• Can Lanka's batsmen face South Africa's pace blitz?
• Mark answers critics with century
• Elahi, Razzaq give Pakistan the edge
• Tee talk with Tita Nathanielsz
• Army guns boom in Thailand 
• Sirisoma in exclusive world billiards circle
• Give more importance to coach education in soccer
• Solidarity course in Windsurfing
• Veteran cagers strike bronze
• Arduous task ahead for Lanka in S.Africa
• Dilip Kumar holds sway 
• Briefly
• Fei Quan Do martial artists learn swimming
• Old Sokians to stage cricket competition
• Colombo South win
• Rover pinpoints
• Squash clinic at Katunayaka
• Air Force champs for third year
• Peiris steers Petes to victory
• Three records at CT & FC meet 
• McKenzie scores 120
• Hemang Badani guides India to victory

Can Lanka's batsmen face South Africa's pace blitz?

By Marlon Fernandopulle

Despite most of the odds stacked against his team, Jayasuriya remains upbeat that his young brigade will be competitive in South Africa."There is no doubt that South Africa is going to be a tough and a challenging tour. The team is aware that conditions are going to be different from what we experience here, nevertheless we are confident that we can be very competitive" said Jayasuriya soon after his squads final practice session at the SSC nets.

Coach Dev Whatmore also had a similar view when he said," We are no strangers to beating South Africa.We have done it at home and now we will strive to do it in their own back yard".When asked how confident he was, the Lankan born Australian replied, saying "We are full of Confidence after our convincing triumph in Sharjah. It was just the thing that was needed for us to resume our training to meet an opposition like South Africa".

Despite carrying five medium pacers in the squad and playing on wickets conducive to fast bowling, Sri Lanka will pin their hopes on their Ace off Spinner Muttiah Muralitharan. Murali who has already claimed 293 test wickets and created a new world record in One dayers will be the key to the Lankan attack.

"Murali can extract some turn on wickets where other spinners fail. He can also get that extra bounce on hard wickets. In addition his unerring accuracy helps to frustrate the batsmen and build up the pressure.Then, there is his flight which very often deceives the batsmen. All this makes Murali a key weapon in the Sri Lankan attack",warned Coach Whatmore.

The off spinner who mesmerized the South African earlier this year is also aware that two of their best players of spin bowling Hansie Cronje and Jonty Rhodes will not stand in his way. Cronje is serving a life ban for match-fixing while Rhodes has announced his retirement from Test Cricket.

According to Coach Whatmore the 28 year old off spinner is keen and eager to prove his credentials in that part of the world. "Murali is aware that it is going to be hard work for him. 

He is totally focused and committed with every delivery that he bowls. And that is why the lad has been so successful in the past and also confident of being successful in South Africa.

However the big challenge and the decisive factor in the Tests would be the manner in which the Lankan batsmen font upto South Africa's medium paces Allan Donald,Shaun Pollock,Mkhaya Nitni,Roger Telemachus etc.It's a test of Technique,Temperament and Patience. Skipper Jayasuriya,vice captain Atapattu and the experienced players like Mahela Jayawardene,Russel Arnold and Romesh Kaluwitharana will have to lead the way here.

Mark answers critics with century

Under pressure to hold his place in the Australian team and under investigation after being named in the latest match-fixing allegations, Waugh answered his critics with a score of 119 on the second day at the WACA.

Waugh's 18th Test hundred was his first in more than a year and the first by any player in this series. It helped Australia to a 200-run first innings lead over West Indies.

"It's an important Test match for us so to make runs in this sort of game against a West Indies attack on a Perth wicket is always satisfying," Waugh said.

"It can be a difficult place to bat because there's obviously the pace and bounce there.

"If you do happen to strike a couple of good fast bowlers it can be awkward but the pace of the wicket allows you to score quickly and the outfield's pretty quick.

"It's a nice even surface and it's good to bat on but you can get yourself in trouble if you don't watch the ball closely."

Waugh occupied the crease for four and a half hours, hitting 12 boundaries during his 175-ball innings.

He had a lucky escape when he was dropped by Daren Ganga on 21 but hardly played another false shot as Australia piled on 396-8 declared in reply to West Indies 196.

The tourists, beaten by an innings in last week's first Test, were 16-2 in their second innings when stumps were drawn, needing another 184 to make Australia bat a second time.

Despite the distractions over the past month since he was named by an Indian bookmaker in the bribery scandal that has rocked cricket, Waugh, who strongly denies the bookmaker's claims, said he had been unaffected by the issue.

"Obviously there's been a few distractions but I've kept pretty focused and tried to enjoy my cricket," he said.

"It's a great time for Australian cricket because we're on the verge of breaking a world record. If Australia win they will break the record for the number of consecutive test victories.

They currently share the record of 11 with West Indies.

"I was just trying be my normal self, go out there and enjoy myself and hopefully make a few runs.

"I was pretty focused out there and happy with the way my form went".

Elahi, Razzaq give Pakistan the edge

Pakistan, 26 behind on first innings, ended the fourth day on 186 for two.

