than nine cricketers from the Wannila Aththo Community and they were put through their basics just two months when Sri Lanka Cricket under the direction of its Chairman D.S. de Silva took a decision that cricket should be introduced to the Veddah community living in Hennanigala, Bintenna and Dehiattakandiya in the outskirts of Mahiyangana. As an initial step Manager Coaching of Sri Lanka Cricket Malcolm Perera and Uva Provincial Cricket Coach Chaminda Kodikara were sent to an area predominantly lived by the ancient community to make a start from the scratch, Cricket materials were distributed to many schools and cricket coach Gamini Jayasinghe was assigned the task of teaching them fundamentals of the once elite sport.

This function was attended by no less than a personality than the Veddah Chief Uruwarige Wanniyela Aththo who said that there is no hard in playing this game of cricket as long as the children value their culture and do not lose their identity.

Kandakapupotha Vidyalaya batted first and were dismissed for 103 with Dilanka Maduranga top scoring with 53 which had 8 fours.

A boy from the jungles Buddhika Ruwan bowling his medium pacers 4 for 34. Hennanigala Vidyalaya though new to the game without any basic amenities scored 89 runs. Medium pacer Hishan Vihiranga took 4 for 17.

Kandakapupotha Vidyalaya in their second innings were dismissed for 81 and once again it was Buddhika Ruwan who did the damage taking 4 for 24 giving him a match bag of 8 for 58, the best figures ever returned by a jungle boy.

Hennanigala Vidyalaya could have registered a historic victory in their first ever cricket match, but time barred them as they had to rush home before the wild animals come out of the jungles. Hennanigala Vidyalaya needed only 89 runs to win.

This match was attended by the area Chief of the Wannila Aththo Uruwarige Gunabandara, Uva Provincial Coach Chaminda Kodikara, Commanding Officer of the Civil Defence Force Major Kamal Jayaweera, the Principals of the two schools, Teacher-in-Charge Hennanigala Vidyalaya Mrs. Chandani Rodukekulanda and Coach Gamini Jayasinghe. There was a very large crowd to watch this maiden cricket encounter. Kandekepupotha Vidyalaya: 103 all out in 33 overs (Ishan Eranga 10, Dilanka Maduranga 53, Buddhika Ruwan 4 for 34, Chandima Weerasinghe 3 for 25) and 81 all out in 34 overs (Nalinda Sunimal 11, Ishan Madumal 18, Buddhika Ruwan 4 for 24, Sugath Sumith 3 for 16). Hennanigala Vidyalaya: 89 all out in 27 overs (Nishan Sandaruwan 15, Buddhika Ruwan 10, Ishara Maduranga 3 for 3, Nishan Vihiranga 4 for 17).