In a dazzling display of Cricketing prowess and nostalgic camaraderie, the Nalanda College Old Boys Cricket Team emerged victorious at the 24th edition of the Col. Henry Steel Olcott Memorial Cricket Tournament by beating the Mahinda College old boys by just 7 runs, after a tense final battle. The vibrant tournament was staged last weekend at Ananda’s renovated Colonel G. W. Rajapakse Stadium, with the participation of old boys’ sides from 10 leading Buddhist schools in the island, highlighting the brotherhood of Olcott Colleges.
The Cricket Championship among Buddhist schools was inaugurated in 1996 as a brainchild of Sri Lanka’s first Test Captain, the late Bandula Warnapura. Since then, the tournament, held annually in honour of the founder of the Buddhist Theosophical Society and the architect of the Buddhist education revival in Sri Lanka, Colonel Henry Steel Olcott, brings together old boys from the island’s premier Buddhist schools, namely Maliyadeva College Kurunegala, Ananda College, Dharmaraja College Kandy, Mahinda College Galle, Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda, Rahula College Matara, Nalanda College and Dharmapala College Pannipitiya. Over a decade the tournament grew as an opportunity to witness the performance of retired National Cricketers (as the Old Boys’ Tournament was restricted to 40+ year players) and future stars (during the school tournament) by marking it as an important event in school sporting calendars.
This year’s tournament was well organised by the Ananda College Old Boys Association, and a couple of other Buddhist schools – Vijaya College Matale and Sri Rahula College Katugastota – which were founded by Col Henry Steel Olcott, made their debuts.
During the group A encounters, the Mahinda College old boys beat Maliyadeva College Kurunegala, Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda and Rahula College Matara to walk into the Finals as an unbeaten side.
>>Ananda survive Maliyadeva scare to clinch Olcott Memorial Cricket Championship (Schools)
Alongside them, Nalanda College was the top seed and unbeaten side in group B after contesting against Ananda College Colombo, Dharmaraja College Kandy and Dharmapala College Pannipitiya, to secure the other spot in the Final.
During the initial phase of the Nalanda innings, the Mahinda bowlers did well to keep the Nalanda batsmen at bay by bowling in tight lines, and at one stage the score was 33 runs for 2 wickets in the fourth over. As the innings progressed, Nalanda picked up the run rate and ended their inning on a high by scoring three consecutive fours during the last three deliveries to post a total of 95 runs for four wickets.
In the chase, ex-national player Upul Chandana scored 31 runs from just 15 balls with a couple of sixes and fours, but eventually he had to retire, jeopardising the Mahinda innings. Tharanga Mahakumbura also gave a liveness to the inning by scoring a quick 16 runs with a couple of sixes, but it wasn’t enough to cross the target. All of the Nalandian bowlers were on the trot to seal a 7-run victory after a close tussle. Finally, the men in maroon and white stole the spotlight, and their victory was a testament to Nalanda’s rich Cricketing heritage, blending disciplined bowling with calculated batting.
Scorecard of the Final
Nalanda Old Boys – 95/4 (8 overs)
Duminda Somaweera 33, Supun Leelarathne 24*, Samith Ruberu 13,
Hiranttha Wijesinghe 2/19, Nuwan Madushanka 16/1 Asela Wewalwala 10/1
Mahinda Old Boys – 88/6 (8 overs)
Upul Chandana 31, Tharanga Maharamba 16, Dumindu Wickramasinghe 9,
Ravinath Jayawickrama 2/34, Duminda Somaweera 3/1, Sampath Hettiarachchi 15/1, Laksiri Guruge 7/1, Ishara Amarasinghe 28/1
Special Awards:
Player of the Tournament – Hirantha Wijesinghe (Mahinda)
Best Batsman – Hirantha Wijesinghe (Mahinda)
Best Bowler – Ravinath Jayawickrama (Nalanda)
Best Fielder – Sampath Hettiarachchi (Nalanda)
