Shan Wijeratne 103

By S.M.D.Sirisena

Prince of Wales - 232 for 9 and 211 for 7 (Shan Wijeratna 103, Dananjaya 66, Shan Galappathi 10; Buddhika Amarasingha 3 for 37, Sumalka Perera 1 for 41)

St. Sebastian's - 255 for 8 dec.(Shavindra Fernando 19, Madushan Fernando 84, Sumalka Perera 72, Lasith Fernando 23, Nimesh Silva 28; Kavinda Silva 2 for 30, Shanuka Cooray 3 for 51, N.Malinga 1 for 20)

Awards: Best Batsman Shan Wijeratna (Prince of Wales), Best Fielder : Sumalka Perera (St. Sebastian's), 

Harsha, Kosala sparkle

Vidyartha's free-strolling batsmen, Harsha Nanayakkara and Kosala Kulasekera provided the only sparkle in an otherwise dull and drab 44th Big Match against St. Sylvester's which was laid to rest at the Asgiriya Stadium yesterday.

After the Sylvestrians pottered around for 88.1 overs for a poor 137 on the first day, there was no chance of a positive result. Nanayakkara and Kulasekera found runs easy to come by against an attack that lacked penetration. The fielding too left a lot to be desired, with overthrows conceded and catches grassed.

St. Sylvester's - 137 and 59-4 in 39 overs 

(T. Jayatissa 19, Dharshana Karunaratne 11 N.O. H. Nanayakkara 2-14.)

Vidyartha - 19 for no loss contd. 223/6 declared

(Harsha Nanayakkara 72, Kosala Kulasekera 50 not out, Mohamed Refai 3-69.)

Man of the Match - Harsha Nanayakkara (Vidyartha)

The limited over game will be played at Asgiriya next Sunday, March 10.

Sri Lanka to play Pakistan, Holland 

In a media release this week the ICC announced a new name and format for its bi-ennial KnockOut tournament which will be held for the third time following the Dhaka(1998) and Nairobi (2000) tournaments. Teams from 12 countries will compete for a total of $1.15 million in the ICC Champions Trophy this year.

The new event also has a new format, with four Pools of three teams, rather than the straight knock out basis of its 11-team predecessors. Each side will play two Pool games followed by semi finals between the winners of Pool 2 and Pool 3, and Pool 1 and Pool 4. 

"The KnockOut has been a highly successful event but with Holland included as the winner of the ICC Trophy and therefore the leading Associate member team, a new format and name was required. We now have an event where every team will play a minimum of two matches and the eventual winner has the chance of earning up to $525,000, if it wins all of its matches. The team lifting the ICC Champions Trophy will also gain a huge confidence boost ahead of the World Cup a few months later in South Africa," said Malcolm Speed, Chief Executive Officer of the ICC in a Media release earlier this week.

The Pool allocations for the ICC Champions Trophy are:

Pool 1: Australia, Bangladesh, New Zealand

Pool 2: England, India, Zimbabwe

Pool 3: Kenya, South Africa, West Indies

Pool 4: Holland, Pakistan, Sri Lanka

The final choice of host country, match venue and programme of fixtures for the ICC Champions Trophy will be announced after the ICC Executive Board meeting in Cape Town on the 16th March.(MF)

Sri Lanka is sitting pretty after 20 years of test cricket 

By Gwen Herat

Twenty years is a long time to track down memories, but I distinctly remember............ beside the late Gamini Dissanayake, the then President of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka as he plodded and planned to steer Sri Lanka through to Test status. 

I was cutting my first tooth into cricket administration. 

Except for having a passion for the game as well as playing in a combined team against the visiting Australian team who were en-route to England. 

I was deft on the subject and when Gamini was talking about Test and Sri Lanka's entrance, naively I asked him what it was all about and whether our national Team had to sit for a test of something to that effect. He burst out laughing and at once I know I had dropped a brisk. 'No, you stupid' he told me scratching his scalp. 

'Sri Lanka has come of age to play Test cricket' he explained. Those were the happy days I could recall and I also remember some like Nuski Mohamed, Abu Fuard etc. and others who looked down their noses when they realised that the bugs had started biting me (not the ones in the chair) and were slightly annoyed my invasion to their domain. 

A few big-wigs found me as a chip on their shoulder but then that is history.

I had Gamini's persuasion and felt comfortable with him knowing his knack to extract the best out of a person once he has identified so. 

He pushed me into the mainstream of cricket administration when I became the President of the Puttlam District Cricket Association. There was a stir and the media interest on a woman heading a cricket body for the first time. Since then, I have never turned back but the only regret I carry is that Gamini was not there to see what I achieved. He was responsible even for the two books I wrote on cricket. The six thousand copies were sold within months. 

Cricket is the heart and soul of the nation in Sri Lanka with dedicated Presidents like Tyronne Fernando, Gamini Dissanayake.

Note by Sports Editor

Sugar-coated projects not the answer

I shall be able to praise or criticise them when it is completed to look like the Great Southern Stand at the MCG (Victoria) which caters to over 60,000 frenzied fans, who will even buy a ticket for A$200 to watch a Wallabies - All Blacks rugby match. 

Lets look into the basic requirements at present as the future is unknown.

Even if the plans for a modern Grandstand becomes a reality the fans in Ruhuna will still watch a game from the Galle Ramparts, as they are struggling to eke out a living put aside watching a game.

What is required at this juncture is not large toilets and hospitality boxes, but clean and hygienic facilities, but not air-conditioned rooms. To put up these basic needs one need not get UDA approval. The tour organising committee instead of languishing in cubicles should do well to see for themselves the prevailing shortcomings at the venues rather awaiting for the plans to be submitted by contractors (architects) for BCCSL scrutiny.

The Chairman of the Interim Committee, Vijaya Malalasekera once said at a media briefing, during my tenure my committee is transparent criticism is vital and most welcome.

This was brought to light when the English teams were here last year, but the BCCSL or the District Association took no action or released any plans that were in the offing to the media, until The Sunday Times exposure. It will continue to do so in these columns for the greater good of the game.

Sports in brief

CCC school cricket festival 

A series of six-a-side matches under 10, 13, 15 and 17 age groups and a friendly match between parents and students is also on the card. The organisers are expected to give away valuable trophies, prices and certificates to winners and runners up.

A smart t-shirt with the school logo will be given free to all participant students this year.

Thomian get-together

Further information can be obtained from Mr. Hiran Molligoda (President) on 077-349361." 

STC Class of 76 stag night

Tennis Social 

Cliffhanger as bad light ends Joe-Pete thriller

By M.Shamil Amit

The Joes were left with four balls to get three runs to win. On the other hand the Peterites had to get the last wicket if they hoped to win. At this juncture the match was called off due to bad light.

Resuming from their overnight score of 16 for no loss, the Peterites were cruising along merrily with openers, skipper Jehan Jayasuriya and Denver Faux having their own way. They posted the first 50 runs in even time and Denver Faux was the first to go, being clean bowled by Josephian skipper Thivanka de S. Wijeyaratne for 44. The Peterites lost two quick wickets. Lunch was taken with the Petes on 115 for 3.

After the lunch break the Petes went on the defensive instead of going for the runs and lost wickets regularly. Losing their last seven wickets for just 47 runs and ended the innings on 162. Only skipper Jehan was consistent and scored 51. For the Josephians spinner Chandana Aravinda bowled a tight length to capture 5 for 46.

The Josephians being given a target of 224 to win started off on a bad note losing two quick wickets with the score reading 14. Chandana Aravinda joined opener Hashan Goonetileke and these two put on a solid third wicket partnership of 108 runs in 202 balls to bring some life to the Josephian batting. The Joes lost three more wickets for 29 runs and gave up hope of chasing the required runs for victory. But skipper Thivanka de S. Wijeyaratne and Gihan Perera changed the complexion of the game with some calypso type hitting to put on a partnership of 57 runs in 57 balls before Gihan, going for a second run, could not make it and was run out. 

The Josephians now needed 16 runs in 23 balls. They lost eighth wicket with the score on 217. Hard hitter Shiraz Illiyas joined Nuwan Hewage with the Josephians supporters going berserk. In the last over they needed 4 runs to win. Hewage took a single in the first ball and in the second ball Joel trying to take a cheeky single could not beat the fielder's throw. The crowd invaded the field at this stage which wasted valuable playing time and the umpires were compelled to call off the match, bringing to an end a thrilling encounter not seen for many years. Josephian all rounder Chandana Aravinda was selected as the Best All rounder and Man of the Match while Hashan Goonetileke also of St. Joseph's got the Best Batsman award with Peterite Sajith Mendis as the Best Bowler and Josephian skipper Thivanka de S.Wijeyartne getting the Best Fielder's award.

Eighth wkt. stand pulls Ananda

By Bernie Wijesekera

Nalanda pacemen exploited the first session with some hostile and accurate bowling. 

At this stage the Nalandian bowlers gave nothing away, backed by keen fielding. But a stubborn sixth wicket stand of 49 between skipper Abeysinghe 42 (with 2 fours in 93 balls), T. Dantanarayana 25 helped them to a recovery of sorts. 

After the luncheon break, with a couple of half chances going abegging in the humid conditions.

Nalanda were able to pick only two more wickets - that of Abeysinghe and Dantanaranaya - both victims of pacemen Chandrakumara and Surappulige, who picked his third scalp. Both batsmen were caught behind by Wijetunga, who made a dream debut and helped the bowlers with his agile keeping. In the end had five victims - four catches and a stump.

At this stage M. Somaratnea and Oshan Diyagama took control and performed the rescue act. Slowly, but surely sewed up the innings with some sensible batting Ananda, at tea were 193 for 7, with both batsmen on 25 runs.

Ediriweera 99

By Vijitha Senaratne, Kurunegala Corr

Maliyadeva - 202 (I. Dharmawardena 41,G. Konara 34, W. Dissanayake 17, B. Malmeewala 15, S. Karunanayake 38; D. Karunaratne 4 for 59, U.Perera 3 for 31) and 77 for 3 at close (T.G. Konara 32, A. Jayasundare 18, S. Priyantha 12 n.o; U. Perera 1 for 12, D. Jayalath 1 for 15)

St. Anne's - 269 (U. Perera 30, K. Ekanayake 30, C. Ediriweera 99, C.D. Wellage 22; S. Karunanayake 5 for 81, A. Rajapaksha 2 for 31)
Foreign briefsKnee trouble rules Tendulkar out of one-day series

NEW DELHI, Mar 2 (Reuters) - India's leading batsman Sachin Tendulkar will miss this month's one-day series against Zimbabwe to undergo treatment for knee trouble, an Indian cricket official said on Saturday.

"Tendulkar has some problem with his knees and he has to do exercises to strengthen them," Niranjan Shah, secretary of the Indian cricket board, said after naming a 14-player squad for the first three games in the five-match series.

India's selectors hope Tendulkar will return refreshed from his break for a busy international schedule that includes back-to-back test tours of West Indies and England starting early next month.

India fire coach after third World Cup defeat

D'Souza, who became the country's coach after the Sydney Olympics last year, having been fired from the team twice before, confirmed the president of the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) dismissed him after Friday's 3-2 defeat by England. 

"I was asked if I would stay with the team to give advice but I said 'no deal, I am going back'," d'Souza told reporters.

He said he had told the team to give the same support to his successor as they had given to him.

India have taken only one point from four games in Kuala Lumpur, in a draw with the unassuming Japanese team. 

The team cannot reach the semifinals next week after defeats by Malaysia, South Korea and England.

D'Souza made the announcement just 50 minutes before the Indian team were due to take the field against Cuba. He said when he told the team there was a "pin-drop silence".

Freeman beaten in second comeback race

Competing at the Victorian state championships at Melbourne's Olympic Park, Freeman finished a close second to Australia's national 200 metres champion Lauren Hewitt, clocking 23.73 seconds to the winner's 23.32.

Despite her loss, Freeman told reporters she was still happy with her performance over a distance she rarely races.

"It was really hard, but I really needed it," she said. "I've got to start somewhere and I've been wanting to concentrate on my shorter stuff because that's been a weakness...so in my mind I can only improve."

Freeman took a year off after the 2000 Sydney Olympics because she was drained from the pressure of winning gold.