Sri Lanka yesterday powerfully reconfirmed their status as world champions when they thrashed Australia by 50 runs in the Singer World Series final amidst thousands of singing and dancing spectators at the packed Premadasa Stadium.
Australia, seeking to avenge their World Cup defeat failed again as Sri Lanka completely out played them with a brilliant display of batting and fielding - with Roshan Mahanama bringing off the most spectacular catch of the series in a final act that will be long remembered.
The atmosphere at the stadium was electrifying and national pride was at a zenith when skipper Arjuna Ranatunga received the glittering Singer trophy from the Chairman Hemaka Amarasuriya. Then the champion team made the victory lap cheered by thousands of spectators, while millions of other Sri Lankans watched the show joyfully on television.
The game had been reduced to 35 overs due to overnight rain and started only at 1.20 p.m. Australia won the toss and Ian Healy had no hesitation in putting Sri Lanka into bat. Sri Lanka's dashing openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana put the Australian attack to the sword with another blistering stand of 42 in 4.2 overs. After Jayasuriya's departure Kaluwitharana played the role that his more famous partner does.
He raced to his 50 in 33 balls as Sri Lanka rocketed to the century mark in the 13th over. Soon after that Kaluwitharana lost his cool as he came down the track and offered a return catch to left arm newcomer Darren Lehmann. Kalu's explosive knock came off 45 balls and included four boundaries.
Batting machine Aravinda de Silva now rising to his greatest heights joined Asanka Gurusinghe and the pair added 27 runs before Gurusinghe mistimed a drive off McGrath to be caught by Bevan for 29.
At this stage skipper Arjuna Ranatunga joined de Silva and provided the capacity crowd with an entertaining partnership. Ranatunga playing in his own inimitable style grafted his runs studiously and supported his vice Captain to help Sri Lanka build a winning total.
De Silva continued his terrific form in the tournament as he played a series of eloquent strokes and reached his 3rd successive fifty with a six.
Ranatunga and De Silva brought the innings to an explosive climax last three overs when they slammed 40 runs in 3 overs in a ruthless and arrogant demolition of the Australian attack.
Mark Waugh was hit for 15 runs in the 33rd over and Paul Reiffel for 18 runs in the 35th over as Ranatunga and De Silva boosted the Lanka total to 234 for 3 wickets. De Silva anchored the innings once again and underlined his batting genius to remain unbeaten with an elegant 75 which was spiced with 2 fours and 3 sixes, while Ranatunga remained on 39 from 40 balls.
Australia, needing to score at an impropable if not impossible of 6.7 runs an over, started off briskly, but lost wickets at crucial stages. The Lankans tightened the screws further on the Aussies through some spectacular catches.
The only time the Aussies had any hope of victory was when Steve Waugh (55) and Stewart Law (31) put on a resolute 4th wicket stand. However a well judged catch by Muralitharan at deep mid wicket put the Australians on the wrack again.
Their position deteriorated when Upul Chandana held on to a good catch to dismiss Steve Waugh for 55. A little later Bevan was bowled by Dharmasena and the writing was on the wall for the Australians. They played out the remaining overs and were bowled out for 184 when Roshan Mahanama held the catch of the match and the series on the mid wicket boundary to dismiss McGrath.
A 12-year-old Cornish girl has put cricket tradition in a spin when she was picked to play in a boys team on a tour of South Africa.
Off-break bowler Laura Harper will join 13 boys on the Cornish Schools under 13 tour of South Africa in February next year. She is said to be the country’s brightest cricketing prospects.
Laura is rated as the best girl cricketer ever to emerge in the area. She specialises in spinning out boys who are convinced they can wallop her gentle off spins. She was spotted by the county selectors when she made a series of impressive performances at Truro School. Now her mother, Sharon, is planning to accompany her daughter on the South African adventure.
Laura has proved the equal of most boys in her side and has played for her county since she was 11. But she nearly missed out on the tour because she was a girl. She was only allowed to go if her mother agreed to accompany her on the two-week trip, where they would stay with host families from the teams they play against.
Uva College beat Kathiresan MMV, Nawalapitiya by 3 goals to 1 in their Milo Trophy inter schools under 16 tournament encounter played at the Badulla Vincent Dias Stadium.
Ishara Weerasinghe (2) and Chanaka Wijeratne (1), scored for Uva College, while R. Wijekumar scored the losers; solitary goal.
