Casting vote makes 'Jamal' Sec. of WPRFU......
At the Western Province Rugby Football Union , for the first time the office-bearers
were decided on a ballot paper, held on Jan. 31, at the CR & FC.
There was keen contest for all posts, barring the president and immediate
past president, who were uncontested.
For the post of secretary, Shane Dullewe and former Sri Lanka player
Nizam Jamaldeen, ended in a tie with six votes each. But the casting vote
by the President, Mohan Balasuriya was given to Jamaldeen 7-6.
There were three contenders for the two vice presidents - Brig. H.M.N.
Krishnaratne (8) SSP Nimal Lewke (5) , and M. Jayasekera (4) Deputy President
Fazal Mohamed, got the better of A.V.P. Silva 8-3. Asst. Sec. Cdr. N.K.D.
Nanayakkara, Treasurer - Chaminda Rupasinghe, Asst. Wing Cdr. S. Fernando.
(B.W.)
Facelift to 'Sara' Stadium
Since the inaugural first Test match after Sri Lanka gained ICC status
against England led by Keith Fletcher and skippered by Bandula Warnapura,
the picturesque venue will have a fully equipped Indoor Sports Complex.
This will be declared open on Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. by Sri Lanka's spin-wizard
Muttiah Murlitharan, who will be the chief guest.
After 20 years when the inaugural Test which was also played in Feb.
1981, the Complex, too will be opened in Feb. 2002 a coincidence. The Indoor
Sports Complex will be afforded with all facilities for the members besides
playing cricket said Tryphon Mirando a senior official of the club.
It was at this venue that international matches were played in the past
where the all-time great, late Sir Don Bradman, played in a whistle stop
match here, in 1948. Sir Don led the invincible team to England for he
Ashes Series.
The architect of this Complex is former Sir Lanka opener Mano Ponniah.
(B.W.)
Sixteen member squad for National Cross-country
races
A sixteen (16) member squad comprising 10 men and 6 women athletes will
represent the Central Province in the forthcoming National cross-country
races 2002, which is scheduled to be held on February 17.
The Department of Sports in the Central Province has selected their
athletes at the cross-country races held at the Peradeniya University grounds
on January 26th, when over 200 competiters of either sex from the three
districts Matale, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya participated.
In the Men's event the competiters had to cover a distance of twelve
(12) kilometres whilst women competiters covered a distance of eight (8)
kilometres.-LDC Matale
Lanka women thrash Pakistan
In a domineering series of six One-Day International between Sri Lanka
and the touring Pakistan team, Sri Lanka outplayed the visitors with a
display of superiority to take the series 6-0 played at P. Saravanamuttu
grounds, Moors SC grounds, Asgiriya International Stadium grounds and Moratuwa
SC grounds during the last two weeks.
Pakistan started off in a chaotic disarray but picked up as they played
on but was no match to the local girls at any stage of the game. They were
effortlessly thrashed.
Middle order help Lanka 'A' to lead
By Bernie Wijesekera
Sri Lanka 'A' afterbeing 312 for 3 attea, lost their last six wickets for102
runs before they declared at 414 for 9 in reply to Kenya's 292 on the third
day of their first unofficial four-day Test match in the three-Test series
continued at the P. Sara Stadium yesterday.
The Kenyans displayed abundant cricketing skills and gave nothing away
on the field. Spinners bowled with guile to contain the Lankan batsmen,
backed by agile fielding.
The Sri Lankan 'A' team despite a solid opening stand of 106 runs by
the openers were 122 for 1 overnight when play was halted at tea due to
rain on Friday.
Continuing their innings with Ian Daniel on 46 and lefthander Michael
Van Dort on six. The pair batted cautiously to build the total.
They had to grind hard to score runs against the spinners led by 'offie'
Maurice Odumbe and 'leggie' Collin Obuy and had the batsmen on the defensive
with their guile.
Finally opener Daniel's dogged innings came to an end when spinner Steve
Tikolo dug one in to have open his gate. Ian's 71 had ten fours made in
186 balls.
T.M. Dilshan who joined lanky lafthander Van Dort brought some life
to the innings with some brisk strokeplay.With impeccable drives brought
him plenty of fours. Meanwhile Van Dort completed a stubborn 50 with four
fours with Dilshan batting freely on 21 with 4 fours.
At lunch Sri Lanka 'A' were 211 for 2. Resuming the innings Van Dort
played some positive strokes, a straight drive for 4 off Odumbe. The Lankans
took control with Van Dort and Dilshan batting with authority with runs
piling up quickly and the blooming third wicket stand on 82. Van Dort tried
to pull 'leggie' Obuya and played across the line to be trapped in front
for 75 well struck runs with eight fours made in 177 balls in 232 minutes.
Chamara Silva joined Dilshan. The pair produced the best batting for
the day. Silva started off with a bang. He went on his knees to sweep Odumbe
to the pickets. Silva played forceful cricket to the on side and made a
spicy 30 not out at tea with 4 fours in 42 balls, while Dilshan on 65 -
312 for 3.
