CCC School of Cricket defeat Kingfishers CA ‘Silver’ to bag Nelson Mendis Challenge Trophy
CCC School of Cricket, the Maitland Crescent’s popular junior cricket academy founded and guided for the last two decades by that legendary Cricket Coach, Nelson Mendis, won the prestigious 14th Internationals Invitational Under- 14 Cricket Tournament where they defeated the unbeaten Kingfishers Cricket Academy, ‘Silver’ Team in the Final to annex the Majestic ‘ Nelson Mendis Challenge Trophy’ last Saturday at the CCC Turf.
CCC School of Cricket enjoys an enviable record of success in the Tournament having won the Trophy on six occasions, while being runners-up in five years out of the fourteen years of the tournament. Only Lucky Rogers CA (three times) and Fingara International CA ( Twice) have won the Tournament in the past, to be compared with CCC School of Cricket.
In the semi- finals, while CCC got the better of new comers H. R. Cricket Academy, Kingfishers ‘Silver’ beat the much fancied Fingara XI by five wickets.
Kingfishers winning the toss in the finals the CCC spinners made use of the breakthrough by the pacemen and tied them down to be dismissed for 78 in 31.1 overs.
CCC batsman found no terrors in the bowling and cruised an easy eight -wicket victory in 23.1 overs.
Jehan Mubarak, the former Sri Lanka Cricketer was the Guest of Honour at the final, where the two teams were introduced to him after hoisting the National Flag along with two flags of the final teams.
The much looked forward to event, the Awards Presentation Ceremony got underway in the evening after the finals at Bishops' College, Auditorium under the patronage of Ana Punchihewa as the honoured Chief Guest for the evening.
Punchihewa, in his address commended the CCC School of Cricket and its Executive Committee for organising the tournament so successfully for 14 long years and helping to produce several national crick- eters. He stressed on the importance of self belief by players and building confidence through commitment to self improvement during training. He also advised the young cricketers to believe in themselves as it would have a major impact on anything you do in life whether it be studies or doing sports.
Director of Coaching CCC School of Cricket, Nelson Mendis, in his speech paid a glowing tribute to Ana Punchihewa, naming him as the architect of Sri Lanka’s World Cup victory in 1996.
He said that, it was Punchihewa’s vision to make Sri Lanka a force in world cricket, and he was instrumental in acquiring the services of Dav Whatmore ( Coach) and Alex Kountouri ( Trainer) which went a long way in helping Arjuna Ranatunga and his boys do so well to win the World Cup.
Lasantha Amerasinghe of Chance Sports, Colombo was the Guest-of-Honour and gave away several awards to the winners.