Lanka atop Asgiriya
Aubrey Kuruppu reporting from Asgiriya
Exciting possibilities on final day the Sri Lankans have insulated themselves
from defeat by the end of the fourth day with a lead of 225 runs with nine
wickets standing. If the home team could get the West Indians something
around 325 on the final day in about 75 overs of batting, the pressure
would really be on the side batting last.
I doubt whether even the brilliance of Lara could take them to victory
when up against the trio of Sri Lankan bowlers. Had the Sri Lankans pushed
on a little more in their second innings, it would have done nicely, thank
you.
Earlier, there was a dramatic collapse in which the West Indian lost
their last five wickets for a mere 24 runs. Five batsmen failed to score.
Had it not been for the sheer commitment and brilliance of Brian Lara,
the total would barely have passed the three figure mark.
The Prince of Trinidad struggled at the start in the face of some probingly
accurate spin bowling by Muralitharan. The latter pursued his quarry relentlessly
and finally trapped him leg before at 74. Lara showed great dedication
as he farmed the strike and tried to get the tailenders to contribute,
but all to no avail. His lofted shots (two sixes off Bandaratilleka) were
exquisite, while some of his drives through the covers evoked gasps of
admiration.
Jayasuriya and Atapattu proceeded quietly for the most part. Their watchfulness
was punctuated by several strokes of authority.
Atapattu drove splendidly, straight and through the covers while his
pull to mid wicket off Ramarine was brilliantly executed. The Sri Lankan
skipper produced a couple of sizzling cuts and drives. He pounced on two
Ramarine deliveries and obtained six runs to go to his fifty. Suprisingly,
he departed in the same over, hitting a catch to extra cover.
Atapattu on 28 was deceived by a well-flighted Hooper off break and
was stranded. However, stumper Jacobs could not quite gather the delivery
that bounced. The total was then on 69. When on 41, Jayasuriya had a confident
shout for a catch down the leg side turned down. The West Indians pointedly
did not applaud his fifty.
Atapattu got to that land-mark with a delightful square cut to the boundary
off Collins. It took him 121 balls and it included six fours. Sangakkara
kept him stately, assured company till the close of a full day's play.
Scoreboard
Sri Lanka first innings 288 all out (M.Jayawardena 88, H.Tilakaratne
87, Collins 4-78. Dillon 3-55)
West Indies 1st innings (overnight 39-1)
C. Gayle b Zoysa 44
(attempting to drive, bowled by deadly yorker)
D.Ganga c Jayawardena b Zoysa 00
(edged to third slip trying to square drive)
R. Sarwan b Muralitharan 17
(trying to turn to leg and missed flighted delivery)
B. Lara lbw b Muralitharan 74
(trapped in front, playing back)
C. Hooper lbw b Muralitharan 23
(played back to off break and missed)
M. Samuels C. Sangakkara b Muralitharan 00
(deceived by the straight ball, edged to keeper)
R. Jacobs b Vaas 24
(dragged on, inside edge)
M. Dillon c Sangakkara b Vaas 00
(edged out swinger, low catch)
D. Ramnarine lbw b Vaas. 00
(late on an inswinger, pushhing half forward)
P. Collins lbw b Vaas
(no shot offered to a ball that kept low) 00
C. Stuart not out 00
Extras (lb-5, nb-4) 09
Total (all out, 66.5 overs) 191
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-51, 3-72, 4-126, 5-126, 6-167, 7-173,
8-173, 9-181, 10-191.
Bowling: Vaas 22-7-56-4 (4nb), Zoysa 13-3-34-2, Muralitharan
23.5-5-54-4, Bandaratillake 4-0-25-0, Samaraweera 4-1-17-0.