Elahi and Razzaq put on 98 for the second wicket after Shahid Afridi was caught at fine leg off pace bowler Darren Gough for 10 with the score on 13.

Afridi tried to hook a rising Gough delivery but succeeded only in top-edging the ball to Ashley Giles.

Elahi, who opened in place of Saeed Anwar who has a chest infection, batted with great fluency in reaching his first Test 50 off 83 balls in his sixth Test.

He stepped up the pace after completing his half century, taking 11 off one over from left-arm spinner Giles.

But Giles got his revenge with Elazi on 72 when he gloved an attempted sweep to wicketkeeper Alec Stewart.

Razzaq, who was very much the junior partner in the stand with Elahi, went on to his third test 50 off 140 balls.

His third-wicket partnership with Inzamam-ul-Haq (33 not out) was worth 75 by the close, Razzaq finishing on 60.

Tee talk with Tita Nathanielsz

Wickremanayake picks Premier Pacific Trophy

Gyi takes Gold

Clifford Cup

Wicks excels

Pacific Inter Contest 

Soysa takes 'A' 

Kalu wins 'B'

Wicks picks 'C' 

Ismail wins SNRS

Highlights

Wasantha weeps

Disaster zone

Army guns boom in Thailand 

By Bernie Wijesekera

The soldiers deserve this sojourn for doing proud for the Army and keeping the morale high among the rank and file. 

Brig. J.P.A.Jayawardena the former Sri Lanka scrumhalf is the live -wire of Army rugby and did tremendous amount of spadework for its resurgence, whilst getting Aussie coach, Ken Farrington, to train the greenhorns. It was made possible due to the good offices of Dilip Kumar and former Army ruggerite, Col. Jayantha Weerasinghe, now domiciled in Sydney. Both are ardent supporters of the sport. 

Brig. Jayawardena, who went as chef-de mission was interviewed by The Sunday Times, for his comments. Firstly thanks to the Army Commander Lt. Gen. Srilal Weerasuriya and other senior officers, who gave all encouragement for the soldiers to be in the limelight despite official commitments 

Like learn and play the soldiers did their work and also indulged in the sport with sheer devotion and dedication. Some of them travelled from distant places. As a result they were rewarded with a tour for their commitment. The well-wishers of Army sport, too joined in the scrum to make it a reality. 

Former Sri Lanka ruggerite and Kandy SC stalwart, Maurice Perera had a big hand toward winning this tour. 

The boys gave an impressive performance and matched their skills with clean, hard open rugby constantly running the ball. In both matches there were expatriates playing for them. In the first game they beat Pathaya Panthers 28 (4 goals) to 21 (3 goals). The Panthers were leading 14-7. But the gutty soldiers fought their way back after the turnaround to win the tie. 

In the second match Thai Barbarians outplayed them by 23 (2 goals, 3 penalties) after leading 13-3. 

In the first game wingers, Naushad and Wijitha 'lock' Jayasuriya and hooker Rajapakse scored a try each. T.A.Silva converted the tries. In the second game against the Barbarians prop Udaya Kumar scored (2) tries. T.A.Silva coverted and put over the penalties. 

Maurice Perera, who went as an observer paid a glowing tribute to the soldiers. " They played like Trojans and did proud for the Army and for Sri Lankan rugby . Discipline was their codeword on and off the field and conducted themselves in an exemplary manner. The opposing teams were sandwiched with burly forwards, who had the physical strength, but they matched with open running rugby to outplay them . 

They future of Army rugby holds good if they continue to play in the same vein" Perera added. 

"Further it brought back nostalgic memories to me in the bygone days when the players indulged in a sing song and a get-together after a match socials - where the players wined and dined. Fellowship prevailed. All forgot what happened at the middle unlike in present times when they keep on festering and complaining about the outcome. The soldiers displayed this in abundance. The Thais defeated our National team. Unlike in the past the rugby standard in Bangkok is quite high. Finally Perera said, "its a feather in the cap for Brig. Jayawardena, for reviving the sport among the less affluent soldiers who has taken to the sport after joining the Army." 

The tour party - Jayatilleke, Y.P. Rajapakse, A Udaya Kumara, J. Jayasuirya, K.S. Fernando, H. Karunaratne, M. Madurasinghe, B. Dharmapala, P. Wijesinghe, Ajith Peiris (Capt.) , M.Naushad, Kapila Knowlton, A Jayatilleke, K. Wijitha, T.A.Silva, N. Kotalawela, K.A. Perera, R. Ratnayake, M.S. Rodrigo, K. Narantota, W. Kumara, N.K. Hettihewa, M.S.Wijesiri, R. Tikiri Banda, H.Sanjeewa, A. Premasiri. 

Officials - Brig. J.P.A. Jayawardena, (Chef-de Misson), Maj. Dhammika Gunasekera, (Manager) Maj. Keerthi Ekanayake (Coach), Maj. Mohan Ratnayake (Asst. Manager), W.O.P.G.Gunawardena (Asst. Coach-Physic).

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