• Rain could prove a spoiler in Pakistan
• Kanasinghe takes close cycle race
• Damith sparkles for Thurstan in big 'un
• Kaushal and Jehan star for St. Peter's
• Inter-School cricket scores at a glance
• Sinhalese SC take thriller
• ProKarting off to a flying start
• Rover pinpoints…
• Volvo sponsored golf at Ridgeways
• Palitha Perera felicitated

Rain could prove a spoiler in Pakistan

By Bernie Wijesekera reporting from Peshawar

Rain could prove a spoiler in the crucial second Test match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan to be played today (Sunday). According to ground manager Bashar Khan, when interviewed by The Sunday Times on Friday, said the weather forecast predicted rain and it did rain whilst the two teams were practising on Friday. There was much grass left on the pitch and amid wintry conditions the pitch could be tailor-made for fast and seam bowlers, he added. After a shortened workout on Friday both teams left expecting to have final practices last morning (Saturday), but overnight rain dampened their expectations. A visit to Stadium despite freezing conditions gave its true picture. The entire square was covered including the run-up. The rain has ceased, but still a black blanket covered the square. Former Test batsman, Ramiz Raja, one of the members of the PCB advisory board who was present said much will depend on sunshine for the match to commence on schedule. Good news for Pakistan Wasim Akram may play. If he does play the condition will be ideal for him. His standby is Mohamed Akram, the young fast bowler, who impressed in the 3-day match against Sri Lanka.

According to team manager Keh-elgamuwa they will probably field the same match winning formula. Arjuna's place will be decided between Dilshan and De Saram. Both have the skills, but Dilshan played a long innings against Zimbabwe - 163 in the 2nd Test. The players led by Sanath Jayasuriya are really geared up to make this a Test yet another fascinating contest, but the weather could mar their aspirations. Despite the vacuum created by Arjuna's absence the batsmen led by Jayasuriya, who scored a dogged 56 in 191 minutes., century-maker Aravinda, Atapattu (though he failed to impress in the first Test), Jaya-wardena, Arnold, nimble footed 'Kalu', Vaas have the guts to take up the attack. The bowlers led by Vaas, Wick-remesinghe, Zoysa and spin wizard Murali will be grinding their teeth to fire at the Pakistani batsmen again in their own den. This was evident the way they warmed up with the assistance of some young Pakistani bowlers at the nets on Friday. After lapses on the field in the second innings at Pindi, Whatmore was seen paying special emphasis on fielding, to get back the rhythm. The Pakistanis, too have an axe to grind. They lost 3-nil in the one-dayers and they fought well to lose on the post after being led by 171 in the first Test.

Kanasinghe takes close cycle race

By Annesley Ferreira

W.A.S.C. Kanasinghe of Gemunu Watch was declared the winner at the IX National Sports Festival of the Disabled 2000 standard cycle race in a photo-finish at Anuradhapur. The event was sponsored by G.S.M. Dialog.

Placed second was J.A.L. Jayasinghe of Gemunu Watch, with K.A.G.N. Perera of Gajaba Regiment third and N.B.A. Jayakanthika also the Gajaba Regiment fourth.

The first four clocked 1 hour 18 minutes 11 seconds.

D.A.L.S.K. Sumanaratne of the Light Infantry tied with his teammate T.K. Weweldeniya in a time of 1 hour 19 minutes 1 second for the fifth place.

D.M. Muthubanda Dissanayake of the Gajaba Regiment finished in 7th place in a time of 1 hour 21.40.

K.A.W.S. Kulasooriya of the Gajaba Regiment finished in 8th place in a time of 1 hour 25 minutes 21 seconds followed by A. Jayasooriya of Ranaviru Sevana Ragama in 1 hour 27 minutes 19 seconds and R.M.C.B. Ratnayake of Vijayaba Infantry Regiment in 1 hour 29 minutes 20 seconds.

Wheel Chair Marathon

B.M. Sandunwasana Perera of Nilander Sports Club won the wheel chair marathon for men in 1 hour 3 minutes 52 seconds followed by W.M. Jayathilabanda of Ranaviru Sevana Ragama in 1 hour 7 minutes 28 seconds, R.M. Jayasundarabanda of the Light Infantry in 1 hour 10 minutes 58 seconds, J.K.W. Munidasa of Ranaviru Sevana Ragama in 1 hour 11 minutes 42 seconds and R.D. Sanath Sisira Kumara of the Vocational Training Institute Seeduwa in 1 hour 15 minutes 56 seconds.

Sole Winner

K.G. Bandara Menike of Sun Flower Village was the sole participant for females in wheel chair marathon.

Her finishing time was 1 hour 49 minutes 40 seconds.

Damith sparkles for Thurstan in big 'un

By Champika Fernando

Fifteen-year old Damith Indika with an unbeaten 37 runs was the cynosure of all eyes at the 37th Big Match between Isipatana and Thurstan at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium yesterday.

Isipatana taking the first lease of the wicket dominated the batting thanks to a stand of 39 runs between Muditha Fernando and Manoj Fernando. Muditha scored 20 runs before he was bowled out by M. Fiyaz who captured four wickets for 43 runs.