Sri Lanka second innings
M.Atapattu not out 58
S.Jayasuriya c Gayle b Ramnarine
( lofted drive to extra cover) 55
K.Sangakkara not out 10
Extras 05
( 3 byes, 2 leg byes)
Total ( for 1 wicket in 47 overs) 128
Fall of wickets: 1-89
Bowling: Dillon 6-2-14-0, Collins 7-0-21-0, Ramnarine 13-0-51-1,
Stuart 8-1-20-0, Hooper 13-4-17-0
Young Sri Lankan scrabblers dazzle in Bahrain
Two fifteen year old scrabble players did their country proud at the Sri
Lanka Club International scrabble Open (SLCISO) held in Bahrain recently
by excelling in the mind game.
While Saudi Arabia's Mazhar Qureshi won all his games and walked away
with $600 and Power House trophies, two youngsters from Sri Lanka also
managed to show their prowess in a game that is fast catching in Sri Lanka.
Naveen Fernando trophies were presented both to Bahrain's Mario Ranasuriya
(Sri Lankan Club) and Harikesh Kaneshayogn (best Sri Lankan competitor)
who flew in from Sri Lanka especially for the event.
The two players won accolades as promising scribblers with exceptional
talent as their performances were of a very high level.
Both Harikesh and Mario are 15-year old students and SLCISO tournament
director Roy Kietzman dubbed Kaneshayogn a giant killer for having downed
regional veterans of the mind game.
A string of prizes were awarded to the winners of the extra ordinary
mind game.
Bahrain Mind Sports Association (BMSA) President Abduwahab Al Asoomi
was the guest of honour and was held at the Diplomat Radisson SAS Hotel.
Premier league cricket
Malintha, Gayan Prop Tamils Union
By Marlon Fernandopulle
A 146 run stand for the 5 th wicket between Malintha Gajanayake(91) and
Gayan Wijeyakoon(55) helped Tamil Union to 348 all out against Moors SC
in a Premier League game at the P Saravanamutthu Stadium yesterday.
Gajanayake smacked 14 boundaries in his 133 ball knock to anchor the
Tamil Union innings and help them pass the 300 run mark.In reply Moors
who started off well to be 100 for the loss of two wickets lost their way
to be 181 for 6 wickets by the close.
Tamil Union - 348 all out (Ranga Dias 73, Gayan Wijeyakoon 55 Malintha
Gajanayake 91, Farahat Farook 4/70) Moors SC-181/6 at close(M S Sampan
38 , Charinda Fernando 26 n o Pramodya Wickremasinghe 2/35)
CCC batsmen make merry
Half centuries from Bradman Ediriw-eera(80),Micheal Vandort(93) and
Anushka Polonowita(75 n o) helped CCC to 319/3 wickets against Sebastianites
at Maitland Crescent yesterday. Earlier Sebastianites did well to compile
267 after being 229 for 8 wickets on friday with Hasitha Fernando top scoring
with an unbeaten 60.
CCC in reply reached an imposing 313 for 3 wickets by the close with
Micheal Vandort stroking a stylish 93 and Bradman Ediriweera compiling
an elegant 80.Anushka Polonowita was at the crease on a solid 75 striking
two sixes and eight boundaries
SebastianitesSc-229/8 overnight 267 all out(Nalin Wijeyasinghe 59 Hasantha
Fernando 60 n o Nisitha Rupasinghe 4/85 Anushka Polonowita 3/33)
CCC- 319/3 at close (Bradman Ediriweera 80 Micheal Vandort 93 Anushka
Polonowita 75 n.o)
Ragama CC going great guns
By M.Shamil Amit
Debutants in the Premier League Ragama CC are going great guns when they
overtook Panadura SC's first innings score of 173 and take a first innings
lead in the Premier League match being played at the Panadura Esplanade.
Ragama CC continuing from their overnight score of 18 for 1 were in deep
trouble at one stage with the score on 73 for 6. But a fine partnership
of 142 runs for the seventh wicket between Sanjeewa Arangala (83) and Sanahasa
Fernando (54) helped them to 215. Panadura SC in their second innings were
185 for at close with Chamara Silva112 n.o., and Pubudu Wickrama 57 n.o.