Under-14
Al Adham Muslim MV emerged champions in the Milo Uva region tourney concluded at the Vincent Dias Stadium.
In the finals AI Adham beat Uva College by 3 goals to nil. J. Rizwan (2) and S.A.M.Asath (1) scored for the champions, who earlier beat Al Adham and beat St. Thomas Bandarawela 2-nil. Uva College beat Dharmadutha College 2-1.
The schools that participated, were AI Adham Muslim MV, Uva College, St. Thomas Bandarawela, Dharmadutha College, Badulla Central, Sripada College Hatton, St. Joseph’s Bandarawela, Serendib MV Hali Ela and John Bosco Hatton.
Under-12
Uva College beat St. Thomas Bandarawela in the final by 4 goals to 2.
Thusitha Ratnayake (2), Gayan Ranjan and Safras Nawas scored the goals for Uva College, while F. Isuru scored both goals for the losers.
In the semi-finals, Uva College beat Dharmadutha College 2-1 and St. Thomas beat Badulla Central 3-nil.
Uva College, Dharmadutha College, Badulla Central, St. ThomasÕ Bandarawela, John Bosco Hatton, Sri Pada Hatton, Serendib MV Hali Ela, Al Adham MV participated.
Under-18
Badulla MMV beat Al Hilal MV Negombo by 3 goals to nil in Badulla. The winners led 1 nil at the half time. M. Roshan (2) and M. Viraj scored the goals for the winners. Two players were sent off for rough play.
“One-day cricket champions Sri Lanka have set themselves the goal of becoming the best test-playing nation by the turn of the century.
And captain Arjuna Ranatunga believes the task can be achieved.
“We are ready to leave our mark in test cricket” said the 32-year-old, who has been a part of the national team since Sri Lanka’s international debut in 1981.
“Winning the World Cup earlier this year was the high point of our cricket and no one can deny that our success was well-deserved”, Ranatunga said.
“But teams are remembered more for how they fare in the traditional game than one-day cricket. We want to be the best in test cricket too.”
Sri Lanka took the first step towards achieving that last year when they won their first two test series abroad in New Zealand and Pakistan.
The victories answered critics like Kapil Dev of India and Pakistan’s Imran Khan, who said Sri Lanka would never win abroad because they will not have the support of home umpires.
The comments followed acrimonious series in Sri Lanka in 1985 and 1986 when India and Pakistan lost tests marred by controversial decisions.
But Ranatunga said: “No one can afford to take us lightly any more, and that’s a good sign”, he said. “We now have to translate our one-day success into more test victories.”
Ranatunga was encouraged by the fact that one-day exponents like explosive opener Sanath Jayasuriya and fast bowler Chaminda Vaas, were equally at ease in the five-day tests.
“Almost the same combination that plays one-day cricket also features in our test matches”, he said. “They adapt very well to both forms”.
Sri Lanka showed they are the undisputed masters of limited-overs cricket by routing strong opponents Australia and India in the ongoing Singer Cup tournament here.
Left-hander Jayasuriya, who holds world records of the fastest one-day century (48 balls) and fastest fifty (17 balls), has been in rollicking form slamming an unbeaten 120 off 128 balls against India and 44 off 28 balls against Australia.
Jayasuriya’s success has not gone unrewarded even outside Sri Lanka. An Indian clothing firm honoured him on September 1 with a trophy and a wardrobe that would take care of his formal attire for a year.
“Sanath has brought joy to not only Sri Lanka, but cricket fans around the world”, company head Rakesh Biyani said while making the presentation.
The Sri Lankans are in great demand after the World Cup triumph. The team that earlier complained of a lack of international exposure now have a virtual non-stop schedule for the next three years.
They take on Zimbabwe for two tests soon after the Singer cup, then travel to Nairobi for a limited-overs tournament against South Africa, Pakistan and the hosts.
In November, Sri Lanka go to Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to play Pakistan and New Zealand in the Champions Trophy.
This will be followed by test series in New Zealand and West Indies from January to March next year, and a limited-overs tournament in May to celebrate the 50th anniversary of India’s independence.
In July, Sri Lanka host the regional Asia Cup tournament against India, Pakistan and Bangladesh before playing a home test and one-day series against India.
Ranatunga dismisses fears of burn-out saying the cricketers will benefit by the gruelling schedule.
“The hard work will not kill anyone”, said the captain, who wants to play top-level cricket for at least the next three years.
