Sports Brief

Musaeus sports meet on March 7

The annual inter-house athletic meet of the Primary Section of Musaeus College will be held on March 7 commencing 12 p.m. at the Mercantile Association grounds.

Deputy Director of the Sports Division of Western Province, V. Upali Amarathugna will be the chief guest while the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Netball Association, Captain Laxmi Victoria will be the guest of honour.

Wijitha Bandara wins NCR Cup Golf

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

Sri Lanka's Wijitha Bandara put up a fine display to win the 8th NCR Cup Golf Championship that was worked off in India on Friday.

Wijitha Bandara representing Sri Lanka registered a total of 293 with a 5 over par.

In second place was Prince Kajotiva of India with 295 with a 7 over par.

Finishing third was Samarth Dwived of India with a total of 300 with a 12 over par.

Royal's Harith and Shaminda excel in mini-battle

A match bag of 12 wickets for 143 runs by left-arm leg spinner Harith Samarasinghe and a fine knock of 112 by Shaminda Dias were the highlights of the mini-battle between Royal 'A' and S. Thomas' 'A' which ended in a draw at Reid Avenue yesterday.

Royal 'A' taking first lease of the wicket scored 292 for 9 declared helped by two fine knocks by Shaminda Dias (112 with 15 boundaries) and Ashan Gajaba 69 (7 fours and one six).

S. Thomas' 'A' in reply were bundled out for 155 with Diluka Herath remaining unbeaten on 66. Left-arm leg spinner Harith Samarasinghe was the wrecker with 8 wickets for 45. Following on the Thomians put up a better display to score 274 for 9 wickets helped by a sparkling knock of 87 by S. Jayatilleke with eight boundaries and five sixes.

Chief scores:

Royal 'A': 292 for 9 declared (Shaminda Dias 112, Akshan Gajaba 69, S. Malavige 31, Sampath de Silva 23, Nimesh Fernando 4 for 66, Danush Peiris 2 for 31).

S. Thomas' 'A': 155 (Diluka Herath 66 n.o., Harith Samarasinghe 8 for 45) and 274 for 9 "(Sajitha Jayatilleke 87, Danush Peiris 36, Dilendra Gunatillake 36, Harith Samarasinghe 4 for 98, Geeshanth Panditharatne 3 for 46, Randev Pathirana 2 for 35).

Kurunegala pile up 313/8

Dilwin Mendis, Moratuwa Sports Cor.

Kurunegala Sports Club is in a strong position against Matugama Cricket Club in their inter-club Sara Trophy cricket match organised by Sri Lanka Cricket and played at Kurunegala.

Homesters taking the first lease declared at 313 for 8 with S. Samapth 81 and Dilsara Ranpotha unbeaten on 52 runs. Dinesh Bamunuaarachchi too contributed 45 runs. Ruwan Kannangara and Ravindra Rasanga claimed 3 for 52 and 3 for 104 respectively and at the end of day one visitors were 45 for 2.

Kurunegala SC: 313 for 8 dec. (S. Samapth 81, Dilsara Ranpotha 52 not out, Dinesh Bamunuaarachchi 45, Duminda Dissanayake 36, Ruwan Kannagara 3 for 52, Ravindra Rasanga 3 for 104).

Matugama CC: 45 for 2.

Sebs 'A' win mini battle

Dilwin Mendis - Moratuwa Sports corr.

St. Sebastians College 'A' beat their arch rivals Prince of Wales' College 'A' in their annual mini battle by an innings and 35 runs and home for lunch and the game ended at 11.30 am which was worked off at Cambrian's ground.

Cambrians resuming on day two with 6 for no loss with a deficit of 121 runs to make Sebs to bat for the second time collapsed for a paltry 93 runs with Vihanga Dilshan 26 and Shenal Chetaka 20. Sachinda Gunawardena had a fine bowling spell of 5 for 19 while Savin Fernando claimed 4 for 26.

Prince of Wales 'A': 99 and 93 (Vihanga Dilshan 26, Shenal Chetaka 20, Ashan Eranga 14, Sachinda Gunawardena 5/19, Savin Fernando 4/26).

Sebs 'A': 227

Thomians force a draw

Dilwin Mendis - Moratuwa Sports Corr.

St. Sebastians College has to be satisfied with a first innings win against formidable and more fancied S. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia in their inter-school Under-19 cricket match played at Moratuwa.

At the close of play visitors were in a safe position with 256 for 8 with a lead of 104 runs with two wickets intact.

Thominas fought back courageously to avoid a defeat with the opener Nipuna Gamage 57 runs which included eight hits to the ropes and facing 162 balls and occupying the crease for 184 minutes and Javed Bongso 89 runs with sixteen fours and one six which consisted 171 balls and occupying the crease for 192 minutes put on a very valuable second wicket partnership of 128 runs. Thilaksha Sumanasiri contributed 32 runs.

Pramesh Fernando was the most successful bowler for Sebs with 4 for 59 with a match bag of 8 for 61 while Anushka Perera claimed 2 for 43.

S. Thomas': 75 and 256/8 (Nipuna Gamage 57, Javed Bongso 89, Thilaksha Sumanasiri 32, Sahan Wijesinghe 17 n/o, Pramesh Fernando 4/59, Anushka Perera 2/43.

St. Sebastians: 227/6 dec.

Antonians on top

S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Corr.

St. Anthonys College Kandy warmed up for their next week's big match with a good performance against Kingswood college in their inter-school cricket match which began at Katugastota yesterday.

The Antonians scored a good total of 251 for 9 wickets declared and at close they had the Kingswoodians on their knees straggling at 57 for 5 and are 194 runs behind with only five wickets in hand. A further 94 runs is required by them to avert the follow on.

The Antonians taking first lease batted with aggressive to score 251 in only 64 overs. Damithra Panditharatne top scored with an attractive 63 with 9 fours facing 70 deliveries. He was involved in a third wicket stand of 63 with Sachin Bulathsinhala (25).

St. Anthony's College: 251 for 9 decl. 64 overs (Kanishka Uggalpaya 48, Damithra Panditharatne 63, Nimesh Gunasinghe 33, Pavithra Nanayakkara 30, Sachin Bulathsinghala 25, Harsha Ebert 18, N.M.A.C. Bandara 3 for 53, Daminda Weerakoon 2 for 50, Tharindu Liyanage 2 for 44).

Kingswood College: 57 for 5 in 24 overs (Shaluka Walisundera 20, S.M. Bandara 11 not out, Sachin Bulathsinghala 2 for 3, Pavithra Nanayakkara 2 for 9).