Panadura SC 173 and 185 for 2 at close (Chamara Silva 112 n.o., Pubudu
Wickrama 57 n.o. Rasika Priyadhrshana 2 for 37) Ragama CC 215 (Sanjeewa
Arangala 83, Sanahasa Fernando 54, Sumeda Weerasiri 32; Kapila Silva 4
for 23)
Galle CC sitting pretty
Galle CC were in a strong position in their Premier League cricket match
against Air Force being played at the Galle Stadium. Air Force batting
first scored 183 and Galle CC in reply were 123 for 3 at close. In another
Premier League match being played at the Kettarama Stadium. Antonian SC
registered a first innings win over Kurunegala YCC.
Air Force 183 (D.Fernando 62, S.Dananjaya 26, D.Lokuhettige 2 for 27,
C.Ramanayake 2 for 33)
Galle CC 123 for 3 at close (D.Sudarshan 69 n.o., R.Yasalal 35) Antonian
SC 203 and 121 for 4 at close.- Kurunegala YCC 151-
Bloomfield on top
By Bernie Wijesekera
An entertaining fifth wicket stand of 189 betwenn Thilina Kandambi (96)
and Kumar Dharmasena (89 put Bloomfield in the box seat on day two of their
Premier League match being played at Reid Avenue. Bloomfield resuming their
innings on 105 for 4 amassed a nassive 404. Chilaw Marians batting the
second time were in dire straites finishing the day on 93 for 8.
Chilaw Marians 90 and 93 for 8 at close (I. Muthalip 23, P.Nissanka
2 for 10, K.Lokuarachchi 2 for 18)
Bloomfield 404 (T.Kandambi 96, K.Dharmasena 89; R.Palliyaguru 3 for
69)
Delmege Forsyth Cagers sail into final
By Bruce Maurice
After a lapse of eight years and sans a single Sri Lanka player, the cagers
of Delmege Forsyth have sailed into the final of the Mercantile 'A' division
basketball championship. The last occasion they tasted the fruits of successwas
way back in 1991.
This year they played five, won four and lost one. From 1994 to 1999,
due to unavoidable circumstances, they were not able to field a cager team.
However, they now have a Chairman Mr. R. Mendis who is a fitness and sports
fanatic who leaves no stone unturned to promote, not only basetball, but
other sports as well. He goes out of his way to help his employees in all
sports and is very keen to see Delmege producing some cagers for the national
side in the not too distant future. His keenness and wellbeing for his
sportsmen/women is very evident by his presence at practises to absorb
their progress.
The average of the team is 21 years. It is managed by Lyle Peiris and
is coached by D. Jayawardena who has worked wonders so far this season
to bring the team into the final.
Wijesekara slams 133
Making full use of the blunder that Matale made by winning the toss and
putting them into bat, Police CC ran up a total of 284 for seven before
closing their innings, on the first day of their Sara Trophy match that
began at Police Park yesterday.
At stumps the visitors were struggling at 58 for the loss of three wickets.
Police CC 284 for 7 dec.: (S. Wijesekera 133, C. Liyanage 21, C. Silva
21, S. Wijeratne 25, J. Welagedara 4 for 66).
Matale CC 58 for 3. (D. Rangana 17 n.o., D. Gunawardena 2 for 25).
Kulasekara grabs 6 for 55
A fine spell by D.N. Kulasekera who snapped up six for 55 and followed
by a fine knock of 54 by T. Johar, enabled Nugegoda Sports & Welfare
Club to secure first innings points in their Sara Trophy match against
Singha SC that began at Bentota yesterday.
After dismissing Singha for a very moderate 119, NS &WC too did
not find batting easy and were bowled out for 165 with I. Dilshan capturing
five for 63. At stumps Singha SC were 35 for 1 in their second innings.
Singha SC 119 (T. Achintha 18, M. Kumara 18, D.N. Kulasekera 6 for 55,
S.S.K. Udawatte 2 for 29) and 35 for 1.
NS &WC 165 (S.S.K. Udawatte 42, T. Johar 54, G.R. Hettiarachi 23,
G.S. Perera 20, I. Dilshan 5 for 63, S. Ginige 2 for 28). -BM |
