Panadura junior cricketers excel at Bangalore

Richard Dwight

The under 14 cricketers of the Panadura cricket coaching school, an affiliate of the two year old Panadura Cricket Club (PCC), acquitted themselves on a very successful note in their recently concluded cricket tour of Bangalore.

This tour, a pioneering venture of the PCC, was an equally novel experience for the youngsters of the club.

Most of whom were from schools like Sri Sumangala, Panadura, St. John's, Panadura, S. Thomas' Mt. Lavinia, Prince of Wales Moratuwa, D.S. Senanayake Colombo and yet others. With some having represented their under 13 school cricket teams as well.

Despite having to adjust and adapt, one with another, playing away from home and in quite a different environment, gave a good account of themselves.

The team led by Oshada Fernando and managed by Premadasa Silva (Director Coaching PCC) lived upto the promise and expectations of the club by winning 5 of the 7 matches played.

They did well to win all 3 matches against the Delhi Public School, Bangalore and were awarded the Four Stroke Motor Trophy. In the Exhibition Match they registered a comfortable win over the Bangalore School Cricket Champions - Frank Anthony Public School. Against the Imtiaz Ahmed Cricket Academy, (IACA) Bangalore - of the 3 matches played for the Tata - Pipes Trophy, IACA won 2 and PCC won 1, with IACA winning the trophy.

It's gathered that at the awards ceremony held at the plush Hotel Canopy in Bangalore, the former Pakistani cricketer, Imtiaz Ahmed, the Director IACA as well showered heaps of praise on the Panadura CC youngsters and gave them valuable advice - He signalled out two boys as having very promising careers ahead in skipper, Oshada Fernando, a very fine all-rounder and wicket keeper batsman, Sachin Peiris.

Imtiaz complimented the Director of Coaching PCC, Premadasa Silva for instilling exemplary discipline among the boys, which was in evidence on and off the field and, stressed on the need for tours such as this which would help to enhance temperament at an early age. Those in authority of local cricket here will do well to encourage junior cricket clubs such as these.

The Panadura Cricket Club received the 'Four Stroke Motors Trophy' and the Runner-up Trophy in the Tata-Pipes Trophy contest.