SL Colombo Port spikers win gold
Bernard Perera
Sri Lanka Ports Authority spikers won the third gold medal for Sri
Lanka in the first ever South Asian Ports Games at Sugathadasa Indoor
Stadium yesterday. Colombo Port spikers defeated the strong Indian Port
three sets to one in enthralling game (25-20, 19-25, 25-20, 25-17).
Lankans got off to a flying in the first set and were in front from
the word go and were in with fine lead of six points 18-12. The Indians
could not do anything to prevent the Lankans scoring rate and went down
19-25.
The next set began and it was the Indians who consolidated here. They
before reaching the double figures were 4 points ahead of the locals.
This lead they maintained until the end to win the set and also come to
even terms 1-1. The Lankans failed in this set mainly due to poor
serving where they conceded three points to give the advantage for the
visitors.
Local spikers entered the count for the third time with determination
and were seen going out for the kill. Their tactics paid heavy dividends
but the visitors too made every effort to block the forward march of the
locals and were on equal terms at five each and seven each. Colombo Port
players making no mistakes kept a steady movement and controlled the
game in their favour to end at 25-20 to make it 2-1.
With the local team handling the situation well came out to with
intention of finishing the game to touch the gold. This they did in fine
style. Skipper Prageeth Dissanayake was seen at his best doing a good
job keep his side in front. India took the first point here and went
also collect three points. Lankans fought hard and equalised at 3-3 and
moved away from there onwards. Visitors however managed to come to equal
terms once again at 7-7.
Dissanayake leading the side well and served well to earn two points
to find the way out. They continued this trend while blocking many
scoring opportunities from the Indian spikers. This became a tough job
for the Indian Port handlers. Once they reached 17 points against Sri
Lanka Port they could not add anything to their tally and lost the set
25-17 giving the victory and the gold medal for the Sri Lanka Port
workers.
Maldive went away with the bronze medal.
Cricket
Cricketers from Sri Lanka Port Colombo were the winners of the gold
medal in the Twenty20 tourney in the same games. Colombo Port cricketers
met the Indians yesterday in the final which was played at Colts Ground
and defeated them by six wickets.
Indian who batted first and made a formidable total of 150 for seven
in their allotted overs with N. Reddy making a top score of 37 while
there were two valuable knocks from K. Ray and S. Dabolkar 31 and 27
respectively. Lanka Port workers reached the target in only 19.2 overs
with the help of two half centuries coming from the bats of Gihan de
Silva 54 Ashan Priyanjana 50 n.o., C. Seemon made 23, R. Narodkhan had
three scalps for 27 runs.
India 150/7 (A. Raj 31, N. Reddy 37, S. Dabolkar 27, D. Dias 2/17).
Colombo Port 153/4 in 19.2 overs (Gihan de Silva 54, C. Seemon 23,
Ashan Priyanjana 53 n.o., R. Narodkhan 3/27).
Soccer
Maldivian soccerites defeated the Indian Port five goals to nil to
carry away the gold medal in the soccer championship which ended in
Badulla Vincent Dias Stadium. Colombo Port beat Airport and Aviation
team to take the bronze medal.
Table Tennis
India once again took the gold for Tennis Sri Lanka Port, and the
silver was won by the Trincomalee Port workers.
Tennis
Bangladesh defeated Trinco Port team in Tennnis to go with the gold
while Colombo Port took the bronze.
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