19th March 2000
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Jehan, Andrew guide Royal to emphatic win
By Marlon Fernandopulle
Half centuries from Jehan Mubarak(61) and Andrew Perera(69 n o) guided Royal to an emphatic six wicket victory over S. Thomas' in their annual limited over encounter at the SSC grounds yesterday.
The victory ensured that the Mustangs Trophy remained at Reid Avenue for another year as Royal increased their tally to 14 as against 11 by the Thomians.
Chasing the Thomian total of 247/9 ,Royal got off to a perfect one day start with openers D Perera(22) and K Edirisuriya (31) adding 68 runs in 10 overs.The Royalists continued in the same vein reaching 100 in only the 15-th over but lost a couple of wickets to be 110 for 3 at one stage.
But the arrival of Andrew Perera and Jehan Mubarak dashed all hopes of a Thomian fightback.Mubarak matched his potential with performance when he stroked an elegant run a ball 61 with the help of seven boundaries and two sixes to seal a Royal victory.The left hander cut ,drove and pulled with power and precision to reach his third half century in the limited over series.Perera was not far behind as he played second fiddle to Mubarak and anchored the batting with a solid knock.The right hander stroked five boundaries and added 111 for the 4 th wicket with Mubarak to help his team to an easy victory.He remained unbeaten on 69 as Royal reached their target in the 46 th over.
Earlier the Thomians got off to a slow start but progressed through a productive 4 th wicket stand of 65 between A. Bandaranayake(49) and J. Mendis(59) Bandaranayake thumped six boundaries in his 49-ball knock while Mendis played a more sedate innings striking two boundaries for his half century.
Despite being well placed at 179 for 5 at the end of 49 overs the Thomians failed to reach a commanding total in 50 overs.Their batsmen were checked by some sensible bowling towards the end of the innings as the Mount Lavania school closed their innings at 247/9 at the end of 50 overs.The total would have been sufficient for the Thomians to defend.However their bowlers were erratic giving away as much as 30 wides in an extras total of 37.
Scoreboard
S'Thomas's
P Peiris lbw b A Kariyawasam 05
G Fernando b M Thotuwilage 00
Z Kanaka ct D Perera b J Mubarak 32
A Bandaranayake b H Rajakaruna 49
J Mendis ct S Saldeen b G Ratnayake 59
M Peiris ct A Perera b R Jayasuriya 22
L Fernando n o 44
C de Mel run out 08
D Gunawardene b J Mubarak 01
L Wickremasinghe c & b Mubarak 02
Extras (b-1,lb-9,nb-4,w-11) 25
Total(in 50 overs,9 wkts) 247
Fall of Wickets:1-1,2-25,3-60,4-125,5-170,6-212,7-228,8-246,9-248
Bowling:S Edirimuni 6-0-29-0 M Thotuwilage 3-0-6-1 A Kariyakarawana 3-0-18-1 RJayasuriya 9-0-52-1 J Mubarak 10-1-44-3 G Ratnayake 10-1-39-1 H Rajakaruna 9-0-49-1
Royal
D Perera ct Z Kanaka b A Bandaranayake 22
K Edirisuriya c L Perera b A Bandaranayake 31
M Thituwilage c Gunawardene b Bandaranayake 18
J Mubarak run out 61
A Perera not out 69
R Jayasuriya not out 10
Extras(lb-5,nb-2,w30) 37
Total(in 45.1 overs ,for 4 wkts) 248
Fall of wickets 1-68,2-93,3-110,4-221
Bowling L Fernando 10-0-49-0 P Peiris 3-0-22-0 A Bandaranayake 9-1-54-3 D Gunawardene 7-0-43-0 L Wickremasinghe 10-0-45-0 J Mendis 2-0-12-0 L Perera 4.1-0-13-0 G Fernando 1-0-5-0
Inter club rugby from April 7 th
The Inter-Club rugby league Championship, for the new millennium, conducted by the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU),will kick off on April 7 Friday, when Army SC scrum down with Havelocks SC at a venue yet to be decided by the rugby union.
The following day on April 8 CH &FC will lock horns with Police SC at Maitland Crescent.
On Sunday April 9 Defending League Champions Kandy SC will host Air Force SC at their home venue up in Nittawela, while on the same evening last year's League Runners-Up CR&FC will play host to Navy SC at Longden Place.
The upcoming Inter-Club rugby league championship will feature eight of the very best rugby clubs vieing for supremacy, with the championship expected to last from April 7 to May 28 according to the fixtures list released to the media by the SLRFU yesterday. J.K.
Battle of the Rocks ends in draw
By Aubrey Kuruppu
The 21st Battle of the Rock's ended in a dull draw at the Welagedera Stadium yesterday.
The Annites staged a superb recovery to go from 80/8 to 162, after they had been put in and had suffered an early collapse. Ranatunga, Herath and Ameratunga help to swell the score.
