School cricket now under new format

The new inter-school cricket season, known as the Singer Under-19 Division One tournament, will be played under a new system that organisers say will overcome a lopsided tournament that came in for heavy criticism last season.

As many as 36 teams will play in four groups in the new format which will mean that each team will play eight matches and qualify to the second round. Four teams from each group will qualify to the second round and play in a pre-quarter final knock-out stage.

Each match from the pre-quarter final stage will be played over two days. The semi finals and final will be played over three days per match.

Trinity College was the champion in the division one league tournament last season with Thurstan College as runner up.

Royal and St. Anthony's College Wattala were promoted to division one after ending as champion and runner up of the division two tournament last year.

Wesley, Carey and Revatha MMV Balapitiya were demoted to division two from division one.

Group 'A' - Trinity College, Ananda College, De Mazenod College, Dharmaraja College, Maliyadeva College, St. Aloysius College, St. Anthony's College Wattala, St. Benedict's College, Bandaranayake MMV

Group 'B' - Thurstan College, Royal College, Mahanama College, Mahinda College, Maris Stella College, Prince of Wales College, Royal College Panadura, Zahira College, St.Joseph's College

Group 'C' - Lumbini College, Anuradhapura Central College, Dharmasoka College, Gurukula College, Holy Cross College Kalutara, Isipathana College, Moratu Vidyalaya, Richmond College, St. Servatius College

Group 'D' - St. Peter's College, D. S. Senanayake College, Dharmapala College, Nalanda College, President's College Kotte, S. Thomas' College, St.Sebastian's College, St. Sylvester's College, Joseph Vaz College

 -(YK)