Uva Regional Transport Board scored a upset win over the last year’s champions Comrades SC by 7 goals to 1 in their Badulla League A Division football match played at the Vincent Dias Stadium.
The winners led 4-nil at the short whistle.
Comrades SC played well in the early stages of the game, before an own goal, turned the complexion of the game.
Shane Gunawardene bagged two good wins, winning the motor cycles 125 CC and 400 CC class at the Ceylon Motor Sports Club, Silverstone Desert Storm meet held at the Muthurajawela reclaimed marshy lands in Hendala, sponsored by Silverstone Tyres.
In the 125 CC event Gunawardene beat Sanjeewa Perera and Warner Oorloff and in the 400 CC event he beat Senani Pilapitiya and Amanda Pilapitiya.
In the 200 CC event, Randy Anthony took the first place ahead of Harendra Yatawala and Hilary Casiechetty.
In the other events held the results are:
Group A cars over 12 KP/HP: Nihal Maduwarachchi (Diahatsui), Dhammika Peiris (Ford).
Group A cars 6-8 KG/HP: Mario Dias (Toyota), Omar Lebbe (Suzuki).
Group M&S Cars upto 1350 CC: Omar Lebbe (Mini Moke), Reyaz Farook (Suzuki).
Group M&S cars over 1350 CC: Reyaz Farook (Subaru Impreza), Nishan Weerasuriya (Subaru Legacy), Hans Ralph (VW Bettle).
Group C 4 Wheel door Jeeps and double cabs: Bri Ponnambalam (Suzuki Vitara), Upul Perera (Pajero), Pubudu Wickrema (Toyota).
The John Player Gold Leaf Formula 1 racing team led by three times World Champion, Jon Jones go to Italy this weekend for the 7th round of the U.I.M. Formula 1 Powerboat World championships.
The betting is on yet another Grand Prix victory for the current championship leader, Guido Cappellini, but he has only served to inspire Jon Jones and team mate, Paul Blackburn.
“Guido has had a great season so far and will be hoping to clinch the world title in front of his home crowd this weekend,” said Jones, “This only makes me more determined to register my first win of the season.”
“The minor modifications we made to the boat in China helped with the handling and overall performance on a consistent basis,” Jones said. This is because I have to fight the boat around the circuit which makes it difficult to overtake the other drivers.”
A feature of the 1996 season has been the success of a number of relative newcomers to the Formula ranks. Notable among these is John Player Gold Leaf’s Paul Blackburn, in his first season in Formula 1.
Team manager, Malcolm Williams is quick to recognise the achievements of his rokie driver, “Making the step up to the top level in any sport is always difficult, but Paul has adapted to it very well indeed.
Apart from Chalon, where we had technical problems, Paul has consistently been in the points, often beating drivers with many years of formula experience. I have no doubt to be challenging for a podium position at every race.”
Guido Cappellini leads the championships with a maximum 120 points and looks certain to retain his title. Only 43 points separates the next 7 drivers which will ensure some highly competitive racing over the remaining 4 Grand Prix.
The Grand Prix of Italy starts today.
Australia’s Rodney Eyles inflicted a rare defeat on Pakistani world number one Jansher Khan to lift the Hong Kong Open Squash title.
Eyles, whose career has been overshadowed by Jansher since he lost to him in the 1986 world junior final, had a surprisingly easy 15 -10, 15 -10, 15 - 5 victory over the top seed to deny Jansher an eighth Hong Kong Open triumph.
Eyles, the second seed, found his length and rhythm quickly and completely dominated the match. Jansher was slow in reacting to the Australian’s drop shots and made several uncharacteristic errors on seemingly simple shots.
In his semi-final win over Australia’s Anthony Hill, Jansher had looked less than fully fit and Eyles exploited his lack of stamina by forcing him into long rallies early in the match.
Jansher led briefly during the second game but a series of deft drop shots brought Eyles level and the Australian went on to take control.
The 28-year-old Eyles took home 11,220 US dollars for his efforts.
It was only the sixth defeat Jansher had suffered in major championships since 1992 and his first since England’s Del Harris beat him in the super series play-offs earlier this year.
In an interview before the final, Jansher, who has won the World Open a record seven times, said he expected a tough fight from Eyles.
“A lot of players are trying to beat me and sometimes I’m very tired mentally because it is very tough,” Jansher told Reuters on Friday (August 30).
