Sri Lanka Under 19 World Cup cricketer Mevan Fernando who incidentally led Maris Stella College Negombo to Championship honours, winning the Lemonade Trophy in the All Island Division I schools tournament, was in the forefront in leading Negombo Cricket Club to the semi finals of the Champion Trophy Limited Overs matches.

Negombo Cricket Club won all their matches beating Kalutara T. C. Leo Stadium Cricket Club, Old Dharmapalians, Lankan C.C., and Rio S.C., Ambalangoda in the preliminary round and last week end beat Moratuwa S.C. in the quarter finals.

19 years old Mevan had the opportunity to lead Negombo C.C. in the absence of elected captain Trishen Nonis and led the team from the front. Mevan with an average of over 50 scored a stylish 54 against Leo Stadium Cricket Club and scored an elegant 47 against Lankan C.C. and was unbeaten on 20’s against Rio S.C. and Kalutara T.C. in the recently concluded under 23 Division I Premire Tournament. Mevan again showed his class as a batsman by scoring 108 not out against Police S.C. 70 against Galle CC and 47 against S.S.C. whom Negombo. C.C. beat them in a closely contested game. Negombo C.C. was deprived of entering the final round, when bad weather intervened Police S.C. and Galle C.C. managed to hold on with their last two wickets infact and facing formidable scores of Negombo C.C.

The match against Sebastianites S.C. was completely washed off opening batsman Anuradha Ratnasiri with a patient 108 and Skipper Ruwan Fernando too did his part. When he captured 11 wickets in only 3 matches played in the under 23 Premire Tournament Ruwan bowled extremely well to capture 5/61 against the mighty S.S.C.

In the current Champion Trophy Limited Overs Tournament Canarie Cross, Damian Fernando, Lakmalka Fernando, Anuradha along with their skipper Mevan were the main run getters for Negombo Canaric Croos was unfortunate on two occasions when he missed the half century mark scoring 44 against Leo Stadium and 47 against Old Dharmapalians, Damian and Anuradha to score fifties.

Off cutter Venura Fernando was the leading wicket taker when he captured 13 wickets. He bowled intelligently to capture 5 for against Kalutara and captured 4 wickets for Ambalangoda Rio S.C. and again captured 4 wickets for Old Dharmapalians. Canaric Croos, Ruwan Fernando, Lakmalka Fernando, Mevan Fernando, Buddhika Fernando and 14 years old Sandun Dias who represented Sri Lanka schools in the under 15 World Cup in England were the other bowlers who helped Negombo to keep their opponents to moderate.

Negombo C.C. cricketers maintained a very high standard in fielding. He too skipper Mevan as an inspiration too the team and he was ably supported by wicket keeper Kasun Bulathsinghala, Lakmalka Fernando, Canaric Croos, Anuradha Ratnasiri brothers Ashan Dias and Sandun Dias along with Priyantha Perera and Damian Fernando bringing off some spectacular catches.

Negombo C.C. team was coached by that evergreen Cricketer Rangit Samarasekara during the last 3 years Rangit has moulded this young team to a champion side. They were All Island Div. I Seg B under 23 champion in 1998/99 season and have entered the quarter final stage in this years champion trophy limited over tournament. Trishan Nonis too helped the cricketers in the absence of Rangit this season.

Gladston Dias, Eustace Fernando, Dunston Goluhewa, Lal Perera all who had earlier played too Negombo C.C. for several years and also captained the side and given their fullers co-operation and were a strength to the young cricketers. Negombo Cricket Club President Lorence Amarasena along with Cricket Secretary Holsey Gomes and EX CO members too young cricketers in their way to success.

This weekend Negombo Cricket Club meats Saracens S.C. in their semi finals.