Category Archives: cricket for amity

April 16, 2023 · 11:26 am

Ireland’s Prospects vs Sri Lanka at Galle appraised by A Soccer Fan

Daniel Byrne, whose chosen title is “The Irish arrive in Galle; A preview of the Test Series“+

When you have spent the previous four months following the fortunes of Queens Park Rangers no idea when your team may chalk up the next victory. Hence, my decision to come to Sri LFootball Club, two wins from 26 games, there comes a time when you simply have anka to follow the Test Series between Ireland and the hosts. There may even be a better chance of Ireland winning a game in th.e next two weeks than QPR.

 

 

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April 5, 2023 · 4:14 am

Chandra Schaffter: A Sturdy Sri Lankan Sportsman and Administrator For All Seasons

Michael Roberts

Sri Lanka has been blessed with generations of talented cricketers over the decades: from

  • the Kelaarts and Saravanamuttus of the 1920s and 1930s … to
  • the Macarthy’s, de Sarams and Heyns of the 1930s and 1940s …
  • the Gunasekeras of the 1950s
  • the Lieversz, HIK Fernandos and Reids of the 1960s
  • Anura Tennekoon, Michael Tissera of the 1960s-1970s
  • Duleep Mendis and the Wettimuny’s of the 1970s/80s
  • Ranjan Madugalle and Arjuna Ranatunga of the 1980s
  • the Aravinda-Ranatunga-Jayasuriya-Kaluwitharana-and-Vaas dynamos of the 1980s and the 1990s
  • the Mahela Jayawardena and Sangakkara duo of the 2000s …..
  • while not losing sight of that unique phenomenon we know as “Murali” in the 1990s-to-2000s.

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April 2, 2023 · 8:12 pm

ISLAND — Summary of Sri Lanka’s T20 Triumph

The Sunday Island: “Sri Lanka prevail in Super Over to register first win on the tour”

In a game of massive ebbs and flows, it needed a Super Over to settle things between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in the first T20I in Auckland on Sunday (April 2). In the end, the visitors held their nerve to get across the line.

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April 2, 2023 · 4:31 pm

A Thrilling Triumph for Sri Lankan Cricketers at Auckland

A NOTE by Michael Roberts, the Thuppahi, 2 April 2023

Given the likelihood of seaming conditions in New Zealand, I did not hold high expectations  from Sri Lanka’s cricket squad in their series there. Indeed, I thought there could be a whitewash. Well, perhaps the spirit of rugger and the odd shape of Eden Gardens assisted the Lankan guys and they snatched a well-deserved victory in this encounter.

The insertion of Kusal Perera and Mahesh Theekshana seems to have helped; while Wanindu Hasaranga hits the straps at last.  The absence of Lahiru Kumara was perhaps a plus: always smiling, his capricious spirit and inconsistent pace bowling is, more oftern than not, a gift to any opponents. I sometimes wonder what he has between the ears.

 Kusal Mendis scoops one behind for a six•Getty Images

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March 26, 2023 · 5:30 am

Cricket Crazy Cricket! Abbott and Costello Capers from the Sri Lankans at Eden Gardens

Michael Roberts

I happened to watch most of the Sri Lankan innings against New Zealand at Eden Gardens today the 23rd March 2023. I had no great expectations as I anticipate losses in all their matches in the seamer friendly conditions over there.

Henry Shipley’s maiden five-for came in just his fourth ODI  •  AFP/Getty Images

However, ….. however, ……. the performances at Eden Gardens had touches of craziness jumbled together with idiocy. If the batting revealed measures of clumsiness, the running between the wickets suggested touches of Abbott and Costello at their most comic.

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March 26, 2023 · 1:11 am

Serving Sri Lanka: Skandakumar on Mevan Pieris

Somachandra Skandakumar’s Address at the Launch of Mevan Pieris’s THE COMMUNITY,21 March 2023 … with highlighting imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi

Chief Guest Professor G.L Pieris, Guest of Honour, the  Reverend Warden Marc Billimoria, distinguished Guests, Ayubowan ,Vanakkam, Assalam Aleykum, Good evening,

It was three years ago that an equally eminent Thomian Anura  Tennekoon invited me to speak at the launch of his book. Today I am privileged again by one of similar standing and must thank Mevan for the opportunity. Such moments merely reinforce the values of our two great Institutions, where the fierceness of competition on the playing fields have led to the strongest of bonds off it .

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March 25, 2023 · 9:06 pm

In Suspense: The Hundredth Royal-Thomian Match in 1979

Richard Simon  … with highlighting imposed by the Editor Thuppahi

The 1979 Royal-Thomian cricket match may not actually have been the hundredth in the series, as it was proclaimed to be, but was certainly regarded, at the time, as the most important Royal-Thomian ever played. Richard Simon’s forthcoming book, STC: The Unauthorised History, captures not only the game itself, but also much of the behind-the-scenes competition, lobbying, manoeuvring and occasional skulduggery that accompanied the selection of coaches, team members and other important participants. Below is part of Simon’s description of the match.

✥

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March 24, 2023 · 4:00 pm

The Royal-Thomian Cricket Match: Its History

Uthpala Wijesuriya, in The Island, 17 March 2023,where the title presented is  “The Earth’s Greatest Rivalry” … while the highlighting in this presentation has been imposed by a Thuppahiyaaaaaaaaa.

The Royal-Thomian or the Battle of the Blues, the world’s second oldest uninterrupted cricket battle, will unveil for the 144th consecutive year this week. The encounter pits the boys bearing the crests of the Elephant and Palm Tree against those bearing the Cross and Dove.

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March 23, 2023 · 3:58 am

Monga’s Incisive Analysis of Australia’s 50 -Over Triumph

Sidharth Monga, in ESPNcricinfo.com, 22 March 2023,  “Zampa and Co stifle India to take series 2-1″

Australia snatched the No. 1 ODI rankingAustralia Outplay India in Final Fifty-Over ODI and snapped India’s four-year unbeaten series streak at home with a thrilling win in the defence of 269 in Chennai. Australia went all in from the moment they won the toss and gambled against the dew by choosing to bat on a dry and soft surface. They attacked the new ball in the powerplay, but kept attacking, which resulted in quite a few starts but no fifty.
Adam Zampa claimed 4 for 45  •  BCCI

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March 22, 2023 · 4:01 am

TW Roberts R.I.P. ……. July 1976

A Vale in[1] Appreciation, From Miss Norah Roberts                                                                                                            Fort, Galle,  10th July 1976

Letter to: The Editor, “Sunday Observer”, Colombo

  T.W.ROBERTS ……………………………. An Appreciation[2]

At the age of 17 my father, Thomas Webb Roberts won the Barbados Scholarship from Queens College, Barbados, and entered the Oxford University where he passed both the Classical Mods and Grates in the first class before he was 21. He topped the list in the open competition for the Colonial Civil Service. He also found time to get married when he was only 18, to my mother[3] who was also 18. When he came out to the C.C.S. at 21 he had 3 children, Isabella, T.F.C and G. C. Roberts.[4]

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