• England crawl in dust bowl
• Joes enter record books
• Gritty fightback by Isipathana
• Suranga De Silva 68
• Cambrians bag honours
• Rover pinpoints…
• Will Thomians dominate?
• Women join the scrum
• Japan's Kouno is surfing king
• Suranjith,Tilan have Panadura in a spin
• Shane Warne ready for Indian test series
• In Brief

England crawl in dust bowl

Bernie Wijesekera reporting from Galle

Despite being made to bat on a dust bowl, with the ball turning viciously, the English batsmen had a remarkable fightback, led by openers Mike Atherton 33 (in 125 balls with two fours) and a back-to-the-wall knock by left-hander Marcus Trescothick 119 n.o, made in 389 minutes in 340 balls with12 fours, gave a solid start for England to reply with 202 for 4 at close on the third day of the first cricket Test at Galle yesterday.

Sri Lanka declared at 470 for 5. It was a fine effort by the visiting batsmen, with better application and concentration, they grafted the runs methodically to push the score along.

The Lankan bowlers couldn't make much headway in the first session despite Murali getting much turn and the odd ball lifting. Atherton's 33 and Trescothick's 40 n.o, took lunch at 83 for no loss. Barring Murali and to some extent Vaas, who bowled in patches, the rest looked mediocre.

Poor bowling is poor bowling - no excuses, on this day, watched by a huge crowd including tourists, who were seen sunbathing - a colourful sight indeed.

It was in the first over in the second session that Vaas had Atherton lbw for 33 - 83 for 1. Sri Lanka struck again 10 runs later when tormentor Murali had Hussain playing back, also leg-before for 3.

At 117 Murali struck again in his 25th over, the ball turned awkwardly Graham Thorpe lunged forward - Dilshan at second slip, pocketed a sharp catch - 117 for 3.

Seasoned Alec Stewart joined Trescothick and kept the batting together with Marcus showing fine temperament.

SCOREBOARD Sri Lanka first innings - 471 for 5 dec. (M. Atapattu 201 n.o, A. de. Silva 106, M. Jayawardena 61, K. Sangakkara 57) England first innings Mike Atherton lbw b Vaas 33 (Played half forward) Marcus Trescothick not out 119 Nasser Hussain lbw b Muralitharan 7 (Played back) Graham Thorpe c T. Dilshan b Muralitharan 7 (Turned viciously, not behind line) Alec Stewart lbw b Jayasuriya 19 (Played back) Robert Croft not out 0 Extras: (byes-2, lb-2, nbs-17) 21 Total (for 4 wkts at close in 106 overs, 389 mts.) 202 Fall: 83 (Atherton), 93 (Hussain), 117 (Thorpe), 197 (Steuart) Bowling: C. Vaas 18-4-34-1 (1 n.b); M. Muralitharan 41-10-56-2 (8 n.b); K. Dharmasena 22-6-51-0 (6 n.b); Dilhara Fernando 2-0-10-0 (2 n.b); S.Jayasuriya 20-5-42-1; Aravinda de Silva 3-2-5-0.

Joes enter record books

By Annesley Ferreira

St. Joseph's College Maradana entered the record books in rowing yesterday by winning their first national title at the 18th National Rowing Championships (Regatta) which concluded at the Beira Lake last evening.

Mevan Gunawardena won the men's intermediate sculls giving the Joes their first title win in the nationals conducted by the Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka and sponsored by Union Assurance.

The Joes won their second title too in the men's intermediate fours defeating S. Thomas 'B'.

Navy who only took up rowing recently fared well.

In the final event of the day conducted in darkness, the Navy sculler H.M. Amaradasa though leading for a major part of the race, was pipped at the post by Udesh Hettiarachchi of the Colombo Rowing Club.

Colombo Rowing Club won the Overall Trophy with S. Thomas' as the runners-up and also went on to win senior championships with Navy as the runners-up.

Musaeus won the women's overall championship with University of Colombo as the runners-up.

Gritty fightback by Isipathana

By M.Shamil Amit

When the second day's play in the 38th Big Match between Thurstan and Isipathana began yesterday at the Sara Stadium, Thurstan skipper Nisal Randika took a bold decision and declared at the overnight score of 200 for 5 wickets instead of batting on.