Kenya fought back in the final session. Dilshan on 82 batted with confidence.
He smashed one to backward point, attempted a suicide run and Sheik had
him stranded. His knock had seven fours made in 139 balls.
Left-arm spinner Sheik coming from the scoreboard struck twice - in
his 11th and 12th overs to pick two wickets for three. Firstly Chamara
on 56 batting beautifully, attempted to drive, was caught at extra cover
which included 6 fours in 74 balls.
In the next over Chandana was caught behind for 3. The lower-order batting
was in disarray. A fine fightback by the Kenyans - Sri Lankan 'A' 384 for
9.
Tailenders Prabath Nissanka threw caution to the winds to smack 23 n.o
(with two sixes and a four) and Perera 10 n.o, helped them to declare at
414.
The Kenyans lost Otieno leg before for one. But Ravindu Shah 17 n.o
with 3 fours in 28 balls and Tikolo 12 n.o (2 fours) showed superb technique
despite playing the last four overs in fading light to reach 31 for 1.
Finally the umpires called it a day.
The final day today should provide good fare with the Sri Lankans holding
the whip hand with the visitors still 91 runs in arrears.
Kenya 1st innings 292 all out
(R.D Shah 94, H.S.Modi 52; Ruchira Perera 4/70)
Sri Lanka 'A' 1st innings(122 for 1 overnight)
D.A. Gunawardene c Otieno b Odumbe 57
(Caught behind attempting to square cut)
G.I. Daniel b Tikolo 71
(Bowled, beaten and bowled comprehensively)
M. G. Vandort lbw C.Obuya 75
(Hitting across the line)
T.M. Dilshan run out 82
(Attempting a suicide run after playing to backwar point)
Chamara Silva c Odumbe b M.Sheik 56
(Attempted to drive, caught at extra cover)
Upul Chandana c K.Otieno b M.Sheik 3
(Tried to cut-out side edge to wicket keeper)
P.Jayawardena c M.Sheik b Obuya 7
(Played half cock)
M.Pushpakumara run out 6
(At the bowlers end going for a cheeky single)
K.Weeraratne st. K.Otieno b Obuya 9
(Stepped out, beaten by the flight)
Pradeep Nissanka not out 23
Ruchira Perera not out 0
Extras 15
Total (9 wkts. dec in 131 overs, 556 minutes) 414
Fall of wickets: 1-106 (Avishka) 2-176 (Daniel) 3-258 (Vandort), 4-345
(Dilshan), 5-358 (Chandana), 6-361 (C.Silva), 7- 370 (M.Pushpakumara),
8- 375 (Prassanna Jayawardena, 9-384 (Weeraratne)
Bowling M. Sujui 14 - 3 - 32 - 0 ( 1nb), T. Odoyo 12 - 2 - 43 - 0 (5nb),
O. Suji 12 - 1 - 40 - 0 (1w, 2nb), L. Onayango 8 - 0 - 29 - 0, H. Tikolo
26 - 9 - 67 -1, M. Odumbe 15 -2-45 -1, Collin Obuya 27- 3 - 87 - 3,M. Sheikh
17 -2- 65- 2,
Kenya second innings
K. Otieno lbw b Weeraratne 1
(Played back wrapped on the pad)
R.D. Shah not out 17
S. Tikolo not out 2
Extras 1
Total (for 1 wicket at stumps in 10 overs) 31
Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Otieno)
Bowling: R.Perera 4-0-10-0, K.Weeraratne 3-1-16-1, U.Chandana 2-1-1-0,
M.Pushpakumara 1-0-4-0
Thuhashini AWGA "Player of the Year".
By Nilika de Silva
Sri Lanka's star woman golfer Thuhashini Selvaratnam was awarded the title
of 2001 Arizona Women's Golf Association "Player of the Year".
"Tui" as she is known in the US, young Selvaratnam earned 1845 points
an almost 300 point lead over the second on the list Missy-Farre Kaye who
obtained 1547.5 points.
The scores were drawn up based upon points earned for competitions during
the 2001 season as defined by the 2001 Arizona Women's Golf Association
Point Qualification program.
The Award was presented to Selvaratnam at the 2002 AWGA Annual Meeting
and Awards ceremony which took place on January 29 at Phoenix Country Club.
Pakistan hit back
SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Captain Carl Hooper led
a West Indies fightback against Pakistan with a confident 56 before being
dismissed off the last ball before tea on the third day of the first test
on Saturday.
At the interval, West Indies were 231 for five in their first innings
reply to Pakistan's challenging 493, still needing a further 63 to avoid
the follow on.
Hooper breathed new life into the West Indies innings after Pakistan
spinners Saqlain Mushtaq and Danish Kaneria had reduced them to 180 for
four by picking up two wickets apiece.
