City Round-up
SSC in control
By Bernie Wijesekera
A stroke-filled 108 (in 125 balls with a six and 12 fours) by Upeka Fernando
helped SSC toke in control over defending Premier Trophy 'A' league champions
at the SSC Ground on the second day of their three-day match yesterday.
NCC - 134 (N. Soysa 2 for 32, Suresh Perera 4 for 15, R. Dhammika 2
for 36) and 34 for 1 at close (N. Nawaz 20 n.o, A. Weerapuli 1 n.o)
SSC - 117 for 3 overnight contd. 299 (Upeka Fernando 108, N.T. Paranavitana
31, S. Perera 28, R. Dhammika 25,Muditha Fernando 18; A. Ganegama 3 for
72, Aravinda de Silva 2 for 15)
De Silva 89
Ragama CC after dismissing out CC for 271,did well to give a spirited reply
due to a gritty 89 by N. de.Silva (11 fours) to help them total 193 on
the second day.
CCC in their second essay were 39 for 1 at stumps.
CCC - 271 (D. Ranaweera 63, A. Polonowita 71; S. Arangala 2 for 43,
R. Priyadarshana 2 for 60;P. Salgado 4 for 47) and 39 for 1
Ragama CC - 193 in 70 overs (N. de. Silva 89, S. Arangalla 47 n.o; MarioVillavarayan
4 for 28, N. Rupasinghe 4 for 72) BW
Outright win for Moors
By M.Shamil Amit
Moors started their Premier League cricket season on a winning note when
they outclassed Kurunegala YCC by an innings and 44 runs at Braybrooke
Place yesterday.
Kurunegala YCC - 128 and 136 (Muditha Madusantha 45, Ranjith Amunugama
35; Nandika Ranjith 2 for 34, Chandika Hathurusinghe 3 for 20, Rangana
Herath 2 for 10, Bhatiya Perera 2 for 12)
Moors - 308 (Bhatiya Perera 86, Dilshan Vithana 47, Charinda Fernando
52, Rangana Herath 43, Aruna Bandaranayake 26; G.C.Gamage 2 for 50, Ajith
Ekanayake 2 for 89, Suwanji Medanayake 3 for 49)
Tamil Union on top
On the second day of the Premier League cricket match between Tamil Union
and debutants Chilaw Marians being played at the Sara Stadium, Tamil Union
obtained a first innings win.
Tamil Union - 217 and 221 for 9 at close (Indika Galagoda 53, Malintha
Gajanayake 51 n.o., Ruwin Perera 22, Indika de Saram 22, Nuwan Shiroman
22, Sanjeewa Jayantha 31; Dhammika Perera 4 for 38, Praneeth Jayasundara
4 for 48)
Chilaw Marians - 174 (Janaka Gunaratne 28, Arosha Perera 25, Janaka
Siriwardena14, Dinidu Marage 36, Charith Sylvester 29 n.o.. Lakmalka Fernando
15, Dhammika Perera 20; Ranga Dias 3 for 31, Anil Ridigammanagedera 3 for
40, Sampath Kelum 2 for 37, Niroshan Bandaratileke 2 for 32)-MSA
School cricket
Oshadee 7/40
Right arm off-spinner Oshadee Nawaragodagedera with match figures of 7
for 40 put Isipatana on top on the first day's play in the Lemonade Cup
inter-school match against Nalanda at the Colts grounds. In a low scoring
game Isipatana were able to score only 121 but came back from behind to
bundled out the Nalandians for 116.
Isipatana - 121 (Saman Nishantha 24, Chanuka Perera 18, Amal Peiris
12, Chaminda Prasad 18; Malinga Surappulige 3 for 19, Gamini Chandrakumar
3 for 25, Ishara Dilshan 3 for 31)
Nalanda - 116 (Malinga Gammarachchi 27, Charith Kumarasiri 19; Oshadee
Nawaragodagedera 7 for 40, Rohan de Silva 2 for 11)
Joes on top
St. Joseph's Colombo registered a first innings win over St. Aloysius Galle
in their Lemonade Cup inter-school cricket match at Darley Road yesterday.
