Sepaktakraw C’ships on May 12

The Amateur Sepaktakraw Association of Sri Lanka is making a determined bid to seek Sports Ministry affiliation this year. With this in view the Association has launched a massive drive to re-activate their provincial associations. These associations in ambantota, Badulla, Nawalapitiya, Trincomalee, the Armed Forces and several teams from Colombo have been asked to start training for the 2012 Sepaktakraw Championships to be held on May 12 at the British School in Colombo.

The Organizing Committee of the Association held a fruitful discussion to draw up an elaborate programme to stage this year’s championship on a grand scale. With this in view the Association held a workshop in Hambantota and the next is to be held in Trincomalee this month. Practices for the Armed Forces are to be held at Colombo venues.

Sepaktakraw balls and leaflets defining the game have been distributed among all participants at Sepaktakraw Workshops. All those present at the Organizing Committee meeting pledged their support and agreed to do their best to raise the required finances to stage the championship and provide the underprivileged yet talented youth to display their talents of this game.

Sepaktakraw is one of the hottest recreational/sports activities, that are basically a cross between football and volleyball, played on a badminton court with a hand-woven ball (takraw). Three players on each side of a 5foot high net get three chances to kick, knee, shoulder, or head a takraw ball back to the opposing team. Like Volleyball, players try to play the ball toward the front of the net, making the best use of their three hits to pass, set and spike, as opposing player’s attempt to block - but all without using hands or arms, just like football! It is very exciting to play, and is a great spectator sport! Developed in Asia, this game also introduces some unique aspects of Asian culture.

It is an event at the Asian Games.

Thilina Kandamby and Thilan Samaraweera cracked tons to put SSC on top against Colts when play stopped for lunch on day two in their Premier Tier ‘A’ cricket encounter played at the Colts ground.

The pair put on a valuable stand of 160 runs for the fourth wicket helping SSC resuming from their overnight score of 237 for 3 go into lunch with the score on 362 for 8. Thilina cracked 124 with seven boundaries and four sixes while Thilan made 102 inclusive of nine boundaries.

Nadeera Nawela’s knock of 117 with eight boundaries and four sixes saw Bloomfield resuming from their overnight score of 142 for 1 make 283 for 3 at lunch on day two against Badureliya CC in the match played at Reid Avenue.

Nadeera was involved in two valuable partnerships first of 138 for the second wicket with Suminda Mendis who made a knock of 77 and the other of 79 runs for the third wicket with Prasanna Jayawardena.

Lankan CC was struggling against Moors when play stopped for lunch in their match played at Braybrooke Place. Lankan CC resuming on their overnight score of 35 for 1 went into lunch on 137 for 6 in reply to Moors score of 304.

Exchanges were even in the match between NCC and Ragama CC when play stopped for lunch on the second day at the NCC grounds. NCC resuming from their overnight score of 48 for 3 were 157 for 8 in reply to Ragama CC’S 217.

Tamil Union made a bold reply of 125 for 2 against Chilaw Marians in the match played at the P. Sara Stadium. Chilaw Marians taking first lease of the wicket made a formidable score of 373.

At Colts

SSC ( 237/ 3 o’night) 362 for 8 ( Thilina Kandamby 124, Thilan Samaraweera 102, Kaushal Silva 39, Tharanga Paranavithana 23, Dimuth Karunaratne 21, Kaushal Lokuarachchi 18: Dilruwan Perera 3 for 94, Sajeewa Weerakoon 3 for 99) vs Colts

At Reid Avenue

Badureliya CC 226 ( Nilushan Nonis 100, Dhananjaya de Silva 45, Roshan Laksiri 22, Shalika Karunanayake 19: Tyronne Gamage 3 for 54, Suraj Randiv 3 for 105, Tharanga Lakshitha 2 for 30)

Bloomfield (142/1 o’night) 283 for 3 ( Nadeera Nawela 117, Suminda Mendis 77, Prasanna Jayawardena 43 n.o., Chamara Silva 21 n.o.)

