Mercantile down Colombo 4-0 

By Bruce Maurice

In the ninth minute S. Senarath opened the scoring for Mercantile with a field goal and at half time they led 1-0. 

The next two goals were again scored for Mercantile when Senanayake scored in the 43rd and 61st minutes. 

Finally skipper Suresh Kumar put the finishing touches when he scored the final goal for the day in the 61st minute to seal victory. 

The game was controlled by C. Bandara, S. Wijesinghe and Nimal Ettipola.

Matale beat Kegalle 3-0 

The goal scorers for the winners were, H. Wijekoon (2) and I. Jayawardena (1). While S. Wijesinghe scored for Kegalle. B.M. 

Schools go down to Defence 

For the winners. M.P. Perera led the way with six goals, while S. Jayasinghe (2), C.S. Ediriweera and D. Fernando also scored a goal each. B.M. 

Galle beat Nat. Services

The scoring was done by H. Soysa (2), V. Sooriyaarachi (1) and Y. Manoj (1) for Galle. While D. Wijesinghe scored for Nationalised Services. 

In another match played at the Astro Turf yesterday, Kandy had the better of Matara by seven goals to nil. For Kandy, A.M Godigamuwa (2), M. Pasamalith, I.L. Palipana, M. Taseen. S. Arasaratnam and M. Rajabdeen scored a goal each. B.M. 

Hatton National Bank trounce Mackwoods

HNB - 'D' 181 for 7 in 30 (P. Rambukwella 21,M. Wijenayaka 43, D. Jayakody 21, C. Mahesh 40, D. Ekanayaka 24, D. Vithanage 2 for 20). 

Mackwoods - 121 in 28.2 (C. Sampath 24, D. Ekanayaka 3 for 24, C. Mahesh 2 for 3) BM

B'desh swim bravely before sinking

By Bernie Wijesekera

The Bangladeshis who have played four Tests so far and lost all were hopelessly outclassed on the first two days with Sri Lanka taking it more as a picnic than the first official Test between the two countries.

After bowling Bangladesh out for 90, Sri Lanka had roared to 555 in four sessions with Marvan Atapattu and Mahela Jaywardena taking the unprecedented step of being retired out.

Bangladesh resumed yesterday at 100 for four and a deficit of 365 with most people expecting the match to end before lunch. But teenager Mohammed Ashraful, celebrating his 17th birthday today had other ideas in this Asia cup match. Just as the Sri Lankan batsmen had done, Ashraful took the Sri Lankan attack apart, in a century partnership with Aminul Islam and another big stand with skipper Naimur Rahman. Ashraful scored 114 in his first Test, thus setting a world record as the youngest player to score a century in his debut.

One hour after lunch yesterday, the battered Bangladeshis were sailing smoothly at 290 for five, but then a collapse set in and they were all out for 308. 

The last hour belonged to Sri Lanka's ace spinner Muttiah Muralitharan. With two more wickets, he reached several landmarks — topping 350 wickets in his career and beating Ian Botham's record of 27 five wicket hauls. With 28 such hauls now, Muralitharan stands second only to the legendary Richard Hadlee who had 33. But he also beat Hadlee to become the fastest to cross the 350 mark, reaching it 66 Tests, compared to Hadlee's 69.

In the first innings Muralitharan had a tantalising five for 13, but was much more expensive in the second innings giving away 90 runs for his five wickets. 

Scoreboard

Sri Lanka first innings 550-5 declared (M.Atapattu 201
retired, Jayawardene 150 retired)

Bangladesh 2nd innings
Javed Omar lbw b Muralitharan 40
Mehrab Hossain lbw b Muralitharan 4
Al Sahariar lbw b Samaraweera 7
Aminul Islam b Jayasuriya 56
Habibul Bashar c Jayawardene b Muralitharan 19
Mohammad Ashraful c & b Perera 114
*Naimur Rahman c Atapattu b Perera 48
+Khaled Mashud lbw b Muralitharan 3
Hasibul Hossain c Sangakkara b Perera 0
Mohammad Sharif c & b Muralitharan 19
Manjural Islam not out 1
Extras (b 5, lb 5, nb 7) 17

