Saints play Twenty20 on March 28

Leslie FERNANDO

The inaugural Saints Schools Quadrangle Twenty20 cricket tournament with four leading schools in the country St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota, St. Joseph’s College, St. Benedict’s College and St. Peter’s College battle it out for the coveted ‘Archbishop of Colombo Trophy on March 28 at the R. Premadasa Stadium.

Rev. Bro. Granville Perera, Director St. Benedict’s College together with Ravi Irugalbandara, Chairman Organising Committee, at a press briefing held at the Old Benedictine SC pavilion on Wednesday night said that the birth of a new cricket tournament had come to stay and St. Benedict’s College will host the first tournament.

Annual feature

The Twenty 20 cricket tournament will be an annual feature. Earlier the old boys of four colleges played a Quadrangular tournament since 1963 and it will be now the opportunity for the schoolboy cricketers to continue the trend participating in the new tournament.

Both the Director and Irugalbandara thanked the main sponsor Ceylon Cold Stores and the co-sponsor, Silver Ray and K.D.U. Pelmadulla and Bartleet Finance Ltd for coming forward to assist tournament.

The opening ceremony will be at 9.30 a.m. on March 28 and the chief guest will be Rev. Bro. Denzil Perera, Provincial Visitor de La Salle Brothers while Rev. Fr. Ranjith Madurawela, General Manager, Catholic Schools will be the guest honour.

The match schedule-St. Joseph’s vs St. Peter’s at 10 a.m. - Match ‘A’ team batting first, at 11.30 a.m. Match ‘B’ - St. Benedict’s vs St. Anthony’s - team batting first. Lunch break at 1.00 p.m. Followed by Match ‘A’ team batting second at 1.30 p.m., Match ‘B’ team batting second at 3.00 p.m. At 4.30 p.m. cultural display and Entertainment. The Chief Guest Most Rev. Dr. Oswald Gomis - Archbishop of Colombo arrival at 5.30 p.m. The final will be at 6 p.m. and the award ceremony at 8.30 p.m.

Adjudicator

The Adjudicator will be Roger Wijesuriya. The awards and prizes on offer are - Archbishop of Colombo Challenge Trophy and Rs. 50,000 medals for the champions, runner-up Rs. 25,000 and medals, Man of the Match-semi-finals (2 awards) trophy and gift voucher and gift pack.

Best Batsman of the final trophy and gift voucher, best bowler in the final-trophy and gift voucher, best fielder in the finals trophy and gift voucher. Man of the Match (finals) Trophy and gift voucher worth Rs. 10,000. Most Valuable Player of the Tournament Trophy and gift voucher worth Rs. 15,000 spirit of the Game Award - a trophy.

The inaugural tournament organising committee comprises - Rev. Bro. Granville Perera, Director SBC, Ravi Irugalbandara, Lalith Madappulli (co-Chairman), Srilal de Silva (Secretary), Jeremy Saverymuththapulle (Treasurer).

Head of the four schools - St. Anthony’s College - Rev. Fr. Titus Rodrigo, Rev. Bro. Granville Perera, St. Joseph’s College - Rev. Fr. Sylvester Ranasinghe, St. Peter’s College - Rev. Fr. Travis Gabriel.

Teams

St. Anthony’s College

Sahan Palihakkara (Captain), Jerome Prashan Siegertsz, Adil Reyal, Kasun Ekanayake, Malindu Perera, Hiran Wickramasekara, Eranda Seneviratne, Dulash Kumarasinghe, Tharanga Bandara, Yohan Woods, Milinda Ranasinghe, Kanishka Ranaraja, Supun Ranaraja, Viraj Senarath, Aruna Bandara, Champika Siriwardena (Coach), Palitha Abeyarathna (Master-in-charge), Rev. Fr. Araliya Jayasundara (POG).

St. Benedict’s College

Surien Silva (Captain), Sangaran Nandalal, Nishal Fonseka, Waruna Fernando, Ashen Sirimanne, Prageeth Fernando, Eranga Rathnayake, Roy Sheran, Dilanka Auwardt, Heshan Chamara, Dinushan Wanigasuriya, Sandun Sampath, Imal Fernando, Rukshan Weerasinghe, Hiran Jayawardena, Vivian Saverymuthapulle (Prefect of Games/MIC), NI Chaminda Silva (Coach), Harshana Silva (Asst. Coach).

St. Joseph’s College

Shameera Weerasinghe (Captain), Hareen Silva, Treshan Rajasooriya, Nishika de Silva, Dinal Dambarage, Chaturanga Kumara, Jaan Jayasinghe, Shalinda Perera, Rosco Thattil, Vidusha Jayasinghe, Asiri Supechala, Ramesh Vidhanarachchi, Dinal Fonseka, Anushka Shakthi, Enrico Silva, Prasantha Ranaweera (MIC), Harsha de Silva (Coach), Kapila Manohara (Asst. Coach), Rev.Fr. Chaminda Wanigasena (POG).

St. Peter’s College

Angelo Perera (Captain), Chathura Peiris, Shivanga Ranasuriya, Vinodh Perera, Isuru Peiris, Akshu Fernando, Andri Berenger, Nilochana Perera, Denham Perera, Hashan Wickramasuriya, Angelo Emmanuel, Kaushal Rodrigo, Sidath Jayaweera, Ranitha Liyanarachchi, Shanendra Fernando, Ranmore Martines (Coach), Shanaka Fernando (Asst. Coach), Wasantha Haputhanthri (MIC), Rev. Fr. Sameera Cooray (POG)