St. Aloysius - 237 for 8 dec. (S. Vithana 105 n.o., D.Jayasekera 28,
E.Vithana 23; R.Perera 3 for 23, Thivanka de S. Wijeratne 2 for 17)
St. Joseph's - 354 (Thivanka de S.Wijeratne 106, Chandana Aravinda 50,
Hashan Goonetileke 46, Tharindu Ariyawansa 38, Nuwan Hewage 35; Eranga
Vithana 5 for 87, Sameera Vithana 2 for 63, Dilan Janaka 2 for 83)-MSA
Bens on 1st innings
In another Lemonade Cup inter-school cricket match between St. Benedict's
and Wesley which ended at Kotahena yesterday. St. Benedict's gained a first
innings win. In reply to Wesley's score of 181 St. Benedict's scored 188
for 7 before declaring.
Herat in CJI Panel
On Saturday October 20 in Annecy, France, at the 2001 Biennial Sessions
of the Federation International de Motocyclisme (FIM), which is the international
controlling body for motorcycle sports, Mr. P.B. Herat was appointed to
the CJI (the International Judicial Panel) of the world body.
The FIM may appoint members of this Judicial Panel to its International
Disciplinary Court, the Arbitration and Advisory Tribunal and the International
Appeal Tribunal.
Mr. Herat is the first Sri Lankan to be appointed to the CJI and is
the only Asian on it.
Mr. Herat, who is a former racing rider, a lawyer who retired is Secretary
of the Ministry of Justice, is the President of the Federation of Motorcycle
Sports in Sri Lanka, which is the National Association and the controlling
body for motorcycle sports in this country.
Sri Lanka riders in China
The Federation of Motorcycle Sports in Sri Lanka (FMSSL) has selected the
two top Sri Lankan motorcross riders Ananda Wedisinghe and Nalin Perera
to participate in the Asia Pacific Motorcross Series & International
Invitation Race to be held in Chendu City, Sichuan Province, China from
November 1 to 4.
These two riders have thrilled Sri Lankan Motor Sports fans with their
daring and spectacular riding. While Wedisinghe has participated in foreign
meets, this is Nalin Perera's debut at the international level. The invitation
to participate at this meet was extended to the President of FMSSL by the
Chinese at the recently concluded Biennial Sessions of the Federation Internationale
de Motorcyclisme (FIM) held in Annecy, France.
Final battle fordesert crown
Daminda Wijesuriya reporting from Sharjah
Sri Lanka is a team that learns a lesson from a defeat. It has been proved
in the past and many Sri Lankans, irrespective of whether they live in
United Arab Emirates or in Sri Lanka, hope that they will put up a better
show today in the final of the Champion's Trophy tri nation tournament
at Sharjah.
Their objective, to record a 5-0 in the series, got a beating on Friday.
But that's not the end of the world. They just lost a match to outstanding
batting displays by Inzamam-ul Haq and Naveed Latif. As we said before
Friday's game, changed things dramatically within a short space of time.
Yesterday's zero will be today's hero and today's hero will be tomorrow's
zero. That's the type of the game, called One Day International cricket.
Obviously disappointed, but no one is downhearted in the team.
They all know that they can bounce back and all are waiting for the
next time. All of a sudden, there are few injuries to the players and some
seem to be pretty dangerous. Specially the one suffered by young Dilhara
Fernando, whose absence was felt very much on Friday. It is known that
Dilhara is carrying a pain in his back. The MRI scan, done two days ago
showed nothing related to a fracture. However he is to undergo a bone scan
today and if anything goes in the wrong direction, he will be out of action
for a couple of months. Striking, isn't it !
According to team manager Ajith Jayasekara, Sri Lanka's regular wicket
keeper Romesh Kaluwi-tharana, affectionately known as "Little Kalu" is
also on the injured list. Kalu's left thumb was hit by a delivery on Friday
and X-rays revealed that his finger is fractured. He will be out of action
for three to four weeks. Muralitharan complains a pain on his right shoulder
and was treated with ice bags after every game.
Not an injury to be concerned about, but certainly an indication of
inconveniences for his bowling overdose. This was the main reason for him
to rest on Friday as a heavy workload lies ahead for him in the next two
and half months back at home.
Well, these things have to be dealt with as they come and a touring
team will have very limited options. Sri Lanka is in that position now.
