Over 11 nights between the 28th March and 10th April, Manchester Grammar School’s senior cricket team toured Sri Lanka with Sporta Tours. After arriving in Colombo, the group spent 4 nights at the Cinnamon Citadel Hotel, Kandy. During this time they visited the Tooth Temple and played two matches:
Match 1
Opponents: Veyangoda Youth
Venue: St Anthonys College
Date: Tue 31/03/15
Notes: Late start at 10.48 following rain the previous evening. Veyangoda Youth won the toss and elected to field.
Manchester GS: 172-9 in 40 overs, Rehan Udwadia 38, Olly Pooler 34, Udaka Nirmana 2-15, Praveen Piyumal 2-27, Chamod Lahiru 2-14.
Veyangoda Youth:153-6 in 32 overs, Raveesha Sathsara 54, Praveen Piyumal 20, Udaka Nirmana 55, Alex Hamilton 2-29.
Result: Torrential rain at 5pm ended proceedings.
Match 2
Opponents: RSA Cricket School
Venue: Kurunegala Ground (England Lions played here last year)
Date: Wed 01/04/15
Notes: Manchester GS won the toss and elected to bat.
Manchester GS: 171-8 in 40 overs, Josh Dooler 43, Joe Butler 20, Supun 2-17, Vishwa 2-25. RSA Cricket School 1-0 in 1 over.
Result: Torrential rain ended proceedings at 1.41pm.
Manchester continued their tour on the Express train bound for Colombo, where the group checked in to the Mt Lavinia Hotel for a further 3 nights of the trip. During their time in Colombo, Manchester won a sensational game against Wesley College, and played their fourth game at the P Sara International Ground, and defeated their opponents from Victory College by 46 runs!
Match 3
Opponents: Wesley College
Venue: Campbell Park Colombo
Date: Thu 02/04/15
Notes: Manchester GS won the toss and elected to field.
Wesley College: 98-9 in 20 overs, Shamod Athulathmudali 24, Josh Dooler 3-8, Alex Hamilton 2-16.
Manchester GS: 99-5 in 19.5 overs, Joe Butler 32, Rehan Udwadia 20, Shanal Dungalle 3-8.
Result: Manchester GS won by 5 wickets.
Credit goes to number 7, Furkan Hassan, who faced his first ball with 10 needed to win off 4 balls. He promptly hit a 2, 2, 6!
Match 4
Opponents: Victory School of Cricket
Venue: P Sara Oval Colombo
Date: Sat 04/04/15
Notes: Manchester GS won the toss and elected to bat
Manchester GS: 206-9 from 40 overs, Josh Dooler 47, Sam Povey 31, Joe Butler 31, Chamidu Sathmina 4-29, Nipul Yansith 2-32.
Victory School of Cricket: 160 in 33.4 overs, Resira Weerasuuriya 22, Extras 35, Alex Hamilton 3-46, Sam Perry 2-10.
Result: Manchester GS won by 46 runs
The final leg of the tour was spent in Bentota and the Bentota Beach Hotel, during which time the group played two final matches, winning one and losing the other, and participated in a charity project at the Foundation of Goodness:
Match 5
Opponents: Foundation of Goodness
Venue: MCC Lords, Hikkaduwa
Date: Mon 06/04/15
Notes: Manchester GS won the toss and elected to bat.
Manchester GS: 155-9 from 40 overs, Rehan Udwadia 50, Furkan Hassan 23, Hansa Pramod 2-28, Hasindu Vidarahana 2-27, Ramindu Nikeshala 2-10.
Foundation of Goodness: 157-2 in 13.2 overs, Chathura Milan 84, Umesh Kasun 46no.
Result: Foundation of Goodness won by 8 wickets.
Match 6
Opponents: Royal College Panadura
Venue: Surrey Village
Date: Tue 07/04/15
Notes: Royal College won the toss and elected to field.
Manchester GS: 203-6 in 40 overs, Sam Perry 66, Rehan Udwadia 54, Furkan Hassan 21, Olly Pooler 21no, Dulantha 2-31.
Royal College: 155 in 40 overs, Banura 20, Kavinda 31, Joe Butler 5-21, Josh Dooler 2-28, Alex Hamilton 2-11.
Result: Manchester GS won by 48 runs
After a long journey home, the boys are looking forward to their regular season. Having won 3 games, drawn 2, and lost 1, the team should gain a lot of confidence from the tour considering the strength of the Sri Lankan opposition, where cricket is the national sport! We thank you again for touring with us and are glad you had such a good time.
Please find a few images of the tour below:
