| Sports |
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| Lanka
has fire-power to scuttle West Indies If one was
to point a finger, one would confront rank poor batting by our top
order. The Sri Lanka batting line-up is second to none when it comes to one-day cricket in the International circuit. But sad to mention, they let the side down, despite their ability to bat with confidence. They should have shown better application, concentration and adjusted themselves to bat with responsibility. As a result one can't expect, the lower-order to prop the batting when the super-six was made to look powder-puff stuff. What about the youngsters? They have to be groomed methodically, with regular exposure in competitive cricket. The seniors have to show consistency if they are to find a regular place. They can't live on their past performances. It may have happened in the past, but the present panel is not going to continue in the same vein. They will be picked on merit. The players must have self belief and stand up to the pressure in varying conditions, even to the hostile Windies attack on the approaching tour of the Caribbean. Whatever arm-chair critics may say, the best team has been picked with much stress on fielding and fitness. Poor fielding has let the bowlers down. What about the Test squad? It will be picked next week. No player, who is physically unfit will be accommodated in the tour party. What about Dilhara Fernando for the Test series? In all probability he will not make it. He is still unfit - plagued by injuries. Being a fast bowler he will be put to a test and has to be 100 percent fit. All the players, batsmen or bowlers have to be mentally tough. They have to be totally committed. If they fail then they are doomed. Their future, too will be bleak. The future of Sri Lanka cricket too will depend how well we perform away from home. The cupboard is bare with not much of talented players on call. This is something the administration and the selectors have to focus much attention on. On their day any team could topple the best in an overs game. The Windies have done it against the World Cup champions Australia - thanks to their top-order where everyone contributed to the total with a professional approach. They achieved it with a record-breaking run-chase in the history Test cricket against the Aussies. Why not the Lankans? They should match the Windies. Be there. Stay there and the runs will flow. The team leaves today. (June 1.) The Squad:- Marvan Atapattu (Capt.), Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Romesh Kaluwitharana (Wk.), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Naveed Nawaz, Upul Chandana, Chaminda Vaas, Dharshana Gamage, Prabath Nissanka, Kaushal Lokurachchi, Kumar Dharmasena, Muttiah Muralideran, Dinusha Fernando. Manager - Ajit Jayasekera, Coach - Dulip Mendis, Physio; Clarke. N.B. Watching 'Murali' at the nets. His batting and his technique shows a lot of improvement. He bats like a capable middle-order batsman. He bats straight and refrains from playing his usual agricultural shots. Kandy
win tale of two halves Came the second half and Kandy SC were allowed to go on the rampage to post a 70 (6 goals, 5 tries, 1 penalty) to 3 (1 penalty) win. Navy showed a complete lack of determination and commitment in this half and paid a heavy price for their indiscretions. Referee Dilroy Fernando had his hands full, dispensing red and yellow cards and laying down the law. Navy's indiscipline led to a try scourge in which Liyanage, Bandaranaike (3), Malith Silva. Pushpakumara, Jema, Galgamuwa, Laga, Yapa and Weerakkody touched down. Weerakkody kicked correctly at goal on seven occasions. Latterly the match became farcical, with Navy having but 12 men on the field. Sham Pradeep,Sherifdeen (Navy) and Jema (Kandy) were the players sent off. - (A.K) Royal
and Musaeus teams emerge overall winners
Royal and Musaeus emerged the overall winners in the Under 19 category while St. Joseph's and Ladies came on top in the Under 17 category at the inaugural St.Joseph's Age Group Sculling Championship 2003 organized by the St Joseph's Rowing Club at the Beira Lake yesterday. Royal College received the Rev. D.B. Stanley Abeysekera Trophy. The championship began on May 29 with the heats while the semi finals were completed on Friday. Eleven finals were worked off yesterday at 2.00 P.M. where St. Joseph's, Ananda, S. Thomas' and Royal took part in the boys category. Ladies College and Musaeus College were in the participants in the girls category in the schools section. University of Colombo, Colombo Rowing Club, Sri Lanka Navy and Old Joes Sports Club participated in the open events. The championship started with the Anandians taking the Boys Under 15 and 13 events which was followed by Ladies College winning the the Girls Under 17 event. The ladies open event went to University of Colombo. The Josephians won the Boys Under 17 event and the Men's open was won by the Sri Lanka Navy. Royal out sculled St. Joseph's to take the Boys Under 19 event. The Boys Double
Sculls event went to St. Joseph's who defeated the Thomian pair.
Results: S. de Silva (S. Thomas') 4.37 secs. Girls Under 19 - 1. N. Seneviratne (Ladies) 5.00 secs. 2. A. de Silva (Musaeus) 5.13 secs. 3. P. Gamage (Museaus) 5.22 secs. Boys Under 19 - 1. S. Dharmaratne (Royal) 7.21 secs. 2. J. Zufer (St Joseph's) 7.32 secs. 3. S. Abeygunawardena (Royal) 8.06 secs. Boys Under 19 (Double Sculls) 1. H. Silva and J. Wickramasinghe (St Joseph's) 7.03 secs. 2 . S.K. Weerasinghe (S. Thomas') 7.32 secs. Ladies Open - 1. T.K. Jayaweera (University of Colombo) 6.42 secs. 2. H.R. Perera (University of Colombo) 7.54 secs. Men's Open - 1. H.M. Amaradasa (Navy) 7.44 secs. 2. U. Hettiarachchi (Colombo RC) 3. V.G.N. Samantha (Navy). Men's Under 24 - 1. M. Gunawardena (Old Joes SC) 6.53 secs. 2. D. de Soysa (S. Thomas') 6.57 secs. 3. I. Perera (S. Thomas') 6.59 secs. Men's Under (Double Sculls) -1. D. de Soysa and I. Perera (S. Thomas') 6.29 secs. 2. M. Gunawardena and E. Muhandiramge (St. Joseph's) 6.33 secs. |
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