Asked who posed the biggest threat, Jansher replied: “Rodney Eyles in there, he’s the world number two.””
But the unexpected defeat is unlikely to dint Jansher’s appetite for greatness.
“I’m feeling okay with my body. I don’t have any injuries at the moment and my wish is to play for the next four to six years,” Jansher said.
Kandy SC had a close call against CH & FC on Sunday in their Clifford Cup second semi-final at Nittawela when they scored a narrow win by 13 points (1 goal and 2 penalties) to 11 points (1 try and 2 penalties) and should consider themselves lucky to play in the finals against CR & FC, who the previous day beat Old Trinitians by 15 points (3 tries) to nil at the same venue in the first semi finals.
Kandy SC, who were minus skipper Imthie Marikar and Priyantha Ekanayake, began well by dominating play during the first half. But as the game progressed they appeared to wilt under the mounting pressure of the CH & FC who as a team played more cohesive rugby than Kandy SC who were banking only in the individual brilliance of a few players, and that too in patches.
During the first half Kandy SC struggled hard to earn two penalties which were kicked correctly by Upul Wijesiri to lead 6-nil, but still living dangerously. Then came a brilliant try by Kandy’s scrum half Sudath Sampath, in his inimitable style, when he picked the ball in his own half and jinxed his way through the entire CH & FC defence for a good 60 metres to score by the upright. This was goaled by Upul Wijesiri to take Kandy to safety and for a much needed breather with a 13-nil lead.
During the second half it was CH & FC all the way, who dictated play by winning the lines out and scrums. Even in the loose CH players were fast on the ball and far superior. CH & FC began their fight back with two penalties by Jude Dimitri to reduce the Kandy lead to 13-6. Thereafter CH & FC kept play in the Kandy half and attacked relentlessly with Kandy SC defence holding good against the CH & FC onslaughts. Then with a few minutes to full time CH & FC ran the ball with their threes and breached the Kandy defence for centre Graeme Raux to score by the corner flag.
Then came the crucial conversion by Jude Dimitri from a difficult angle and if he succeeded the game would have ended in a tie 13-13 and play going into extra time which would have been disaster for Kandy as CH & FC were playing on top gear. But it was not to be, as Jude Dimitri taking the conversion in pin drop silence which is very rare at Nittawela failed with his attempt for the match to end 13-11 to the relief of the Kandy SC and their loyal supporters.
CR & FC Edge out Old Trinitians
In the first semi-finals at Nittawela on Saturday CR & FC, the league champions played economically to edge out Old Trinitians SC by 15 points (3 trials) to nil and reserved their fire power for the finals on Sunday September 8 against Kandy SC also at Nittawela.
OTSC, on this day played their hearts out as they had nothing to lose and threw everything they had at CR & FC and in the process earning several penalties which their full back Nishanta Welegedera and Janaka Samarasinghe failed to convert. Even CR & FCÕs ÒMr ReliableÓ, ace place kicker Nalaka Weerakkody too was not in a kicking mood and missed all. His kicks at goal and in addition Nixon Junior too missed a sitter under the posts for CR & FC.
All the scoring was done in the first half in this match by the Red Shirts from Longdon Place, who appeared to take things easy during the second half without encountering any casualties and store all their energy for the finals. But Lasitha Gunaratne, their power house had to leave the field within the first ten minutes with a leg injury and did not take the field thereafter.
CR & FC began scoring when their fly half Asanga Rodrigo smothered an OTSC clearance and picked the ball to fall over for a try which went unconverted to take an early 5 nil lead. Their second try was by their crack Fijian centre Nixon Junior who powered his way to score.
This too went unconverted for CR to increase thier lead to 10 nil.
Then off a penalty in the OTSC 10 metres drop forward Shantha Rohana bulldozed his way to score the third and final try for CR & FC to go into half time with the Red Shirts leading 15-nil as this try too was not goaled by Nalaka Weerakkody.
During the second half CR & FC appeared to be going through their motions content with the 15 nil lead even though the young Old Trinitians continued to give them a torrid time, and the second half ended barren.
Colombo: Australian Captain Ian Healy already cast as a bad boy in the Sri Lankan Media after his comments on Arjuna Ranatunga in Australia last Summer, faced a new crisis yesterday when details of a bizzare incident involving a Sri Lankan ÔBeauty “Queen” surfaced on the front page of a national newspaper.
