Sports

Sports

Will Sri Lanka’s star batsmen sparkle today?
Sri Lanka and Pakistan will look up to their batsmen to deliver when the two sides meet again in a Bank Alfala Triangular Cricket encounter at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium today.

Although both teams have a win each after the first round, Sri Lanka and Pakistan batsmen have struggled to adapt to the overcast conditions and seamer friendly tracks with none of the three teams reaching the 200-run mark.The conditions will remain the same despite two new wickets being prepared for the next three games.Thus the toss will once again play a crucial role with the side calling correct opting to field first and give their seamers the opportunity of making full use of the moisture on the wicket and the overcast conditions.

Sri Lanka's new one-day captain Marvan Atapattu acknowledges that his team's batting is of concern and he expects the boys to come out of it in today's game.
Former captain Sanath Jayasuriya will have to lead from the front if Sri Lanka’s batsmen are to put up challenge against the Youthful Pakistani outfit.

As the saying goes Jayasuriya has to fire if the Lankans are to win.The dashing left hander was out for a first ball duck against Pakistan in the first game and will be all out to prove himself when he takes on Pakistan again. With over 9000 runs to his credit Jayasuriya is aware how important this game is for his team and will have to use his head as much as his powerful forearms when he fronts up to the Pakistanis.

Sri Lanka will stick to the Jayasuriya-Kaluwitharana opening alliance and follow it up with Atapattu, Sangakkara, Jayawardene and Dilshan. However the team is still uncertain of playing the third seamer Dharshana Gamage. If Gamage is left out either Kaushalaya Weeraratne or the spinning allrounder Kaushal Lokuarachchi will play. A final decision will be taken this morning after taking into consideration the ground conditions.

Pakistan are very likely to go in with an unchanged side but like their opponents will expect their batsmen to do the needful.The experienced Yousuf Youhana has failed to find his touch and Pakistan expects the guy will turn a corner in the crucial game.
The team spent much of the week practising indoors in Colombo before travelling to Dambulla on Wednesday evening.

Pakistan enjoy the advantage after defeating the host Nation by a convincing 79 runs in the opening game. However the team is aware that today's game is a crucial one if they are to keep alive their cahances of qualifying for the final.

Probable teams
Sri Lanka: Romesh Kaluwitharana (wk), Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu (Capt),Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Dharmasena, Chaminda Vaas, Dharshana Gamage, or Kaushal Weeraratne or Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Prabath Nissanka, Muttiah Muralitharan.

Pakistan team: Taufeeq Umar, Mohammad Hafeez, Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana, Faisal Iqbal, Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq, Rashid Latif (Capt and wk), Umar Gul, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami.

Red Shirts down Airmen after turn-around
CR&FC-32, Air Force-9
By Bernie Wijesekera
Air Force forwards reveling in ideal conditions underfoot gave the CR&FC a few hiccups in the initial half to lead 6-3. However, after the turn-around, the red-shirts changed their game plan to outplay the Airmen by 32 points (2 goals, 3 tries and a penalty) to 9 (3 penalties) in a Premier League match at Longden Place yesterday.
It was a dull dreary day for rugby with both teams finding it hard to handle the wet ball.

Out of my way! A CR forward makes a rush to the goal line with an Air Force player in close pursuit. CR won the game 32-9. Pic by Ishara S.Kodikara

What they did was indulge in aimless kicking. Man-to-man the Airmen tackled the nippy CR line to a standstill. The Airmen, sans any stars, did well against a star studded team. Most of the Airmen had taken up to the game only after joining the Air Force. To their credit, they played well within themselves.

In contrast the red shirts had a bunch of youngsters who have been in the forefront of school rugby. Haren Kaluarachchi, Zulki Hamid, Dilan Abeygunawardena, Nishantha Kumara etc. The Airmen took the lead with two spot kicks by Ranjith Anthony. CR answered with a spot-kick arrowed by Charitha Kodagoda. The Airmen led 6-3 at the short whistle.

In the second half CR changed their ploy bringing in Champika Nishantha to the base and Imtiaz Mustaq to the wing and Kaluarachchi as centre. The red shirts opened scoring in the fourth minute of the second half when Kalu scored off a second phase attack. Kodagoda added the extra points (8-6).

The Airmen hit back again with another penalty put over by Anthony (9-8). However, CR took control with their rugby skills. Varuna de Silva rolled over off a short tap. Kodagoda made the conversion 15-9.

A 40-yard solo run by Mustaq to the corner flag made it 20-9. Another try by skipper Shamley Nawaz - 25-9. The fifth try was by Asanga Rodrigo, which Roshan Peiris converted. When the referee Aruna Jayasekera blew no side, the red shirts had won 32-9.

Back to Sports