Total (all out, 101.3 overs, 390 mins) 328

FoW: 1-31 (Mehrab Hossain, 13.3 ov), 2-54 (Javed Omar, 17.6 ov), 3-54 (Al Sahariar, 18.1 ov), 4-81 (Habibul Bashar, 29.3 ov), 5-207 (Aminul Islam, 69.6 ov), 6-303 (Naimur Rahman, 94.1 ov), 7-308 (Mohammad Ashraful, 96.6 ov), 8-308 (Khaled Mashud, 97.3 ov), 9-314 (Hasibul Hossain, 98.1 ov), 10-328 (Mohammad Sharif, 101.3 ov).

Bowling: Vaas 16 2 71 0 (3nb), Pushpakumara 8 5 15 0, Muralitharan 35.3 6 98 5, Perera 13 3 40 3 (4nb), Samaraweera 13 2 42 1, Jayasuriya 16 2 52 1

Moors SC amass massive 352

By M.Shamil Amit

Moors - 352 ( Rajith Basanayake 86, Iroshan de Silva 41, Farhad Farook 20, Tamara Abeyratne 78 n.o., Shiran Mendis 48; Upeka Fernando 3 for 28, Ranil Dammika 2 for 102, I.Ratnaweera 3 for 74)

strong position

Earlier Navy taking first lease of the wicket scored 246 with Indika Perera scoring 50 and Kelum Konara 87. Amila Perera captured 5 for 81. In reply Panadura were 197 for 3 wickets when stumps were drawn.

Navy - 246 ( Indika Perera 50, Kelum Konara 87; Amila Perera 5 for 81, Chamara Silva 3 for 25, Pubudu Wickrama 2 for 46)

Panadura - 197 for 3 wickets at close ( Pubudu Wickrama 64, Manjula Perera 42, Chamara Silva 58 n.o) -MSA

Bloomfield on top

Chilaw Marians - 237 ( Thusian de Soysa 50, Janaka Guneratne 36, Nimesh Perera 35, Ishan Muthaliph 20, Charith Sylvester 27, Dhammika Perera 15 n.o., Lakmalka Fernando 20; Kelum Gangodawila 3 for 54, Kaushalya Lokuarachchi 3 for 23, Prabath Nishantha 2 for 43)

Bloomfield - 104 for 1 at close ( Ian Daniel 46 n.o., Sanjaya Rodrigo 36 n.o.) -MSA

Colts doomed

By Bruce Maurice 

Batting first they were routed for a paltry 95 runs. The main destroyer being medium fast bowler Niranjan Kumara. The Sebs then went on the rampage and were 350 for six at stumps. Play will be continued today. 

Colts - 95 (K. Weeraratne 37, N. Kumara 7 for 26). 

Sebastianites - 350 for 6 (N. Peiris 86, M. Fernando 34, G. Randenigama 54, H. Fernando 65, J. Siriwardena 61, M. Pushpakumara 3 for 108, T. Samaratunge 2 for 76). 

CCC in command 

Royal lose

Results:

Nalanda - 47/1 beat Dharmapala 46; D.S.Senanayake College 62 beat Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte 52/2; St. Benedict's 31/0 beat Tissa MV Kalutara 29/4; Moratu MV 42/0 beat Royal Colombo 41/3; St. Sebastian's 53/4 beat Mahinda Galle 47; Wesley 54/4 beat Holy Cross Kalutara 43; St. Joseph's 96/1 beat S.Thomas' 75/1; Maris Stella 55/1 beat Thurstan 54/4; St. Benedict's 41/3 beat 40/3, St. Sebastian's 76/4 beat Prince of Wales 42.4.-MSA 

Murali proud and delighted 

By Marlon Fernandopulle

Click image for a larger view
"I was aware that I had a few more wickets to get to 350, but I didn't know that I would be the fastest to reach that figure. It's indeed an honour and I am proud of the feat", said a delighted Muralitharan in an interview with the Sunday Times last evening.