“The Sunday Times” reported that the unidentified woman said she was thrown out of the Australian’s hotel last Tuesday night after trying to meet Healy in the hotel lounge.
The woman, saying she had been a “family friend” of Healy’s for four years claimed that Healy had complained about too tight security restricting the Australian team’s opportunities for “Off field activities.”
Healy has denied the story through a statement by Team Manager Cam Battersby on Wednesday and Australian Cricket Board Chairman Dennis Rogers added yesterday “There can be as much speculation in the local press as they wish. But... an incident occured that had nothing to do with Ian Healy as far as we are concerned. That’s where the matter rests. Ian doesn’t know why this has been generated?”
Healy has been targetted by the local press since his arrival in Sri Lanka. In the pre-tournament build up, he was criticized for not answering questions about the last Australian Summer and was said to be “conspicuously” absent from the tournament’s official opening.
Provocatively, excerpts from his autobiography dealing with his runnings with Ranatunga, were published on the morning of Australia’s match against the host nation last Friday.
It was no surprise than that Healy was hooted when he came to bat and subsequently on each ball he faced. His dismissal - caught Ranatunga bowled Muralitharan - sent the crowd wild with glee.
For his part, Healy has responded good-naturedly to the attacks saying the crowd’s treatment of him on Friday was “better than I expected.”
Rogers said he was “Absolutely sure” of Healy’s diplomatic qualities and said Friday’s crowd was “very well behaved.”
“They clearly showed they were supporting Sri Lanka,” he said. “But I noticed with a great deal of interest how they appreciated Mark Waugh’s 50 and Michael Bevan’s 50. I certainly know how they applauded the great bowling skill of Damien Fleming.
“Ian Healy got a welcome to the ground, but I noticed that at the end of the game, the crowd were certainly appreciative of the kind remarks he made about the very fine win Sri Lanka deserved.”
Note by Sports Editor: Meanwhile, when “The Sunday Times” tried to speak to Cam Battersby at the SSC grounds where the re-scheduled match between India and Australia, he said that he had no comments to make with regards to the article carried in the “Sunday Morning Herald” by Malcolm Knox.
The Australian Cricket Board and the Board of Control for Cricket in India have agreed to institute a new trophy for Test match competition between the two countries.
The Border-Gavaskar trophy, named in honour of the only two batsmen in Test history to have scored more than 10,000 runs, will be presented for the first time to the winner of next month’s one-off Test match in New Delhi.
ACB Chief Executive Officer Graham Halbish said the design and the funding of the Border-Gavaskar trophy had been overseen by the Australia-India Council.
Halbish said Border would travel to India next month to join Gavaskar in New Delhi for the Test match and to present the new trophy on the inaugural occasion.
Speaking from Colombo on the eve of the Australia-India one-day match in the Singer Series in Sri Lanka, ACB Chairman Denis Rogers said his Board was pleased to further strengthen links between the two countries.
“Australia and India have a Test match culture extending back almost 50 years since they first played and the two Boards are both great supporters of the continued development of cricket,” Rogers said.
The Australia-India New Horizons program, which was designed to strengthen all sporting links between Australia and India, will also donate a trophy for the one-day match to be held in Chandigarh on November 3.
The Amal International School Fei Quan Do team demonstrating their prowess in executing a sidekick during their recent grading test held at the school. This test was conducted under the strict guidance of Grandmaster, M. Hassen Khalid (founder/chief instructor) of the Fei Quan Do International. Several other Fei Quan Do training centres were also graded at the MICH Headquarters Training Centre at Maradana by Grandmaster Khalid. Crescent Schools International Fei Quan Do team underwent their grading test recently. The following students passed out as green belts and orange belts
Green belts-
M.A. Ifham, Haji Abdul Sattar, M.A.A. Hameed, A.C. Sabreen Refai, Farhan Farook.
Orange belts-
M. Fayaz Farook, M. Ahdil Ashraff.
On the instructions of the Presidents Secretariat, the Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. R. M. K. Ratnayake has instructed the Commander of the Air Force to instruct his officers in charge of the Katukurunda track to prevent the holding on motor cycles and motor car races on the same day, because it is dangerous.
The Ministry is also in the process of registering a separate association for motor cycles, after which motor cyclists can have their own motor cycle race meets.
It has been mentioned that nowhere in the world are motor car and motor cycle races held together on the same track.
