Zahira celebrates 120 years in style
Zahira College Colombo celebrated their 120th anniversary in style when their cricket team emerged champions in their own Schools Invitational 6-a-side cricket tournament which ended last Sunday at Maradana.
The two-day tournament saw Zahira outsmart 23 other participants to clinch the championship title which would stay in their own trophy cabinet. In the final the hosts beat Wesley College Colombo by 22 runs after opener Nizki Ahmed slammed 58 runs from just 15 deliveries which also had a four and seven sixes. Ahmed got together with Mohamed Zaman to put on 68 runs for the opening stand as Zahira scored 70 runs batting first. In reply Wesley was restricted to 48 runs for the loss of three wickets as they fell 23 runs short of their target.
Nizki Ahmed who enjoyed a memorable tournament was adjudged the best batsman and man-of-the-series awards as fellow Zahirian Mohamed Ilham was named as the best fielder. Migara Wickremasinghe of Wesley walked away with the best bowler’s award.
Earlier in the semi-finals Zahira beat President’s College Rajagiriya by 37 runs while Wesley recorded a thrilling 4-run win against Richmond College Galle.
Richmond was the first team from the tournament to enter the semi-finals when they won their clash on a bowlout system after the encounter was called off due to poor light condition. President’s Rajagiriya recorded a thrilling 3-run win against Thurstan College in the second quarterfinal while Wesley sent out Veluwana College Dematagoda from the quarterfinals handing them a 11-run defeat. Zahira found their way to the semifinal after beating St. Benedict’s College Kotahena by 22 runs in a lowscoring quarterfinal.
After the second round St. Benedict’s and hosts Zahira moved to the quarterfinal after recording wins against Gurukula Vidyalaya Kelaniya and Dharmaraja College Kandy respectively. In the other quarterfinals Thurstan College, Wesley, President’s Rajagiriya and Veluwana beat St. Joseph’s College Colombo, D. S. Senanayake College Maris Stella College Negombo and Prince of Wales’ College Moratuwa respectively to eliminate them from reaching the quarterfinals.
The Group of ’80s organized the invitation 6-a-side schools cricket tournament where 24 school teams took part to mark the 120-year celebration Zahira College Colombo which was established in 1892. The main sponsors of the tournament were Premier Destination and Gateway Education Centre in Malaysia. Country Manager of Gateway Education, Fahim Gaffoor presented the cash award of Rs. 50,000 to the skipper of the winning Zahira College team, Wasim Sinnen while Director New Diamond Star Manpower, M.N.M. Nazmi presented the cash award of Rs. 25,000 to Shashin Jayawardena, the skipper of Wesley College who emerged runners-up of the tournament.
Principal of Zahira College Jiffry Haniffa, Project Chairman Milhan Lafir, Group of ’ 80s President Feroze Inham, Past Presidents Alavi Mukthar, Akram Moulana, Secretary Rishard Raheem , Secretary of the Board of Governors Rizvi Niyas and members of the G’80 distributed prizes, medals and certificates to the winners and participating teams.
Final: Zahira 70 for 2 in 5 overs (Nizki Ahamed 58) beat Wesley 48 for 3 in 5 overs (Migara Wickramasinghe 23: Shehan Weerasinghe 2 for 2) Semi-finals: Wesley 53 for 3 in 3.5 overs (Tharindu Karunaratne 22 n.o.) beat Richmond 49 for 3 in 5 overs (A.K. Tyron 20)
Zahira ‘A’ 82 for 4 in 5 overs (Nizki Ahamed 45, Shehan Weerasinghe 14) beat President’s Rajagiriya 45 for 5 in 4.1 overs (Mohamed Raihan 2 for 13). Quarterfinals: Richmond beat Lumbini MV on bowl out system
President’s Rajagiriya 47 for 2 in 5 overs (Viraj Dandeniya 23: Achintha Kalpana 2 for 4) beat Thurstan 44 for 1 in 5 overs (Minhaj Jaleel 18)
Wesley 46 for 0 in 2.2 overs (Migara Wickramasinghe 24 n. o.) beat Veluwana MV 35 for 5 in 5 overs ( Migara Wickramasinghe 2 for 6, Basith Muzammil 2 for 8)
Zahira ‘A’ 43 for 2 in 5 overs (Nikzi Ahamed 20, Mohamed Zaman 14 n.o.) beat St. Benedict’s 21 for 5 in 4 overs (Mohamed Ilham 2 for 1, Nizki Ahamed 2 for 2)
Second round: Thurstan 48 for no loss in 4.2 overs (Minhaj Jaleel 33 n.o., Kavindu Kulasekera 15 n.o.) beat St. Joseph’s 46 for 4 in 5 overs (Sadeera Samarawickrama 19 n. o.: Rajitha Perera 2 for 11); Wesley 50 for 4 in 5 overs (Ashel Kariyawasam 15: Shifan Muthaliph 2 for 6) beat D. S. Senanayake 37 for 3 in 5 overs (Harith Maduwantha 14); President’s Rajagiriya 39 for 2 in 4.1 overs (Viraj Dananjaya 27 n. o.: Shehan Chathuranga 2 for 4) beat Maris Stella 36 for 3 in 5 overs (Ashan Madusanka 14); Veluwana 55 for no loss in 5 overs (Usith Upamal 31 n.o., Samila Nadesh 22 n.o.) beat Prince of Wales’ 54 for 2 in 5 overs (Sudika Fernando 25, Kusal Mendis 14 n.o.)
First round: D.S. Senanayake 105 for 1 in 5 overs (Duleeka Brahmanage 16, Harith Maduwantha 58 n. o.) beat Zahira ‘ B’ 50 for 5 in 5 overs ( M. Muthaliph 2 for 7); Thurstan 64 for 3 in 5 overs (Ishka Kavindu 22, Rajitha Hashan 21) beat Gateway International 50 for 5 in 4.2 overs (Visal Gunaratne 17: Minhaj Jaleel 2 for 7); St. Joseph’s 86 for 3 in 5 overs ( Priyamal Perera 16, Pathum Madusanka 57 n.o.: Senura Welagedera 2 for 17) beat Mahanama 61 for 3 in 5 overs (Pawan Devinda 22 n.o.); Wesley 31 for no loss in 2.2 overs beat Royal Panadura 30 for 5 in 3.2 overs; Maris Stella 52 for 3 in 5 overs (Prasansana Jayamanne 20) beat Carey 35 for 5 in 4.2 overs; Prince of Wales’ 90 for 2 in 5 overs (Sudira Fernando 23, Hasitha Lanka 33 n.o.: Abdul Salam 2 for 6) beat Royal Institute 32 for 4 in 4 overs (Kusal Mendis 2 for 7, Shanuka Dulaj 2 for 7); President’s Rajagiriya 75 for 3 in 4.3 overs (Kanishka Perera 31 n.o.) beat De Mazenod 72 for 4 in 5 overs ( Lahiru Sandaruwan 27 n. o.); Veluwana 64 for 4 in 4.3 overs (Shamila Nadesh 37 n.o.: Charith Buddika 2 for 8) beat St. Anthony’s Wattala 62 for 4 in 5 overs (A. Charith 18, N. Shamal 16); St. Benedict’s 45 for 1 in 2.5 overs ( Shanilka Fernando 22) beat Dharmaraja 44 for 5 in 5 overs (Deneth Lanka 19: Madura Madusanka 2 for 9); Richmond 47 for 1 in 3 overs (A.K. Tyron 22 n.o.) beat Moratu Vidyalaya 46 for 3 in 5 overs (Ishan Nilaksha 22: Hasitha Madushan 2 for 6); Zahira ‘A’ 87 for 4 in 5 overs (Mohamed Zaman 18, Shehan Weerasinghe 32) beat Gurukula Kelaniya 64 for 5 in 4.4 overs (Nalin Perera 26: Shehan Achintha 2 for 8). Lumbini MV 57 for 3 in 3.9 overs beat Dharmapala MV 56 for 3 in 5 overs.
– Naushad Amit Pic by Amila Gamage