The West Indies skipper and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (13 not out) shared
in a fifth-wicket stand of 51 before Hooper was trapped leg before wicket
by the seam of Abdur Razzaq.
Hooper had struck eight fours in 103 balls.
Earlier, the day began well enough for West Indies as openers Daren
Ganga and Chris Gayle extended their overnight partnership of 54 to 88
before the first wicket fell, Ganga trapped in front by a Saqlain arm-ball.
In the very next over, the off-spinner struck again, bowling the left-handed
Gayle for a patient 68 after just under two hours at the crease.
Gayle, dropped on 37 by Shoaib Akhtar on Friday, struck 13 fours in
117 balls before he missed the line of a straight Saqlain delivery.
Campbell, playing his first test for West Indies in a little more than
a year, then added 30 for the third wicket with Wavell Hinds before he
was deceived by a Kaneria googly and dismissed leg before wicket.
Hinds seemed set for a big innings early in the afternoon when a lapse
in concentration cost him his wicket.
The batsman, attempting an expansive stroke against Kaneria, was deceived
by another googly to be stumped by wicketkeeper Rashid Latif for 59.
Hinds had hit 10 fours and a six in 99 balls.
No decision at Campbell Park
By M.Shamil Amit
With no play on the first day the match starting late yesterday in the
Elephant Lemonade Cup interschool cricket between Wesley and S.Thomas at
Campbell Park. This match was also played for the Sathasivam Trophy.
Wesley - 122 for 4 (Andre Toussaint 49, Charitha Karunaratne 17, C.
Kodikara 15 n.o; Vijesh Blasubramanium 2 for 38)
Skipper Ganganath 97
Royal skipper Ganganath Ratnayake with a knock of 97 and his deputy Damith
Abeygunawardena making an unbeaten 50 was the highlight of the drawn match
between Ananda and Royal which concluded at Ananda Mawatha yesterday.
Royal - 230 for 7 dec (Ganganath Ratnayake 97, Daham Perera 46, Damith
Abeygunewardena 50 n.o; Isuru Dias 4 for 45, Yohan Wickremage 2 for 64)
Ananda - 110 for 3 at close (Mahela Udawatte 24, Yohan Wickremage 23,
M. Jayakody 38 n.o; C. Vidanapathirane 1 for 40, Ganganath Ratnayake 1
for 4)-MSA
Tyronne shines
Nalanda were the recipients of a right royal bashing from the Antonians
at Katugastota yesterday.
St. Anthony's - 261 in 76.5 over 9T. de Silva 84, Nuwan Rathnayake 38,
Nipuna Ratnayake 25, M. Rikaz 23, M. Shazwan 19, A. Ariyaratne 15; I. Dilshan
4 for 83, S. Gangodawila 3 for 38)
Nalanda - 102 in 39 overs (S. Wijetunga 88; T. de. Silva 3 for 42, H.
Tillekeratne 3 for 16, A. Ariyaratne 2 for 12) and 28 for no loss in 8
overs (L. Amarasuriya 17 n.o, M. Gamarachchi 10 n.o) - AK
Perera 6 for 32
By Vijitha Senaratne Kurunegala Corr
Isipatana gained a first innings lead over Maliyadeva Kurunegala in the
Inter-School cricket match concluded at the Welagedera Stadium yesterday.
Isipatana - 262 in 57 overs (C. Prasad 65, A. Peiris 39, R. de. Silva
64, C. Lewke 34, E. Oshdi 23 n.o; G. Konara 2 for 30, D. Gunatilleke 3
for 63,D. Malmeewela 2 for 33) and 146 for 5 at close in 76 overs (S.Nishantha
30, A. Peiris 45, R. de Silva 33 n.o; S.Karunanayake 3 for 33)
Maliyadeva - 127 in 75 overs (S. Priyanthaka 54, S. Perera 6 for 32
in 20 overs, 9 maidens, E. Oshadi 3 for 37) - (No: 242)
Dialog to sponsor 'Battle of Blues'
By Bernie Wijesekera
The oldest schools uninterrupted cricketing encounter in the world - the
123rd 'Battle of the Blues' between Royal and S. Thomas' played for the
D.S. Senanayake Trophy three-day match will be played from March 7, 8 and
9 at the SSC grounds. This is a game much look forward in the schools cricket
calendar.
A game played in the best traditions and enjoyed by all - be it old
boys of either institutions and followers of the game during the past.
The joint organizing committee with the staff put it on course for the
smooth running of the match without let or hindrance to the avid fans.
Dialog GSM the main sponsor performed the rescue-act with their vision
for new ideas during the breaks for its smooth running. This was revealed
at a media briefing chaired by Tryphon Mirando, in association with Lakshman
Gomes Principal of Royal, Warden of S. Thomas' David Ponniah, Hans Wijesuriya
General Manager and CEO, Dialog and the members of the Jt. Committee. |
