Marians overcame hardships to win Premier title

Chris DHAMBARAGE

In the year 2000 they were promoted to play in the SLC Premier Division following a tremendous run of success in the division two and P. Saravanamuttu Trophy tournaments. They lacked even the basic facilities to survive at the beginning and still continue to struggle without a playground of their own.

After nearly a decade of hard work and commitment Chilaw Marians Cricket Club have finally produced the ingredients of success to emerge as the Premier League Tier ‘A’ tournament champions for the 2009/10 inter-club cricket season.

The club was inaugurated in 1975 by the Rector of St. Mary’s College Chilaw Rev. Edwin Ambrose with the prime intention of providing competition for the schoolboys and the old boys of the institution. With a humble beginning they made steady progress and now they have reached the pinnacle having bagged the richest prize in the Sri Lankan domestic scene.

Chilaw Marians CC could now look back with a great amount of satisfaction and pride having performed the near impossibility during a period where the game was dominated by the elite clubs from Colombo. But they have defied the odds and have been able to stamp their authority with a brilliant performance during the last couple of months. Their success of course was in the balance until the very last match of the league where they managed to edge out Moors Sports Club on the first innings at Braybrooke Place to collect the much needed first innings points that also dislodged the table leaders NCC.

Even then Chilaw Marians CC had a couple of games been washed out due to bad weather at the start of the season and that certainly put them on the back foot to a great extent. They also lost to Ragama CC on the first innings but bounced back in style with a smashing ten wicket outright victory over the CCC.

They never looked back from there onwards and went on to dominate the proceedings while recording three successive outright victories over the Tamil Union, Bloomfield and Baduraliya CC respectively. This was the stage where all the players had reached their peak form and there was nothing that could have stopped them from achieving their goal.

Chilaw Marians CC of course narrowly missed out a chance of completing a double when they emerged runners-up to Tamil Union in the Premier limited overs Tier ‘A’ tournament concluded recently. But that was only a minor setback as they regrouped together and worked on their basics to emerge as a champion outfit.

But it is rather disappointing that most of these players are without employment and are forced to survive with a modest income provided by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). The entire squad is housed at the residence of their General Secretary Godfrey Dabrera whose untiring efforts have helped them become the first outstation team to lift the Premier League title.

His love and dedication towards the game has gone beyond imagination and has even sold some of his valuable property to provide financial assistance and backing to the club and its members. His private academy situated at his residence in Chilaw have also helped the players to keep themselves fit and in the correct frame of mind.

But more importantly the players have been able to maintain a high standard of discipline and obedience both on and off the field which has turned out to be a key factor for their success in this tournament.

They were able to deliver the goods when it really mattered and were not very much concerned on their opponents’ reputation and experience. This was quite clear considering their performance in the match against the star studded SSC team which comprised a host of Test and former national players.

However Chilaw Marians CC simply went about their task in their own style and ended up with a morale boosting first innings victory which was certainly equal to an outright win considering their opponents’ strength and capabilities.

This was the stage where Chilaw Marians CC really believed that they could win the title and eventually went on to make it a memorable tournament. This success of course could have not achieved without the guidance and supervision of their coach Mahesh Weerasinghe.

The 38-year-old veteran coach stated that his main task was to motivate the players and to get the maximum from them at the correct moment. The outstanding performances of Dinuka Hettiarachchi was a classic example where the veteran spinner ended up as the highest wicket taker in the tournament.

It was on the instructions of team coach Mahesh Weerasinghe that Hettiarachchi opened the bowling in some of the matches which turned out to be a good move that brought fantastic results for the side at the end.

Weerasinghe noted that Hettiarachchi was able to pick up early wickets with his quick deliveries and his temperament and potential also helped him to bowl long spells without disturbing his rhythm. Hettiarachchi was no doubt the key player in Chilaw Marians CC bowling attack which also comprised Gayan Wijekoon, Maduka Liyanapathirana, Janaka Gunaratne and Milinda Siriwardena.

Weerasinghe believed that the team could have even performed much better had there been a team sponsor and a playground of their own to host their home matches. But instead they had to depend on their opponents’ and were compelled to play their home matches at different venues.

Even then Weerasinghe was grateful to the clubs like Moors SC, SSC, Colts CC and CCC for granting their playgrounds and allowing them to play their home matches. However for match practices they had to find some other venue with the Thurstan College ground authorities providing valuable assistance.

Weerasinghe also commended the fine captaincy of Mahela Udawatte assistant coach S. K. Silva and the entire squad for making it a historic moment through their hard work and determination in every department of the game.

How they fared in the Premier League:

No decision v Sri Lanka Army SC at Panagoda

Lost to Ragama CC on the first innings at Katunayake

Beat Colts CC on the first innings at Havelock Park

Beat CCC by 10 wickets at Maitland Crescent

Beat SSC on the first innings at Maitland Place

No decision v Saracens SC at Havelock Park

No decision v NCC at Maitland Place

Beat Tamil Union by 7 wickets at the P. Saravanamuttu Oval

Beat Bloomfield by 16 runs at Katunayake

Beat Baduraliya CC by 9 wickets at Katunayake

Beat Moors SC on the first innings at Braybrooke Place