U-19 Cricket ‘Sixers’ begins tomorrow

By Chris Dhambarage

Former champions Thurstan College will take on the Combined Batticaloa team in the curtain raiser match of the 18th annual inter school Under-19 six a side cricket tournament which will commence at the Wesley College ground in Campbell Park tomorrow (24).

Thurstan College who emerged champions in 1995 have been drawn in the top half along with the defending champions St. Joseph’s College, St. Sebastian’s College Moratuwa, Prince of Wales College Moratuwa, Royal College, Basilica Ragama, Trinity College Kandy and Richmond College Galle.  The tournament is organized and conducted by the Old Wesleyites Sports Club in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association and is sponsored by Ceylon Biscuits Limited for the third successive year.

Under-19 schools cricket took a different turn in the schools cricketing calendar with the introduction of the six a side tournament way back in 1993. This tournament over the years has reached phenomenal success with many new introductions and innovations. This popular event sought after by the leading cricket playing schools in the country is the only hard ball six a side tournament sanctioned by the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association.

The Glucofit Under-19 cricket sixes will consist of 36 teams selected on a first come first serve basis. This year individual schools have been selected from Jaffna, Ampara, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura and Hambanthota with the exception of Batticaloa who is fielding a Combined District side.