Devan Skipper Buddika Ellepola picked up five wickets with his medium pace.
There were no big partnerships in the Devan innings. Skipper Ellepola stood out with an aggressive 44. Sonal de Silva and Jayanath entered the twenties, while Gunatilleka batted in pleasing style for his unbeaten 17.
The Annites batted drearily in their second knock. A sudden crash of wickets - four of them for a mere three runs - injected some excitement into the game late on the second day. However, the wicket was too true and the Devan bowling, Gunatillaka apart, was not all that penetrative.
St. Ann's 162 (Hasintha Laknath 22, Amila Herath 24, Amila Ranatunga 44, Harsha Ameratunga 20, N.O., Buddhika Ellepola 5-48, Damith Gunatilleka 2 -25) and 86/4, (E. Ediriweerage 17, Rajind Perera 29 N.O., Amila Herath 22 N.O., Damith Gunathilleka 3-2).
Maliyadewa 171 - 8 declared (Sonal de Silva 27, Amila Samarakoon 11, Indika Dharmawardena 12, Buddhika Ellepola 44, Tyronne Jayanath 25, Damith Gunatilleka 17 N.O., Yohan Abeygunawardena 16, Rajind Perera 4 - 45, Ishan Kadeer 2-40)
Lanka ran into panic situations: Javed Miandad
Bernie Wijesekera reporting from Pakistan, Karachi
Javed Miandad, Pakistan's newly appointed coach, speaking to The Sunday Times after they crushed Sri Lanka by 222 runs to win the third and final Test with a day to spare at the Karachi National Cricket Stadium said; firstly, I am happy that the team was able to break the drought after five defeats. I have not done a miracle, but it was a total commitment by all the players.
Mianded said that Sri Lanka is not a better team than ours, but the Pakistani team was not showing up well for various reasons - including injury. But I must say that they deserved to win. But, I was surprised when the Lankan team folded up under two sessions in the second innings of this Test. Pakistan were confident of winning, there was no doubt about it. But your players batted badly and failed to play a long innings and were running into panic situations for reasons best known to themselves.
How come your fielding showed marked improvement unlike in the previous two Tests? Much stress was made to this all important discipline, with fitness. Brig. Nazir, the team Manager, too was on the ball with his watchful eyes. Ramiz Raja, one of the advisors, when questioned about Jonty Rhodes being earmarked to train the team in fielding. But said no, as Rhodes, is still a regular member of the S.A. team. Yes, we are trying to get a specialist from overseas not only to train the national squad, but also to help the juniors who are the future prospects of the Pakistani team, he added.
Are you happy with the job afforded to you now you have made it a winning one in your first outing? Yes, it's good to boost the morale of the team after suffering setbacks. Its a panacea for the forthcoming tough assignments. It was not forced on me, but agreed to serve the country in its hour of need, Javed added. He said it was for the knowledgeable circles to judge for themselves if the change has borne fruits. The team is the same but there is a difference in the final outcome he added. As newly appointed skipper, Moin Khan said the players are supporting and the management, too is giving all encouragement. From here onwards, the future of Pakistani cricket is on the right track. Incidentally Miandad was met at the Pearl Hotel before the Lankan team took wings back home on Wednesday night.
Sanath Jayasuriya said it was one of the finest tours he embarked and was happy with the performances despite playing cricket for 40 days on a tight schedule. There was tremendous competition, the boys were exhausted with hardly any relaxation. But the results speak itself for their total commitment. He was not happy with the batting in this test. Don't you think the experience of the Old Bridge - Arjuna and Aravinda, was missing in this match? Yes, you are right. Though Sri Lanka couldn't make it 3-0 in the tests, but still played positive cricket maintaining a high standard on and off the field he added. Without doubt the Lankan team was popular among the crowds, even with the humble man in the street. One has to just say that you are from Sri Lanka, despite not knowing Urudu, but it has weightage even to find its way when you have lost the track - thanks to the conduct of the players, who played the game in the correct spirit, sans sledging.
Well, there were constant appeals which were unwarranted by both teams in their desperation to make a breakthrough especially in this third Test. This could have been averted by the umpires. Its in their hands.
Match referee Brian Hastings did admit there were few hiccups in this Test. It was unfortunate, but it was all solved amicably between the parties and all forgotten. The game is that matters in the end. Jayasuriya, the peaceful annihilator, who believes in Ahimsha did a wonderful job on this tour, with a united team effort, to keep the Sri Lankan flag flying high on and off the field. Today Sri Lanka is placed third in the Wisden ratings behind Australia and S.Africa with their recent performances.
Of course, the tour management headed by Kehelgamuwa and that lovable duo from Down Under, Dav Whatmore and Alex Kountouri the amible physio, who even gave a hand to the opponents on humanitarian grounds. That's what life is all about which could be compared to a line drawn on water.
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