Munchee Glucofit Trophy Under-19 Sixes:

Batticaloa Combined XI meet Thurstan in opener

Chris DHAMBARAGE

Former champions Thurstan College will take on the Combined Batticaloa team in the curtain raiser match of the 18th annual inter school Under-19 Six-a-side cricket tournament which will commence at the Wesley College ground in Campbell Park today.

Thurstan College who emerged champions in 1995 have been drawn in the top half along with the defending champions St. Joseph’s College, St. Sebastian’s College Moratuwa, Prince of Wales College Moratuwa, Royal College, Basilica Colege, Ragama, Trinity College, Kandy and Richmond College, Galle.

The tournament is organized and conducted by the Old Wesleyites Sports Club in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association and is sponsored by Ceylon Biscuits Limited for the third successive year.

Under-19 schools cricket took a different turn in the schools cricketing calendar with the introduction of the Six-a-side tournament way back in 1993. This tournament over the years has reached phenomenal success with many new introductions and innovations.

This popular event sought after by the leading cricket playing schools in the country is the only hard ball siixes tournament sanctioned by the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association.

The Glucofit Under-19 cricket sixes will consist of 36 teams selected on a first come first serve basis. This year individual schools have been selected from Jaffna, Ampara, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura and Hambanthota with the exception of Batticaloa who is fielding a Combined District side.

In addition two leading International Schools have been selected to take part in this year’s tournament. The teams competing in the tournament will wear colored clothing provided by the sponsors.

White balls will be used from the semi final stage onwards on the final day of the tournament on Sunday.

The teams participating in the Munchee Glucofit Trophy Under-19 six a side cricket tournament:

Group ‘A’: Batticaloa Combined XI, Thurstan, St. Sebastian’s, Prince of Wales, Royal, St. Joseph’s, Basilica, Richmond and Trinity.

Group ‘B’: St. Thomas’ Matale, Dharmapala MV, Asoka MV, Mahanama, Lyceum Wattala, Moratu Vidyalaya, Joseph Vaz, Jaffana School

Group ‘C’: De Mazenod, S. Thomas’ Mount Lavinia, D. S. Senanayake, Debarawewa Central, Royal Polonnaruwa, Kantale MMV, Carey, Royal Panadura, C. W. W. Kannangara MV.

Group ‘D’: Wesley, Ananda, Moratu Vidyalaya, Nalanda, St. Peter’s, St. Benedict’s, Kalutara MV, Isipathana, Royal Institute, Lumbini MV, Isuru School, Habarana.

The past winners of the Munchee Glucofit Trophy Under-19 Six-a-side cricket tournament:

1993 – Royal, 1994 – Kalutara MV, 1995 – Thurstan, 1996 – Nalanda, 1997 – Prince of Wales, 1998 – Nalanda, 1999 – St. Joseph’s, 2000 – Nalanda, 2001 – Royal, 2002 – Lumbini, 2003, De Mazenod, 2004 - Nalanda, 2005 – Nalanda, 2006 – Kalutara MV, 2007 – Basilica Ragama, 2008 – Prince of Wales, 2009 – St. Joseph’s.