Wesley U-13 cricket champs, win Astra Trophy

Richard Dwight

The unbeaten under 13 cricketers of Wesley College did themselves and the college proud, by creating history on winning for the first time, the ‘Astra Trophy’ to become champions by defeating St. Peters in the division one final, at the Thurstan College, grounds.

This is much easier said than done and, the Wesley juniors winning this final has neither been a “flash in the pan” victory.

For they have displayed consistency for quite a period of time - last year too, the lads were on a winning spree in the tournament to enter the final and win the trophy. But sadly had to conceded the trophy on a technical lapse to St. Sebastian’s College.

The setback nay reverse experienced by Wesley’s under 13 cricketers, did in no way deter them.

Undeterred it only served to spur them on with resilience and grim determination to do well, and the rest is history now.

As juniors, they have come in for much praise and acclaim by all those who have Wesley’s welfare at heart.

They strongly feel that the enthusiasm and exemplary commitment of these youngsters, should be infectious, to be pathfinders to those engaged in the senior grades of cricket at Wesley.

The team was ably led by Ashail Kariyawasam with Basith Muzammil as vice captain, both contributing much with the bat and spinners of the ball.

The others who gave a good account of themselves as batsmen and spinners were Sachin Jayawardene, and Dinuka Jayasinghe.

The all rounders were Migara Wickremasinghe, Imesh Dayaratne and Rahul de Silva, with Jonathan Kadiramanpulle and Dinuka Jayasinghe to open the batting, while Tharindu Karunarathna and Sachith Wickremasinghe to open the bowling.

The significant thing is that all of them performed well with the bat, as well as with the ball - truly a combined effort indeed.

In the run up to the final the lads from Wesley in the first round won 3 matches against Prince of Wales, Lumbini and Royal, Panadura and, drew 3 matches against D. S. Senanayake, Thurstan and Moratuwa Vidyalaya. In the second round they won 2 matches against Mahinda and St. Anthony’s, Kandy and drew with Mahanama, Presidents’ Kotte and St. Sylvesters Kandy.

The quarter finals saw Wesley defeating Ananda and in the semi finals Wesley beat Maliyadeva. The ensuing final between St. Peters and Wesley was tall scoring stiff encounter, which was tensely fought out, with Wesley winning in the last ball of the match by one run.

The partnership between the coach Shafraz Farook, the master-in-charge, Wasantha Kasturiarachchi and the Manager, Jeremy Brohier has functioned well, to discipline the lads with balanced perspectives.

St. Peters 256 for 9 (J de Silva 80 P. M. Mawalage 73, M. Liyanarachchi 35, T. Karunarathna 3/39, M. B. Muzammil 2/48, A. Kariyawasam 3/44)

Wesley 257 for 9 (A. Kariyawasam 78, I. Jayaratne 38, D. Jayasinghe 26, J. Kadiramanpulle 24, J, Karunarathna 21, J. de Silva 2/40, M. Mawalage 2 for 46).

This apart it is encouraging to note, that the former Wesley Junior Captain and Colombo North Skipper, Denuwan Dasanayake, along with five other Wesley Juniors toured Malaysia in 2006. (They are Ashail Kariyawasam, Dinuka Jayasinghe, Bashitha Jayasuriya, Muthi Kankanathanthri and Basith Muzammil). Equally noteworthy it is, to find that spinners Ashail Kariyawasam, Dinuka Jayasinghe, Basith Muzammil and Sachin Jayawardene are currently in the National spin squad.

Farook who has played cricket for the NCC school of cricket in division 3 and for clubs in the Premier Tournament.

According to him the painstaking efforts taken by him, the master-in-charge and the Manager, with as well the support of the Principal and Vice Principal towards our objective has produced results.

The youngsters are undoubtedly talented and, they must be encouraged to go on tours abroad early. To adapt and adjust themselves by living and playing together in a completely different environment away from home.

This will certainly give them a broader vision and wider outlook with their future in mind.