Over 24 clubs in C.B. Ratnayake cricket sixes in Nuwara Eliya

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

Over 24 cricket playing clubs from the Nuwara Eliya District will play in the annual inter-club six-a-side cricket tournament for the C.B. Ratnayake Challenge Shield organised by the Nuwara Eliya District Cricket Association at the picturesque Darrawela grounds, Dickoya on December 15th and 16th (Saturday/Sunday) with play commencing at 9 a.m. each day. This tournament for the trophy offered by former Minister of Sports C.B. Ratnayake and presently Minister of Private Transport Services has been a major attraction and is one of the most eagerly looked forward cricket events in the district.

There could not have been a better selection than the venue of Darrawela which is the home grounds of Dickoya -Maskeliya Cricket Club. The ground is so beautifully located that the cricketing legend from England Sir Jack Hobbs in one of his visits to Darrawela, was so captivated by its natural beauty that when he built up a home for himself in 'Old Blighty' that he named it 'Darrawela'.

This is described in his biography. If you walk into the Darrawela Club house, you can find a giant-sized black and white picture of Sir Jack Hobbs with the willow.

Those were the days when English and Australian cricketers played cricket matches in Ceylon (as this country was known then), they made sure that they played a match in Upcountry either at Radella or Darrawela and the climatic conditions were similar to conditions in England and the tea estates were managed mostly by Englishmen and the cricketers were housed in the Estate bungalows as there was hardly any hotel in the area.The Secretary of the Nuwara Eliya District Cricket Association Jagath Jayasundera said entries to play are still open and clubs could enter the championship and the draw will be on December 15th. The clubs that are interested in participating could send their entries to 12/13 Delhena Estate, Ginigathena or to Jagath Jayasundera, Transport Manager, Sri Lanka Cricket, 35 Maitland Place Colombo 7. Telephone 077-9762697. Ginigathena Cricket Club are the defending champions but they will receive strong challenge from Dimbulla Cricket Club, Dickoya-Maskeliya Cricket Club, Trout SC Nuwara Eliya, Silver Orchids SC, and Grand Hotel SC. Some of the teams that will be in the fray are Yardley SC, Summerhill SC, Divisional Secretary's Office, Nuwara Eliya, Maskeliya CC, Nuwara-Eliya Police SC, Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council United Cricket Club, Kent Cricket Club, Summerhill CC, Janashakthi SC, Hatton Athletic and CC, Singha SC, Poramadulla CC, Young Rovers SC, Hanguranketha CC, Talawakelle Research Institute and lice SC. Winners and best performers will be awarded trophies and cricket materials.