Sahan Wijesinghe playing a typical Test inning scored 33 runs and was supported by Rohan De Silva who made well complied 27 runs to reach a 162 in their 57th over. M. Fiyaz dominated the pace attack with A. Nishantha and N. Randika. Nishantha captured three wickets for 29 runs and Randika picked up two wickets.

Thurstan taking their chance at batting had a very poor start where their opening batsmen S. De Silva was bowled out for 'duck' by the Isipatana pacie Chanaka Perera. The trouble continued for Thurstan as skipper Dammika Premadasa was brilliantly caught by paceman Manoj Fernando. Dammika was able to score only three runs. However Nishantha Sanjeewe and Chamitha Aravinda added 38 runs for the third wicket which brought some relief for the Thustanites.

Nishantha scored 19 runs while his partner Chamith scored 11. However thanks to young Damith Indika, Thurstan were able to reach 98 runs for the loss of seven wickets before the game was called off due to bad light. His inning included five magnificent boundries. Isipatana's pace attack Chanaka Perera and Manoj Fernando gave some early trouble with Chanaka capturing three wickets while Manoj and spinner M. Hareez picked up two wicket each.

Isipathana - 162 (Muditha Fernando 20, Manoj Fernando 18, Sahan Wijesekera 33, S. Wijesinghe 14, Kanchan Rodrigo 16, Rohan De Silva 27; M. Fayaz 4 for43, N. Randika 2 for 35, N. Nishantha 3 for 29)

Thurstan - 98 for 7 (Nisal Gamage 12, Nishantha Sanjeewa 19, Chamith Aravinda 11, Damith Indika 37 n.o; Chanaka Perera 3 for 15, Manoj Fernando 2 for 19, M. Harees 2 for 18)

Kaushal and Jehan star for St. Peter's

Match reports by Jatila Karawita, Aubrey Kuruppu, Ravi Nagahawatte and Marcus Joseph

A swashbuckling 99 by Sri Lanka Under 19 youth World Cup star Kaushal Lokuarachchi and an equally enterprising knock of 79 from Jehan Jayasuriya steered St.Peter's to a creditable second innings score of 292 for 6 wickets, as their Inter School cricket encounter with Ananda fizzled out into a tall scoring draw at Ananda Mawatha yesterday.

Trailing by 86 runs on the first innings, Peterite second wicket pair of Kaushal Lokuarachchi and Jehan Jayasuriya simply toyed with a mediocre Ananda attack, to entertain the sparse crowd to a vintage display of batsmanship, with the former cutting the home side's bowling to size.

Lokuarachchi who excelled as an allrounder in the recently concluded Under 19 World Cup for Sri Lanka, underlined his uninhibited prowess with the willow by lashing 18 fours while facing 122 deliveries,with his colleague Jehan Jayasuriya cracking 7 fours and 2 sixes as the duo put on a rollicking stand of 162 runs for the second wicket to inject some much needed sparks to an otherwise dreary contest on a placid batting track.

Following the dismissals of Lokuarachchi and Jayasuriya the visitors late order batsmen Shamindra Gunasekera (26]), Mahesh Perera (35), Malin Silva (28) all got into the run making act as they warmed up for their Battle Of The Saints Big Match with S.Joseph's next week.

Zubair magic

Zahirian A. Zubair performed magic with the ball as he had the visiting Kingswood College batsmen in a daze on the final day of their first eleven cricket fixture which ended in a draw at Maradana.

The leg spinner snared six batsmen and helped his side to restrict the opponents for 211 in the first innings which came as the reply to the home team's 276 allout. Zahira were 223 for 8 at close on the fimal day when stums were drawn .

SBC takes major Honours

St. Benedict's took major honours in their Inter schools cricket encounter against St.Annes Kurunegala which ended in a draw at Kotahena yesterday.

After hitting up 307/ for3 wickets on the first day the Benedictines dismissed their opponents for 181 in their first innings.Spinners Shahene Perera(3/47) Jeremy Saverimutthupulle(2/25) and Malka Fernando(2/25) shared the wickets for the Kotahena school.

Following on 126 runs behind the Annites did well to be 132/3 by the close.C Ediriweera top scored with 48 while W Lajnath made a useful 48.

Trinity warm up

Trinity warmed up for nextweek's 'Big' match in a fairly impressive style in their drawn Lemonade Trophy match at the Asgiriya Stadium yesterday.

Half centuries by Pathirana and Perera and a solid contribution by Ian Daniel helped the visitors to run up a total of 225 for 7 before the closure. Paceman Kaushal Weeraratne was the pick ofthe bowlers taking four for 37.

For St.Peter's Ishan Rathnayake bowled best with figures of 4 for 79.

Rain a spoiler

Rain deprived Sri Rahula Katugastota of a possible win over Piliyandala Central in their Lemonade Trophy match at Katugastota yesterday.

Needing 134 for victory, Sri Rahula were strongly placed at 78 for 2 when the rains came. The home team needed a further 56 runs in 12 overs.

D. Mahes 88

The inter-school cricket match between Royal College Panadura and Piliyandala Central ended in a draw .

D. Mahes batted well to score 88 for Royal Panadura in the firstinnings while E. Jayantha claimed 5 for 28.

Nanayakkara 132

St. John's College Panadura managed to draw their inter-school cricket match withVidyartha College Kandy at the Police Grounds.

The highlight of the game was a superb 132 by Vidyartha batsman H.P. Nanayakkara.

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