Murali (66 tests) who beat Sir Richard Hadlee's achievement (69 tests) is now looking ahead to take at least 500 wickets. "I am planning to take at least 500 wickets. I think I have at least another five years of cricket left, that is if I do not get any serious injuries. If I continue to perform in this manner I should achieve my ambition", said a smiling and confident Muralitharan who is well aware that West Indian Courtney Walsh is the leading wicket taker with 519 wickets.

The 29 year old off spinner who claimed just 14 wickets against England in the three match series picked up 33 wickets in the three tests against India and the solitary test against Bangladesh. "It is wrong for anyone to expect me to take wickets all the time. As much as the batsman go through a lean period a bowler also may have his off days and off games. The other factor is that today there are various ways and means to study the bowlers and so I have to really work harder all the time."

The off spinner admitted that he has not got any mystery balls but simply bowls the off break coupled with the top spinner that goes straight through. However the record breaking Lankan bowler attributes his success mainly to experience. "The more I bowl the more experience I gain and this helps me tremendously in my bowling".

Muralitharan will leave for England on Tuesday to play a four day game for his county Lancashire and return back for a well earned rest before Sri Lanka participate in a Sharjah tournament in late October.

A concept to nurture hidden talent

After a meaningful dialogue with some of them it was given to understand that with the help of Arjuna Ranatunga and committee members namely Malalasekera, Mike Tissera and Sidat Wettimuny, they have formulated a concept to nurse and nurture hidden talent from the rural areas.

To assist them they hope to draft the services of past international greats legendary Barry Richards (S. Africa), former England captain Tony Greig who has made Sri Lanka his second home. Incidentally Tony's first visit to Sri Lanka was in 1967 with Joe Lister's cricket team which team included Derek Underwood, Australian Peter Philpott, who serves in the Aussie Cricket Academy - a leg spinner of repute, Darel Foster, at present assisting our young fast bowlers and former Indian captain and left arm spin wizard Bishen Singh Bedi will have a final look at these youngsters and evaluate their talents and make their recommendations to the BCCSL coaching committee before they finalise the squad. 

Malalasekera, told The Sunday Times the expertise drawn from abroad to help the coaching committee is to pick the youngsters on merit.

They have professional skills on and off the field and has played at the highest level.

How are you going to plan this? Firstly, the concept is to appoint coaches (professional) at district level who will co-ordinate with several qualified coaches. 

The district coaches' main function will be to spot hidden talent.

Malalasekera said once the talent has been identified persons such as Arjuna, Tissera and Sidat will make a personal visit and satisfy themselves that such talent is worth pursuing.

The selected lot will come in batches to Colombo to undergo training in a camp for two or three weeks all found under the watchful eyes of the international panel and make their recommendations for the coaching committee of the BCCSL. A squad around 20 to 30 will be picked, drawn from the rural areas. This co-pool will form the nucleus for future test prospects for the country, he added.

This concept appears to be on the right direction. However, it's given to understand that no plan has been developed. 

It will become a reality of the Int. Committee under the stewardship of Malalasekera, is on the right track. This in turn sow the seeds for the much look forward to cricket academy becoming a reality.

Being to the Australian Academy in Adelaide the lads are afforded with all facilities on and off the field - including to further an academic career for their future well-being.

After cricket what? The Cricket Board, too will pay an allowance to the trainees so that they will be financially viable than being a burden on their parents.

Today Australia are world champions in two sports - cricket and rugby - thanks to their infrastructure and professional administration. One need not have played first class cricket or rugby to be in the admin. A good example is Sri Lankan born Dilip Kumar, who is a vice-chairman in the Aussie Rugby Board.

Malalasekera's vision is to put country before self and bring reconciliation via sports. 

This move by him should be lauded to harness talent at grassroots level, be it from the estates drought-stricken Ruhuna or even from the North and East, where several of them played for the country, one of them being maestro M. Sthasivam.

Today if one analyse the composition of the players in any discipline at national level, most of them hail from the rural areas, but not from the elite society.

Its never too late and Malalasekera and his committee should be commended for taking a positive step. 

-BW

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