Whatever happens, skipper Jayasuriya is doing his best to get back into
the winning ways. Sri Lanka gets into the field today as winners of the
two previous tournaments at the same venue.
The team is determined to make it three-in-a-row and this pressure means
a lot for them. Friday's result should also come in as a motivating factor.
When Pakistan play in Sharjah, they always believe that the cup or the
trophy is meant for them. Pakistan has played 25 series in the desert venue
and has won almost half of it - 11. In contrast to Pakistan this is Sri
Lanka's 19th series in Sharjah and the islanders have won only four of
them. Out of those 19, Pakistan has been involved in 14 series.
Today's composition of the Sri Lanka team will be seven batsmen, and
five bowlers, including an all-rounder. Jayasuriya, Gunawardene, Atapattu,
Jayawardene and Arnold will represent the top order but the problem remains
in the middle order. Kumar Sangakkara has not performed to expectations
in limited over cricket. He is a guy who needs some time to settle down
and by the time he gets his eye, the overs may be finished, when he bats
in the late middle order. Therefore either the batting order might change
or Chamara Silva may come in as the seventh batsman. Bringing Chamara Silva
is also a bit of a gamble.
He could not find himself in the playing XI, in any of the league games.
Though he is a brilliant fielder, one has to think how he is going to handle
the hot stuff from Akram & Co.. Anyway, if Chamara comes in, Buddika,
Nissanka and Liyanage have to fight for a place in the side.
This is where Kumara Dharmasena's batting ability counts. From the Pakistan
side, Wasim Akram and Saeed Anwer will be recalled for duties in the final.
Akram is the only bowler in the world to claim more than 100 ODI wickets
in Sharjah and Saeed has seven three figure marks to his credit at the
same venue.
Pakistan's latest sensation, Naveed Latif, will add solidness to their
batting but the biggest plus mark that Pakistan has is Inzamam's return
to form. Their other middle order batsmen in the likes if Younis Khan and
Yousuf Youhana are also in a roaring form.
The four pronged pace attack, headed by Wasim Akram, will be one of
the toughest in the business today and comprises of two players who can
smash the ball around, almost at will. Shoaib Akthar will get the nod from
the selectors for his fast stuff while Abdur Razzaq is there as an additional
all rounder. Shoaib Malik and Danish Kaneria will vie for the spinners
place in the side.
In the previous tournament, Pakistan had a blemishless entrance to the
final but they lost to Sri Lanka much to the disappointment of their supporters.
This time Sri Lanka was also warned against such a situation, but now they
have already lost a game to Pakistan. Sri Lanka will be doing its best
to make it three-in-a-row, while Pakistan is trying to stamp once again
that they are the kings of cricket in the desert.
BCCSL to sign fresh deal with Taj TV
After the contract with WSG Nimbus group for TV rights being cancelled.
The Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) called for new bids
from international TV companies.
A official of the BCCSL who arrived in Sharjah said that Taj TV owned
by Arab business tycoon Abdul Rahman Bukthatir has won the TV rights and
a new deal will be signed with TV Taj.
The BCCSL official said the new contract has been given to TV Taj as
it was the highest bidder. The new deal has been agreed for US $ 13.9 million
for three years said the official who arrived in Sharjah to sign the agreement.
The Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka(BCCSL) was associated
with WSG Nimbus group for nearly one and half years and it was ceased a
couple of weeks ago due to a breach of the agreement. Thus BCCSL called
for fresh bids from international TV production companies and various TV
companies, including Taj TV. It is reliably known that the Taj TV offered
the highest bid while the next closer to them was 10 million US $ for three
years.
"Unlike in the past the BCCSL will get the full amount of money this
time and the relevant TV company will have to bare the production cost.
In earlier cases, production cost were deducted from the agreed amount"
a senior member of the interim committee said.
Mr. Vijaya Malalasekara, the chairman of the interim committee, arrived
in Sharjah last Thursday, and two members of the same committee, Mr. Michael
Tissera and Mr. Asantha de Mel had come earlier.
The owner of Taj TV, Mr. Abdulrahman Bukhatir, is the founder of Cricketers
Benefit Fund Series (CBFS) in Sharjah and responsible for all the success
of cricket in United Arab Emirates. His Taj Television is presently doing
the TV coverage at Sharjah cricket grounds. -DW |
