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| Sunday, 12 October 2003 |
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Twelve schools including Jaffna Combined team in Josephian twenty cricket tourney by Ranjan Anandappa Another segment of limited over cricket Twenty Cup (20 overs per side) innovated in England by the (ECB) this year to attract large crowds and inject life into a lackadaisical Benson & Hedges Cup in the county calendar and give the spectators more entertainment, St. Joseph's College Sports Council has followed suit in organising for the first time in Sri Lanka The Josephian Twenty 20 Invitation Schools Knock Out 20 overs per side cricket tournament to add more vigour to waning school cricket matches. The championship will get under way on October 24, 25 and 26 at the R. Premadasa Stadium Khettarama. The ECB (England Cricket Board) has taken a bold initiative in replacing the once popular Benson and Hedges limited over cricket tournament introducing a 20 over cricket championship which was found to be extremely popular and lucrative with a spectator attendance of over 250 thousand in their 45 group matches including the semi-final and the final. The tournament is no doubt going to be an action packed thriller which promises non-stop aggression for 20 overs. In theory it is a combination of the first ten overs and the last ten overs in a 50-over game. The normal limited overs rules with a few changes will be implemented in the tournament, like short boundaries, penalty runs for delays, free hit for foot fault no-balls. Twelve schools have been invited by the organisers to participate at this inaugural 'blockbuster' of a tournament. The schools are host St. Joseph's College, Royal, St. Sebastian's, Moratuwa, St. Peter's Bambalapitiya, D.S. Senanayake, Lumbini MV, Isipatana, S. Thomas' Mount Lavinia, Thurstan, Dharmaraja, Dharmasoka Ambalangoda, Jaffan Schools Cricket Association. At a press briefing held in connection with the tournament at the Colombo Continental Hotel Catseye Ballroom Rev. Fr. Victor Silva the Rector of St. Joseph's who presided said that St. Joseph's in its 107-year history, has served generations and generations of students, and served the nation and has played different roles and has been in the forefront in many spheres and developing sports specially cricket. "I am very proud to be a part of an innovation in another venture and pioneers in 20 Cricket Tournament" said the Rector. "Two-day school cricket, specially 'big' matches are increasingly becoming boring. While the six-a-side and limited over games are rapidly becoming popular. The 20 Tournament should be another thrilling competition that should keep the spectators on their toes and bring new enthusiasm and interest," the Rector added. Host St. Joseph's, Dharmaraja, St. Sebastian's and S. Thomas' have received byes and will play in the quarter finals. The other matches are: D.S. Senanayake vs Thurstan, St. Peter's vs Dharmasoka, Royal vs Isipatana, Jaffna SCA vs Lumbini. All matches will be played 20 overs per side with 75 minute duration. The winning team will receive Rs. 100,000 and a trophy, while the Runners-up, Man of the Final, Best Batsman, Best Bowler, Best Fielder and the Player who hits the highest number of sixes will also be rewarded. The others who were associated at the press conference were: Brian Obeysekera (Chairman Sports Council St. Joseph's), Rev. Fr. Rohitha Rodrigo (Prefect of Games), M. Muzzamil (Assistant Treasurer BCCSL), Lalith de S. Wijeratne and Susilough de S. Wijeratne (Members of the Sports Council). |
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