Media Release
Jaffna Combined Schools stunned Trinity College, one of the tournament favourites, with a brilliant four-wicket win on the opening day of the Murali Harmony Cup on Sunday. The upset by Jaffna’s talented young cricketers was one of the highlights of an action-packed first day to the tournament that included 10 matches played in Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mankulam, Oddusuddan and Vavuniya.
The IODR Oval school cricket ground in Oddusuddan is the flagship venue of the 20-team reconciliation tournament staged to promote community-building and friendship in post-war Sri Lanka.The five-day tournament has been jointly organised by Muttiah Muralidaran’s charity the Foundation of Goodness, travel company Red Dot Tours, the International Cricket Council and the Sri Lanka Army.
Jaffna were given an early boost to their tournament with a special pre-match pep talk from Sri Lanka all-rounder Angelo Mathews and appeared to be inspired thereafter with a fine performance. Trinity College were bundled out for a modest 100 in 19.4 overs with K. Shirojan taking 4 for 16. Jaffna then romped home with two overs to spare thanks to an unbeaten 37 from Man of the Match Edward Edin.
The other notable results during the day included a thriller between a Mannar-Vavuniya Combined Schools team and Debarawewa Maha Vidyalaya school from Hambantota. Debarawewa MV scored a challenging 159 for 8 but Mannar-Vavuniya Combined grabbed a dramatic last over four-wicket win as K. Hariparanavan scored an impressive 67, the day’s top score.
The North has abundance of talent. In the good old days they had good Cricket and Hockey teams that would beat any school. I hope before long that we will have the Jaffna youths playing cricket for Sri Lanka Cricket and make our team an unbeatable outfit. More of the Southern Schools should should play Cricket with Jaffna Schools. It will not only build harmony but give a boost to cricket.
Congrats Jaffna even if they beat my old school who were the champs in T 20 in 2012.
Jaffna has tremendous talent.Once it comes on stream SL will be unbeatable.
Welcome Jaffna. Keep it up.