Munchee cricket sixes from October 7 to 9

Anruadha ABEYSEKERA

The popular school cricket tournament, Munchee Cricket Sixes will be conducted for the 19th consecutive year from October 7 to 9 at Campbell Park. Old Wesleyites organizing the country's only hard ball six-a-side school cricket tournament in collaboration with Ceylon Biscuits Limited's (CBL) Munchee brand is sponsoring the tournament for the fourth consecutive year, was revealed during a press briefing at Wesley College main hall recently.

The Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA) will provide technical support to conduct the tournament which sees 36 under-19 school teams competing. Two international school teams along with up and coming teams from Jaffna and Anuradhapura will also be in action.

Tournament organizing committee Chairman Richie Sappideen said that the annual tournament has paved a good platform to showcase their talents to many local cricketers who have represented the national team later.

"Mahela Jayawardane was the first to score a half ton in the event's history and T. M Dilshan, Tisara Perera, Anjelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal are some of the national cricketers who took part in the tournament in its early editions," said Sappideen.

The tournament was inaugurated in 1996 with the participation of 21 teams. Twelve matches will be played daily and the draw will take place at Wesley College main hall today.

Tournament coordinator Dharshana Liyanage explained the structure of the tournament and said that the matches will be played in knock out format according to M.C.C. rules.

The white ball will be used from the semi finals and the final will be telecast live on Rupavahini Channel Eye.

Apart from the main tournament, four girls' under 19 cricket teams will be in action in an exhibition encounter on the final day, adding glamour to the event. An art exhibition by students of Wesley College has also been organized apart from the tournament and will be telecast live on Channel Eye on the final day.

Royal College, Colombo won the inaugural championship in 1993 and Richmond College, Galle is the reigning champions of the main tournament. The champions will walk away with the Munchee Sixes Challenge Trophy while the runner up will be awarded the Old Wesleyites Trophy.

Awards will be on offer for the man of the final, man of the tournament, highest sixes and many others.

The CBL managing director Ms. Shea Wickremasinghe extended her wishes to make the event a success and said that their proud to be a part of this prestigious event as it will help develop the sport while bringing many rural talents to the national scene.