Matara SC by nine wickets

Matara Sports Club recorded a convincing nine wicket victory over the Kalutara TC in their Sara trophy match played at Matara recently.

Batting first, the home team scored 247 with Eranda Harshaka and Udaya D kumara both scoring half tons. In reply, Kalutara TC were shotout 95 in their first innings. Kalutara TC were forced to follow on and scored 175 in the second innings. Chasing a target of 23 to win, the home team scored 27 for the loss of one wicket.

Matara SC: 247 (Eranda Harshaka 65, Udaya D Kumara 54, Tharaka Dushshantha 39, Isuru Lokuge 22, T.D. Munasinghe 20, Iran Indika 4 for 64) and 27 for 1 (Eranda Harshaka 15 n.o., Tharaka Dushshantha 11 n.o.)

Kalutara TC: 95 (Supun Cooray 33, P.J.W. Jayasekera 2 for 21, Tharaka Dinesh 2 for 3, Isuru Lokuge 2 for 30, Asantha Sameera 2 for18) and 175 (Pathmanath Perera 67 n.o., Rumesh Milroy 24, Iran Indika 21, Akila Lakmal 5 for 32, P.I.W. Jayasekera 2 for 42)

 CW

CMC's soccer sevens

The inter-club seven-a-side soccer tournament organised by the Colombo Municipal Councils Veterans Soccerites will be played on March 28 at the Campbell Park, commencing 9.00 a.m.

All leading veterans clubs in the Colombo District are expected to participate in this tournament.

Media, players disappointed

Indian media and top players expressed disappointment on Wednesday after cricket's showpiece Indian Premier League (IPL) was moved to South Africa over security concerns in only its second year.

"To move the event outside India has been one of the hardest decisions that the Board of Control for Cricket in India has had to take," said IPL commissioner Lalit Modi.

AFP

Maldivians to play friendly soccer

BERNARD Perera

The Maldivian national soccer team will arrive in the island today to play a friendly game against the national team of Sri Lanka.

The match is scheduled to be played at Sugathadasa stadium on March 27 at 7 p.m. Since year 2000, Sri Lanka has confronted Maldives on four occasions. Sri Lanka has lost two, won once and drawn one. The only victory was recorded in 2002 on local soil while draw was in 2004.

The Lankan team led by Chatura Maduranga fared well playing in the Prime Minister's Cup in Nepal two weeks ago.

In fact, they managed to enter the final but ended up as runners-up to Nepal on a penalty tie breaker system.

VB finals on Mar. 31

WEHELLE Piyathilaka Maharagama special corr.

The finals of the 25th Youth Services and Rupavahini volleyball tournament jointly organised by the National Youth Services Council, Rupavahini Corporation and the Youth Affairs Ministry will be held on March 31 at 1 p.m. at Kolonnawa Public ground, in Ratnapura district.

Kurunegala and Puttalam district (women) teams and Galle and Gampaha district (men) teams qualified for the finals. 26 men teams and 26 women teams participated at the tournament. The chief guest at the prize presentation ceremony will be Youth Affairs Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi.