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Dravid guides India to 4 wkts. win over Sri Lanka
BIRMINGHAM, England, July 6 (Reuters) - A fighting 64 runs by Rahul Dravid enabled India to beat Sri Lanka by four wickets in their triangular one-day series match at Edgbaston yesterday with 1.5 overs to spare.

Sri Lanka's interest in the triangular series was still alive as they made India work hard for the 188 runs they needed for victory and a place in the final. India struggled to 76 for four at the end of the 25th over after dismissing the Lankans, without a point from three matches in the tournament, for a modest 187.

Chaminda Vaas bowled Virender Sehwag off his pads with the first ball of the innings before Indian captain Saurav Ganguly survived a confident appeal for caught behind five deliveries later.

Fernando Dilhara also caused problems, having Dinesh Mongia dropped at slip by Upul Chandana. Vaas ensured the miss did not prove costly, though, when he dismissed Mongia for five after the left-hander gave a leading edge for Sanath Jayasuriya to take a tumbling catch at mid-off.

Champagne rugby as Kandy beat CH 40-13
Block-buster next week as Kandy clash with CR at Nittawela
By Bernie Wijesekera
Defending Caltex league champions Kandy SC, after an uncertain start, gave a fine exhibition of cohesive rugby to outplay the CH&FC by 40 points (five goals and a try) to 13 (a goal and two penalties) in the first leg tie at Maitland Crescent last evening.
At the turn around Kandy led 14-10.

With this facile win the Hill Capital Club heads the table over CR&FC. Both teams are still unbeaten. Next week - July 14 - they lock horns in the first leg at Nittawela. This will be an intriguing contest between two well drilled teams for the top spot. It's going to be a real block-buster between two sets of tough forwards.

At yesterday's game the CH&FC suffered an ignoble defeat against a well-drilled Kandy outfit who had the mechanics to uncover the shortcomings in the CH - fitness. This proved a decisive factor. CH played reasonably well - but in patches. They lacked co-ordination commitment which is a winning factor in the end. Kandy acted positively and in the end it helped them immensely. They ran the ball at every given turn with the entire back division in motion.

Radhika Hettiarachchi who came in as fullback when Nalaka walked out. Nalaka was replaced by Sameera Silva. Kandy had sufficient players on the bench as replacements. Harris Omar came in place of Chaminda Yapa at No 8. Omar scored a classic try at the start of the second half for Kandy to lead 19-10.

For CH&FC Nalin Dissanayake, playing as fly-half, had an excellent game. His booming kicks to touch and elusive running showed that he has found his old touch.

Sanjeeva Jayasinghe, Kandy's dazzling winger, scored five tries with sheer speed when he breached a hapless CH defence regularly. But the best effort was in the 29th minute in the second half when centre Indrajith Bandaranayake ran a good 40 metres for Jayasinghe to put the icing on the cake.

CH opened scoring off a good move. Wijesinghe rolled over the line initiated by the forwards, Dissanayake added the extra points 7-0.

Kandy hit back when the entire line was set in motion for Jayasinghe to score his first try. Nalaka added the extra points. 7-all.

Weerakkody in sheer desperation with a football kick, tried to clear the ball which in the process resulted in a penalty. Dissanayake with a 40 metre kick, arrowed it beautifully for CH to lead 10-7.

Jayasinghe scored a try seconds before the short whistle which was off a sleek move. Niloufer Ibrahim added the extra points to lead 14-10.

In the second half Kandy went on a spree to score 26 points to win 40-13. For CH Dissanayake added three points in this half through a penalty.
Referee Dilroy Fernando.

All ready for mega event in Sri Lanka
By M.Shamil Amit
With just 33 days more for the 14th Asian Athletics Championship 2002 which is scheduled to held at the Sugathadasa Stadium from August 9 to August 12 everything is going smoothly.The laying of the track is almost nearing its end and 75 percent of the modernisation work of the Sugathadasa Stadium is almost over.

The track which is being laid is one of the best. This type of track is used at all international athletics meets. It is being turned into a modern synthetic track to fall in line with the IAA norms and standards.

This is a Rekotan track and all work is expected to finish by mid July in order to conduct the All Island Track and Field events which is schedule to be held from July 17 to 20.

Maurice Nicholas, Secretary General of the Asian Athletic Association was in the country to see the progress of the work being done. After an inspection of the Sugathadasa Stadium he was satisfied and confident that the championship will definitely take place. He briefed the press which was attended by the Minister of Sports Johnston Fernando.

The 14th Asian Athletics Championships will be a major international event involving nearly 44 countries with over 1000 athletes.It will virtually be a mini olympics with many of the star athletes in the Asian region flexing their muscles.

At present the local contingent comprising 33 athletes divided into two groups have been sent to Malaysia and Thailand to prepare for the Asian athletics champioships.

The batch that has gone to Malaysia includes local sprint queen Susanthika Jayasinghe, Sriyani Kulawansa, Nimmi de Soysa, Chinthaka de Soysa, Rangana Perera and Sugath Tilekaratne.

Thirty two countries have confirmed participation with India fielding 82 competitors, Japan 70, PR China 53, Qatar 68, Korea 33, Thailand 40, Bahrain 12, Bhutan 5, Cambodia 3, Indonesia 6, Iran 20, Kyrghyztan 7, Kuwait 32, Myanmar 5, Oman 6, Pakistan 20, Macau China 3, Palestine 3, Philippines 23, Saudi Arabia 29, Chinese Taipei 29, Tajikistan 8, Kazakhastan 29, Malaysia 18, Nepal 12, Singapore 9, Syria 7, Turkmenistan 7, Uzbekistan 10, Vietnam 8, UAE 8 and Yemen 6.

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