At Braybrooke Place

Moors 304 ( Shehan Jayasuriya 61, Bathiya Perera 60, Dilhara Lokuhettige 52, Isham Ghouse 24, Kanchana Gunawardena 19, Kasun Bodisha 17, Gihan de Silva 39 n. o.: Gayan Sirisoma 3 for 76, Rajeewa Weerasinghe 3 for 81, Vimukthi Perera 2 for 39)

At NCC

Ragama CC 217 (Rumesh Buddika 109, Kaushalya Weeraratne 25, Malinga Bandara 17: Sohan Boralessa 4 for 23, Jehan Mubarak 3 for 58, Akalanka Ganegama 2 for 58)

NCC ( 48/ 3 o’night) 157 for 8 ( Yohan de Silva 45, Muditha Fernando 24, Jehan Mubarak 22, Angelo Perera 42 n. o.: Malinga Bandara 5 for 47)

At P. Sara Stadium

Chilaw Marians 373 ( Amal Athulathmudali 79, Harsha Cooray 65, Gayan Wijekoon 48, Janaka Gunaratne 45, Umesh Karunaratne 42, Mahela Udawatte 35, Shaminda Eranga 15: Sachithra Serasinghe 5 for 108, Isuru Udana 3 for 35)

Tamil Union (20/0 o’night) 125 for 2 ( Gayashan Weerasekera 40, Jeewantha Kulatunga 16, Kithruwan Withanage 37 n. o., Ashan Priyanjan 24 n.o.)

Premier Tier ‘B’ CCC takes first inning lead

CCC obtained a first inning lead over Panadura in the high scoring Premier Tier ‘ B’ encounter played at the CCC ground. CCC in reply to Panadura’s 330 resuming on their over night score of 301 for 6 made 379 when play stopped for lunch.

Police was struggling against Kurunegala YCC in their match played at the FTZ ground in Katunayake. Kurunegala YCC helped by a knock of 111 by Sisira Kumara had their opponents struggling on 115 for 7 at lunch on the second day.

Saracens SC fought back after being bundled out for a low score of 115 by Navy in the match played at Welisara. Navy having made 196 on day one were made to struggle for their runs the second time and went into lunch with the score on 102 for 8.

Half tons by Rishan Kavinga and Asela Gunaratne saw Army coming out on top against Air Force in the match played at Panagoda. Army resuming on their overnight score of 110 for 3 went on to make a score of 212 for 5 in reply to Air Force’s score of 196.

Sri Lanka Ports Authority after restricting BRC to a score of 209 made a formidable score of 305 when play stopped for lunch on the second day in the match played at the BRC ground.

AT CCC

Panadura 330 ( Nilantha Cooray 60, Ranga Cooray 54, Indika Massalage 50, Malith Chathuranga 27, Chamara de Soysa 24, Amila Perera 22, Chathura Nilaweera 19: Maduka Liyanapathirana 7 for 98) and 17 for no loss

CCC ( 301/ 6 o’night) 379 ( Upul Fernando 115, Saman Jayantha 93, Sangaran Nandalal 43, Prasad Jayaprakashdaran 43, Maduka Liyanapathirana 40: Malith Chathuranga 3 for 35, Nilantha Cooray 2 for 57, Dhananjaya de Silva 2 for 58)

At FTZ Katunayake

Kurunegala YCC 317 ( Sisira Kumara 111, Charith Tissera 61, Chamikara Edirisinghe 47, Anuruddha Rajapakse 9, Lanka de Silva 28, Sajith Kelumpriya 19: Prasad Kellepotha 4 for 88, Anushka Ramanayake 2 for 43)

Police 115 for 7 (Ravin Nirmal 43, Malinda Abeyratne 25, Dhammika Rajapakse 16: Ajith Ekanayake 4 for 28, Aravinda Premaratne 3 for 8)

At Welisara

Navy 196 ( Lakmal Keerthiratne 55, Asitha Weerasuriya 37, Amith Eranga 36, Pubudu Edirisinghe 17: Mohamed Aslam 4 for 29, Lahiru Sri Lakmal 4 for 65) and 102 for 8 ( Asitha Weerasuriya 34, Buddika de Alwis 32 n. o.: Amila Mendis 5 for 40, Mohamed Aslam 2 for 15)

Saracens SC 115 ( Rajkumar Rathika 34, Lahiru Sri Lakmal 21: Dulanjana Mendis 7 for 40, Yohan Kumara 2 for 34)

At Panagoda

Air Force 196

( Akila Isanka