Inaugural Olcott – Zahira Match (T20)
Olcott Schools in UAE wins Inaugural Olcott – Zahira Trophy while Combined Zahira team take Honours in Olcott – Zahira Legends Cricket Match in UAE
Inaugural edition of the Cricket matches between past pupils of Olcott Schools and Combined Zahira Schools of Sri Lanka residing in the United Arab Emirates concluded at Malek Cricket Stadium on Saturday the 3rd June, 2023.
Olcott Schools Alumni in UAE was established in 2007 which is one of the prominent organizations among the Sri Lankan Community in UAE. The Olcott Schools alumni is consists with old boys of the eight leading Buddhist schools namely Ananda, Dharmaraja, Maliyadeva, Mahinda, Nalanda, Dharmasoka, Rahula and Dharmapala currently residing in UAE.
On the other hand, though there aren’t a common alumni association for Zahirians, the combined team was represented by the past pupils of few Zahira Colleges in Colombo, Mawanella, Gampola, Matale and Puttlam in Sri Lanka.
This event was consisted with a T10 and a T20 friendly cricket matches. T10 match played with age over 40 players as a fun filled event to strengthen relationships among them.
The Olcott T20 team was led by Nimesha Thajudeen who was an outstanding cricketer produced by Ananda College whereas the combined Zahira team led by Isham Gouse who is also an outstanding cricketer from Zahira college Colombo.
The T10 over 40 legends team of Olcott Schools and Combined Zahira Schools was led by Anuradha Jayaratne from Mahinda College and Mushin Firaz from Zahra College Colombo respectively.
In the T20 game the toss was won by the Olcott skipper Nimesha Thajudeen who invited Zahirians to bat first. Combined Zahirians’ batted first and posted a commanding total of 147 for the loss 6 wickets in their allotted 20 overs with their all-rounder Captain Isham Gouse top scoring with a well calculated 60 runs in 39 balls. Isham was well supported by Mohamed Izwan, who contributed 26 runs and these two put on a formidable partnership of 64 runs for the 4th wicket. For Olcott Schools, Old Nalandian Sadesh Wimalatunga was pick of the bowler with 2 wickets by giving away 26 runs for 3 overs.
Chasing 147 for victory, Olcott Schools had got off to a blazing start, but the old Zahirians soon found themselves on track after getting the wickets of Olcott Skipper Nimesha Thajudeen and Niran Wijesena in the powerplay. But Namal Gunawardane and Shaluka Kandenearachchi stitched a crucial partnership in the middle to strengthen the Olcott run chase. The Zahirians fought back to dismiss Shaluka for 30 and Namal was dismissed for 34. Olcott Schools scoring rate was slow as they reached the 100 runs mark only in the 16th over. However, Shokian Sudara Deshantha, then, played an anchor role and he scored 43 runs in style with just 16 deliveries with five sixes and two fours to guide Olcott Schools team to a thrilling victory over Old Zahirians in their inaugural T20 Cricket Match.
Scores:
Combined Zahirians: 147 for 6 in 20 overs (Isham Ghouse 60, Mohamed Izwan 26. Bowling – Sadesh Wimalatunga 2 for 36, Sudara Deshantha 1 for 19, Namal Gunawardana 1 for 28 and Suresh Silva 1 for 23).
Olcott Schools: 148 for 6 wickets in 18.5 overs (Sudara Deshantha 43 not out, Namal Gunawardana 34, Shaluka Kandanearchchi 30, Nimesha Thajudeen 22. Bowling – Isham Ghouse 2 for 19, Moahmed Izwan 2 for 27 and Mohammed Hillal 1 for 26).
Individual awards were won by the following players:
Best Batsman: Isham Gouse of Zahira College, Colombo.
Best Bowler: Mohamed Izwan of Zahira College, Mawanella.
Man of the Match: Sudara Deshantha of Dharmashoka College, Ambalangoda.
The Chief Guest of the event was Ms. Dinithi Weerasena (Acting Consul General of Sri Lanka for Dubai & Northern Emirates and also the Head of Chancery in the Consulate Office).