The Sri Lanka Association Motor Sports (SLAMS) has also been informed of this decision taken by the Presidents Secretariat.
The table tennis trainer, trainee and Umpires Coaching Camp conducted by the Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka will be held from October 2 to 6 in Colombo.
The event will be sponsored by National Savings Bank.
All trainees will be trained on district basis and those interested in this coaching camp should contact, Deepal Piyatissa, Assitant Secretary, TTASL at 408/A, School Lane, Bokundara, Piliyandala.
Meanwhile, the TTASL has decided to send a team of four men and three women for participation at the 13th Asian Table Tennis Championships in Singapore.
This tournament will be held at the Indoor Stadium, Singapore from December 4 to December 10.
Pool pratices will be held this month, to pick the team to Singapore.
The Golden Jubilee National TT championships will be held at the Sugathdasa Sports Complex in Colombo from October 11 to 13.
This tournament will be conducted by the TTASL and organised by the Western Province TT Association.
Entries will close on September 15 with Deepal Piyatissa, Assistant Secretary, TTASL, 408/A, School Lane, Bokundara, Piliyandala.
The draw will be held on September 22 at 10 a. m. at St. Joseph’s BMV, Nugegoda.
The Junior National Netball Championships conducted by the Netball Federation and sponsored by Hatton National Bank will be held in the last week of this month.
The championships which will be played in Galle is open to schools, clubs and combined teams for those under 21 years of age on September 15.
Entries for this tournament will close on September 15 with the Tournament Secretary, C/o, The President at 14, Gamunu Mawatha, Straten Wyke Estate, Ekala.
Meanhwile, all netball umpires who have passed the theory test and are awaiting the practical test, are requested to send in their names, addresses and a photocopy of the letter issued by the Netball Federation confirming the theory results, to reach Yasmin Dharmaratne, 190/1, Kottawa Road, Piliyandala by September 15.
The Netball Federation will be conducting the practical test during the National Junior Championships in Galle.
The Suzuki Vitara Yachting championships sponsored by Brown & Company Limited will be sailed today at the Bolgoda Lake.
The championships will have two races, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The Fleet and Optimist races will be run concurrently.
In the Enterprise National Championships 8 participants will compete inclusive of two representatives from the Navy Sailing Club.
Last year’s National Championship was won by Asitha Tennekoon, who will face stiff competition from champion sailors, Lalin Jerasinghe, Joseph Kenny and Anil Goonewardena.
The races will be conducted by the Yachting Association of Sri Lanka (YASL) with the host club being Ceylon Motor Yacht Club, Bolgoda.
Terry Palfreyman an International Cycling Coach nominated by the Union Cyclist Internationale under the sponsorship of the International Olympic Council (IOC) has been invited by the Cycling Federation of Sri Lanka to conduct a training programme for District Coaches.
This programme will be conducted by the Sports Ministry at the Sports Stadium at the Race Course from September 16 to 26. This training is intended for future District Coaches who will receive this training as a part of their career and will enventually be selected as District Coaches after successful training.
All registered District Clubs and Associations have been invited to nominate their participants but since the response has been poor, Physical Training Instructors and others have been invited for this training programme.
Applications should be sent to the Cycling Federation at the Grand Stand Old Race Course, Reid Avenue.
Colpetty United, a long standing football club, counting over 80 years, is being pushed from pillar to post lately without a club house of their own.
The Club has produced over a dozen national caps including Henry Fernando, Piyadasa Perera, U. Jothiratne, Asoka Ravindra and L.K. Rajapaksa.
The club has figured in many a final and the noteworthy incident was when they won the first ever floodlight game played at the now famous P. Sara Stadium (Oval) in the 60's.
The club has even appealed to the Mayor of Colombo, M. Ganeshalingam to provide them with a club house to keep the trophies they have won safe, a spokesman said.
The President of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka, Upali Dharmadasa has been given approval by the Executive Committee to negotiate upto a maximum of USD 40,000 as payment by the BCCSL to the Australian Cricket Board with regard to their request for a higher fee for the Singer World Series 1996.
This payment was in addition to the guarantee payment by Singer Sri Lanka Limited.
The other decisions taken at the Ex-Co were;
Meanwhile, it was discussed and stated that the USD 10,000 from A.R. Bukhatir was not received, plus the USD 125,000 due from Trinidad.
