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Lanka mystify World Champs
By Marlon Fernandopulle
Sri Lanka gave a magnificient allround performance to record a rousing seven wicket victory over Australia in the second semi final of the ICC Champions trophy tournament at the R Premadasa Stadium under lights on Friday.

The host country completely outplayed the World Champions in all departments as they bowled intelligently,fielded brilliantly and batted sensibly to inflict a crushing defeat with 10 overs remaining.

The only thing that went the Australians way was the toss where skipper Ricky Ponting called correctly, and when their openers Adam Gilchrist and Mathew Hayden put on 49 runs in just under 7 overs.Apart from that brief period where the Kangaroos dominated,the rest of the game belonged to Sri Lanka.

Playing on a slow,dusty,brown wicket against a team packed with spinners,Ricky Ponting's team had no answer.First they were throttled by the spin of veteran Lankan batsmen Aravinda de Silva,who came on in the 7 th over of the innings and castled Mathew Hayden to trigger the Aussies batting collapse.

De Silva who bowled his quota of 10 overs for just 16 runs was well supported by the more experienced Kumara Dharmasena(2/30) and Mutiah Muralitharan(3/26) as the Australians crashed to their lowest total against Sri Lanka and were bowled out for 162 in the penultimate over.

The Australians would have been in deeper trouble after they slumped to 107 for 7 wickets and were rescued by a fighting 46 run stand for the seventh wicket between Shane Warne(36) and Brett Lee(18).

Needing to score just over three runs an over the Lankan openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu went through a few anxious moments against the Australian opening bowlers Glen Mcgrath and Jason Gillepsie.Jayasuriya was middling the ball well and played some of his trademark square cuts as he added 67 runs with Atapattu in 15 overs before he was foxed by the Shane Warne Flipper and bowled for 42.

But surprisingly their fielders let them down with skipper Ricky Ponting (at mid wicket) and Mathew Hayden(at first slip) dropped three catches between them as the Lankans were let off the hook.

Jayasuriya's exit saw Kumar Sangakkara take full control of proceedings.Sangakkara was in fine nick and began playing shots all round the wicket as the Aussies bowlers were looking for quick wickets.Together with Atapattu,Sangakkara added 75 runs for the 2 nd wicket before the wicketkeeper edged a Mcgrath delivery.

Sangakkara faced 63 balls and hit 8 boundaries for his 48. Atapattu made full use of three dropped chances as he completed a scratchy half century before he departed when the Lankans were in sight of victory.

It was finally left to Mahela Jayawardene and Aravinda De Silva to complete the formalities as Sri Lanka thrashed the World Champions by seven wickets to book their place in the final.

Man of the match Aravinda de Silva was delighted with the teams performance as he expressed his sentiments to the media. I think we played extremely well against them and I am delighted to have madea my contribution towards that end.

Champions Trophy Updates
Third Umpire consulted 57 times
ICC Elite Panel umpires have consulted with their third umpire colleagues on 57 occasions during the 14 matches played in the Pool and Semi-Final stages of the ICC Champions Trophy in Colombo.

Of these, 29 were for the 'new' categories of decision making, covering lbw and caught appeals. Of the 20 lbw's, 12 were given not out (8 resulted in positive decisions being given), while all of the 9 consultations for caught appeals were adjudged not out.

The remaining 28 referrals were for line decisions, such as run outs and stumpings (23 run out referrals resulted in twelve out and eleven not out. The five stumpings were all given out).
Match Officials today, Match Referee: Clive Lloyd. On Field Umpires: Steve Bucknor and David Shepherd. TV Umpire: Daryl Harper, Fourth Umpire: Russel Tiffin.

First innings for St. Joseph's
St Joseph's who were in a strong position at the end of the first day's play had to be content with a first innings win in their inter-schools cricket match against De Mazenod at Kandana yesterday.

St. Joseph's - 206 and 231 for 7 dec. (Dhanuka Hettiarachchi 113, Rukshan Perera 41; N. Amal 2 for 41, R. Eranga 2 for 47)

De Mazenod - 140 and 212 for 4 at close (M. Wijetunge 81, K. Chaminda 42 n.o., N. Amal 26 n.o.)-MSA

Jeremy shines
An allround perfomance by Benedictine Jeremy Saverymuthupulle was the feature of the inter-school cricket match between St. Benedict's and St Sylvester's at Kotahena which ended in a first innings win for the Bens.

St. Benedict's - 246 (Jeremy Saverymuthupulle 151, Lahiru Perera 35; M. Dayabaran 6 for 51) and 119 for 4 at close (Jeremy Saverymuthupulle 49, Lahiru Perera 14, Angelo Anandappa 21 n.o.; P. Athauda 3 for 33)

St. Sylvester's - 208 (T. Jayatissa 57, H. Gunaratne 29, M. Dayabaran 43 n.o.; Jeremy Saverymuthupulle 4 for 62, Lasantha Perera 2 for 35, Shihan Dhammika 2 for 18) -MSA

STC on top
S. Thomas' took the upper hand on the first day's play of inter-school cricket match against DSS which began at Mt Lavinia yesterday.

DSS - 231 (S. Rodrigo 80, Udara Waruna 76, Yasith Mihiranga 26; T. Fernando 5 for 62, D. Colombage 2 for 19)

S. Thomas' - 138 for at close (A. Rajawasam rtd ht 40, D. Warusuvithana 29 n.o., K. Silva 52 n.o.) -MSA

Sydney Hill win
The visiting Sydney Hill Under 15 cricket team from Australia opened their tour of Sri Lanka with a win when they defeated the Josephian juniors by 18 runs at Darley Road yesterday.

Sydney Hill- 220 for 9 in 45 overs (Ardil Domingo 106, Randika Dias 40; Prabuddha Sankalpa 2 for 34)

St. Joseph's - 202 in 42 overs (Anton Livera 77, Kowida Herath 39; Ardil Domingo 4 for 9, Bradley Mollen 2 for 25) -MSA

St. Anne's on top
The Annites did well to take a first innings lead against St. Anthony's in a match where the bat dominated the ball.

St. Anthony's - 289 for 8 dec. (M. Rizlan 105, M. Ratnayake 78, K.G. Madikela 30, A. Ariyaratne 22, M. Rikaz16; R. Perera 2 for 37, C.D. Wellalage 3 for 88, G. Kumara 2 for 56) and 138 for 5 (N. Ratnayake 48, M. Rislan 30, T. de. Silva 31; C.D. Wellalage 2 for 42, M. Karunaratne 2 for 30)

St. Anne's - 303 for 9 dec. (U. Perera 34, C. Wellalage 58, W. Malewana 59, B. Ratnayake 34, R. Perera 27, D. Karunaratne 18, M. Kahapola 18; P. Eknayake 3 for18, N. Edirisuriya 2 for 28, P.D. Vithanage 2 for 26). - A.K

Rajans held
Rain at 2.30p.m. ruled out whatever chance Dharmaraja had of forcing a win over Dharmapala at the Police Grounds in Kandy.

Dharmaraja - 265 (M. Wijekoon 50, R. Ariyadasa 35, C. Kapugedera 41, M. Warnasuriya 32, M. Rajapakse 24; P.B. Bowela 5 for103,C.D. Perera 2 for 64, S.L. Perera 2 for 50)

Dharmapala - 132 (S.L. Perera 38, R. Madusanka 31, M. Weerasuriya 2 for37, A. Samarakoon 2 for18, M. Rajapakse 3 for 14) and 4 for noloss. - A.K.

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