Stockport Grammar School arrived in Sri Lanka, in the early hours of the morning on the 11th February, to play five matches for their preseason cricket tour, including a game at the Galle Test Ground v Galle Mahinda College.
Jimmy Ormond, ex Leicestershire, Surrey and England, and the coach of the side, is keen to expose the players to top quality cricket during the tour, and this has certainly been fulfilled with matches versus the Foundation of Goodness in Seenigama, Mahinda College, and the Prince of Wales College at the De Soysa first-class stadium in Moratuwa thus far.
The matches were a very good standard against players who play cricket as a ‘religion’. These matches, plus learning about the local culture, have been an important part of the tour.
In terms of accommodation, Stockport GS have stayed in Hikkaduwa at the Coral Sands hotel, and at the magnificent Mount Lavinia Hotel. In Negombo, the group went on a boat trip on the Gin Oya river, ending with eating local cuisine. One word: Magnificent.
Stockport GS have been entertained by the local Sri Lanka people and enjoyed every minute. Please see the summaries of the 5 matches below. The four pictures show, from left to right: the match v the Foundation of Goodness; Stockport GS v Prince of Wales College at the De Soysa stadium at the coin toss; the team’s private ‘Sport Asia’ coach; Lunch at Seenigama Oval! Click here for the official team photo.
Game 1
Fixture: Foundation of Goodness v Stockport GS U18s
Venue: Seenigama Oval
Date: Friday Feb 13th
Match Report: Stockport won the toss and elected to field
Foundation of Goodness scored 348-6 in 40 overs, with notable performances from Isuru Pradeep 86, Udama Madushan 57, Hansa Pramod 81no, and George Lyth 2-47
Stockport scored 103 in 29 overs, with notable performances from Francis Yates 30, Udama Madushan 2-6, Hansa Pramod 2-10, and Yohan Suresh 2-22
Result: Foundation of Goodness won by 245 runs
Game 2
Fixture: Mahinda College v Stockport GS U18s
Venue: Galle Test Ground
Date: Sunday Feb 15th
Match Report: Mahinda won the toss and elected to bat
Mahinda College scored 201-5 in 40 overs, with notable performances from Ashen Bandara 54, Navindu Nirmal 80no, Alfie Earith 2-31 in 7 overs, Will Jones 0-29 in 8 overs, and Adit Kulkarni 0-30 in 8 overs
Stockport replied with 137 in 34.3 overs, notable performances coming from Aminit Kulkarni 22, Seb Croft 16, Tom O’Mahony 16, Hareen Buddhila 2-39, and Navindu Nirmal 5-28
Result: Mahinda College won by 64 runs
Game 3
Fixture: Prince of Wales College v Stockport GS U18s
Venue: De Soysa Ground
Date: Tuesday Feb 17th.
Match Report: Stockport GS captain won the toss and elected to bat.
Stockport scored 144 in 39.3 overs, notable performances from Dan Woodside 23, Mark Orpen 27, Ben Jones 32, Akila Siriwardane 3-8, and Shane Weerawardane 2-13.
Prince of Wales College replied with 145-2 in 22 overs with Sadun Soyza 57, Kaveesha Deminda 42no shining.
Result: Prince of Wales College won by 8 wickets
Game 4
Fixutre: Wesley College
Venue: Wesley College
Date: Thu Feb 19th
Match Report: Wesley won the toss and elected to bat.
Wesley finished with 210-8 in 40 overs, Helitha Bambaraande 28, Shenal Dangalle 117no, Alfie Earith 3-43, Will Jones 2-54, Francis Yates 2-32. In the closest game of the tour, Stockport sadly ended with 201-8 in 40 overs, meaning Wesley College won by 9 runs. Ben Jones 21, Mark Orpen 21, Animit Kulkarni 49, James Travis 45, Yusuf Sheriff 2-38, and Geethal De Silva 3-18 deserve honourable mentions.
Game 5
Fixture: Isipathana College
Venue: Colombo Colts Ground
Date: Fri Feb 20th
Match Report: Isipathana College won the toss and elected to bat.
Isipathana scored 273-6 in 40 overs, with particular mentions going to Devis Iamesh 64, Harsha Rathnayaka 52, Sanjula Abewickrama 50, Shenal Deelaka 28no, Louis Jones 2-40
Stockport replied with 137 in 32.2 overs, notables being George Francis 29, James Travis 43 no, Yomesha Ramasinghe 4-20, Ayana Siriwardhana 3-15.
Isipathana College won by 136 runs, with some exceptional batting leading the way.
