Twenty eight teams vie for honours
All arrangements have been finalized for the much looked forward to Munchee 6-a-side Cricket Tournament organised by the Old Wesleyites Sports Club (OWSC) which is scheduled to be held on October 5 and 6 at the Campbell Park.
The tournament conducted by the OWSC for the 21st year is being sponsored by Ceylon Biscuits Limited (CBL) for the sixth consecutive year.
The much sought after tournament is run in conjunction with the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association and this time will see 28 teams in the fray.
It has benefited the organisers, sponsors and generally the school cricketers who all get an opportunity to converge and share their knowledge and talent. The tournament when it got underway in 1993 began on a low profile, since then the progress has reached great heights due to the efforts put in by all involved. The tournament also gives an opportunity for lesser known schools from districts like Polonnaruwa, Nuwara Eliya, Bandarawela, Monaragala, Ampara, Hambantota, Anuradhapura, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Jaffna and Vavuniya to brush shoulders with popular schools in the metropolis.
“Tournament-wise it has been successful but the only drawback and concern has been the limited number of spectators gathering to wit- ness this popular tournament,” said Nandana Wickremage, Group Director and head of Marketing Sales of CBL who added: “Our main intention is to develop schools cricket in Sri Lanka.”
The 28 teams participating are defending champions D.S. Senanayake MV, past winners Royal College Colombo, Kalutara MV, Thurstan, Nalanda, St. Joseph’s, Lumbini MV, De Mazenod, Prince of Wales’, Richmond, Basilica Ragama and Mahanama Colombo.
The other teams comprise of St. Peter’s last years runner up, Joseph Vaz, Ananda, St. Benedict’s, Dharmasoka MV, St. Sebastian’s, Bandaranayake MMV Gampaha, St. Sebastian’s Katuneriya, President’s Rajagiriya, Kokuvil Hindu Jaffna, Gurukula MV Kelaniya, Royal Panadura, Debarawewa Central, Anuradhapura Central, Isipathana and hosts Wesley.
The winning team will receive the Munchee Sixes Trophy while the runner up will be awarded the Old Wesleyites SC Trophy. Apart from that individual awards will be presented to the best batsman, bowler and fielder, highest number of sixes, the man of the final and for the most valuable player of the tournament.
A separate award will be given to the most disciplined team which will be adjudicated by the umpires and the three member technical committee members who will also monitor and supervise the two day tournament.