Isipathana batting a second time with a deficit of 78 runs, set about the task with the intention of first erasing the deficit.

Skipper Malinda Abeyratne and Oshadee Nawaragodagedera put up a superb first wicket stand of 72 runs which paved the way for a Isipathana recovery and sealed the match to a draw.

Isipathana in the end declared their score at 207 for 5 wickets. This left Thurstan a victory target of 130 runs in 13 overs and when stumps were drawn Thurstan were 53 for the loss of 4 wickets.

Isipathana - 122 and 207 for 5 dec. (O. Nawaragodagedera 16, M.alinda Abeyratne 47, Rohan de Silva 27. Thejakith Rodrigo 36 n.o, Dishan Karunasena 19 n.o; Chamith Arvinda 2 for 15, Nisal Rodrigo 2 for 41)

Thurstan - 200 for 5 dec. (Shanaka de Silva 27, Chamith Arvinda 37, Dhammika Premadasa 101 n.o, Nisal Randika 15) and 53 for 4 at stumps (Prageeth Chanuka 16, Nisal Randika 10 n.o, Dinusha Karannagoda 16 not out; Rohan de Silva 2 for 21)

Awards: Best Batsman - Rohan de Siva (Isipathana); Best Bowler; Tharindu Deepal (Thurstan); Man Of The Match: Dhammika Premadasa (Thurstan).

Suranga De Silva 68

By Bruce Maurice

Suranga De Silva the Sebastianite opener brightened a drab day at Campbell Park with a polished, unbeaten 68 that included 8 fours in their inter school match which ended in a draw yesterday.

Continuing from their overnight score of 23 for no loss, many of the Wesley batsmen threw their wickets away after playing themselves in. However, they averted the follow-on and the Sebastianties played out time with their openers posting an unbeaten century stand.

St. Sebastian's - 293 and 106 for no loss. (Suranga De Silva 68 n.o. R. Fernando 22 n.o.).

Wesley- 218 (A. Toussaint 28, T. Waduge 35, S. Samaranayaka 21, N. Samith 15, P. Makalanda 38, R. Kanagasabai 26 n.o. M. Imtiaz 16 n.o; M. Silva 2 for 26, L. Fernando 4 for 46, P. Perera 2 for 57).

Cambrians bag honours

By S.M.D.Sirisena

Prince of Wales College bagged all honours against Royal in their inter-school Lemonade Trophy cricket match which ended in a draw at Moratuwa yesterday.

Resuming from their overnight score of 92 for 3, Royal were all out for 246 in reply to Prince of Wales total of 309.

For Royal, M. Keenawinna top scored with 76 with nine boundries. M.Thotuwilage chipped in with 52. The Cambrians in their second innings scored142 for 4 and declared with Rashan Pieris knocking up 93. Pieris hit two huge sixes and ten boundries. Pieris and Srimal Pieris (35) were associated in a119 run stand for the second wicket.

Prince of Wales - 309 and 142 for 4 (Rashan Pieris 93 , Srimal Pieris 39; S.Disanayaka 3 for 52

Royal - (overnight 92 for 3) 246 (M.Keenawinne 76, M.Thotuwilage 50, D.Abeygunawardana 22, C.Vidanapathirana 16,S.Saldeen 16; R.Perera 3 for 45 ,S. Galappatti 2 for 2 S.Rajith 2 for 65 and 79 for 4 (S.Saldin 25 n.o, T. Perera 21, K. Edirisooriya 15, A.Perera 10; B.Dananjaya 2 for 16)

Honours even

Honours were even at the end of the first day's play in the Lemonade Trophy inter school match at Katugastota between St. Anthony's and S. Joseph's.

St.Joseph's - 228 for 6 dec (D.Pathirana 48, D.Perumal 46, S. Perera 42, C. Aravinda 44 n.o, D. Senanayake 31; P. Ranawaka 2 for 53, N. Nizam 3 for 58)

St. Anthony's - 87 for 2 (N.Ratnayake 45, Nipuna Ratnayake 28 n.o) - AK

More Sports

Return to Sports Contents