The Secretary has also informed Exco that there has been no response from Cosmas Mahagama to the faxes sent by him about the monies due on the tour of Los Angeles. He has been requested to give a press release regarding this after the completion of the Zimbabwe tour.
The Treasurer stated that the Exco decision to make payments of USD 700 each to Dave Whatmore and Alex Kountouri was not correct as they were not entitled to it. (AF)
The decision to award Rupavahini the rights over TNL to broadcast the two Test matches between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe was taken at an emergency meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board of Control for Cricket on August 25.
The Board President, Upali Dharmadasa who chaired this emergency meeting informed the Exco members of the reason for summoning this emergency meeting, arranged to take a decision whether to grant TV rights to TNL or Rupavahini.
He told the Exco about the terms and conditions received from TNL, as discussed with him, his Vice President, Thilanga Sumathipala Treasurer- Kumar Weerasuriya and Secretary -Tryphon Mirando.
The President said that subsequently, senior officials of the Rupavahini had meetings with him, Thilanga Sumathipala as the Ministers, Members of Parliament and members of the public had been contacting him, informing him that the coverage by TNL would not reach the people all over the country.
After considerable discussion, the Exco unanimously decided to award the TV rights for the two Test matches against Zimbabwe to Rupavahini purely to ensure that the public are able to view the matches wherever Rupavahini could be viewed, having the best coverage so far.
It was also envisaged that the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka would benefit financially as well, by this decision with a minimum guaranteed income to the Board of at least Rs. 5 million from all the rights that could be sold.
It was also decided that the President and Thilanga Sumathipala continue to negotiate on behalf of the Board with Rupavahini and to explain matters to Singer.
Meanwhile, The Sunday times learns that due to poor viewing conditions of the first two matches, a request was made to improve the standards, hence four cameramen were got down from South Africa.
It is also learnt that seven people have been electrocuted, five in Negombo and two in Ganemulla, trying to watch the matches by turning their antennas.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, S.B. Dissanayake from the Public Stadium in Bandarawela, where the 22nd National Sports Festival was held, had spoken to a senior official of Singers and requested him to get Rupavahini to cover the Singer World Series matches live, since he was indundated with several telephone calls of the poor coverage of these matches from the outstations.
Spots were carried on TNL calling for advertisers for the two Test matches earlier and now Rupavahini is doing the same, since they have been given the green light.
Members of the Exco present when the decision was taken to award Rupavahini the rights to give a live coverage of the two Tests against Zimbabwe were: Upali Dharmadasa, Thilanga Sumathipala, Tryphon Mirando, Kumar Weerasuriya, Ajith Abeygunawardena, K.M. Nelson, Mahinda Seneviratne, Gamini Gunasena, Donald Perera, Priyantha Algama, Ronnie Gunaratne and Carlton Bernadus.
The emergency Exco meeting which commenced at 1 p.m. on August 25 was over at 2.15 p.m.
Defence Services, Colombo HA are joint hockey champs
Defence Services and Colombo HA were declared joint champions at the Senior Men's Hockey Nationals when their final match ended in a 1-all draw at Edward Park Matale, conducted by the Sri Lanka Hockey Association and sponsored by Singers.
No extra time was introduced due to rain and bad light.
In the play-off for the third place, Mercantile the runners up last year beat Wennappuwa on a penalty shoot-out.
In the semi-finals, Colombo beat Mercantile in a penalty shoot-out, while Defence Services beat Wennappuwa by a solitary goal to nil.
Matale the defending champions were beaten by the Defence Services 1-nil and Colombo 3-nil.
In the run up to the finals, Matale beat Schools 1-nil, State Services beat Galle 8-nil, Kandy beat Nationalised Services 2-nil, Colombo beat Nationalised Services 6-nil.
Matale beat Kandy 3-1, Defence Services beat Schools 2-1, Schools beat Colombo 2-1, Defence Services 7-nil, Mercantile beat State Services 1-nil, Wennappuwa. beat State Services 3-1, Mercantile beat Galle 12-nil, Colombo beat Matale 3-nil, Defence Services beat Nationalised Services 5-nil, Schools beat Nationalised Services 4-1, Colombo drew 2-all with Defence Services, Matale beat Nationalised Services 6-nil, Schools beat Kandy 2-nil, Wennappuwa beat Galle 8-nil, Mercantile drew 1-all with Wennappuwa, Colombo beat Kandy 4-nil, Defence Services beat Matale 1-nil.
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