![[Image]](s16a.jpg) England pace bowler Dougie Brown (L) celebrates with team mate Graeme Hick after taking the wicket of West Indian batsman Philo Wallace on the first ball of the day during the third match of the Sharjah Champions Trophy tournament yesterday. – Reuters (See page 15 for details) |
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Susanthika Jayasinghe, Sri Lanka's gold medal hope at the Olympics in the Year 2000, will celebrate her 22nd birthday on December 17 (Wednesday) with religious observances at Anuradhapura.
Susanthika got back on track for the forthcoming Asian Championships in Japan after a self-imposed exile from the athletics scene due to personal problems.
She will also undergo rigorous training at Diyatalawa for six weeks starting on December 20. Under this training programme, she will have a schedule of two sessions. The morning session will be from 7 to 10 am and the evening session from 5 to 7 pm - a total of five hours of training daily.
Susanthika Training at tha Sports Ministry Grounds
Susanthika has told friends that she does not care about her recent past, she has learnt many lessons but will be concentrating on her athletics career from now on.
Susanthika who came second in the World Athletics Championships in Athens recently told the media that she could not continue with her training programme because of sexual harrassment by a senior personality in the Sports Ministry.
Subsequently, however, well-meaning persons and organisations intervened to get her back on the track.
A cheque for US$ 30,000 due to her as prize money from her Athens silver medal has now been credited to Susanthika's personal bank account by the Amateur Athletic Association (AAA). Susanthika's heavy schedule for next year will include the Asian Championships in Japan, Commonwealth Games in Malaysia and the Asian Games in Thailand and some of the eight other international events tied up for 1998.
The Secretary of the Amateur Athletics Association (AAA), Rohan Amarasinghe told The Sunday Times that the memorandum signed between Susanthika Jayasinghe and the President of the AAA Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse will be finalised next week.
Talking about Clause 5 in the memorandum, the Secretary added that Susanthika Jayasinghe will no doubt be Sri Lanka's number one choice for both the 100 and 200 metres at the three major international events lined up for next year.
According to Amarasinghe, Susanthika representing Sri Lanka at other meets will have to be reviewed taking into consideration her performances at these internationals, taking into account her respective timings, provided they are ahead of other local competitors.
Meanwhile a senior official of the AAA confirmed that Susanthika will not be participating at the 75th Anniversary Nationals fixed for December 18 and 19 at the newly made track since she has said that she is not geared for the event as it is off season.
This year's nationals are unique as it will start at 4 pm and will be continued under floodlights.
In a game restricted to 39 overs due to rain, the defending A Division limited-overs champions Bloomfield C and AC nudged out BRC by 17 runs in an exciting match to enter the final round at Havelock Park yesterday.
Bloomfield, electing to bat first, made 172 for 9 in 45 overs, thanks to a second-wicket stand of 64 runs between Sanath Jayasuriya (42 with six fours in 72 balls) and Sampath Perera (21) which paved the way for this total. This partnership was followed by a determined 36 n.o by Kumar Dharmasena (two fours). D.Rajapakse proved to be the most economical bowler with three for 19 for BRC.
BRC in reply were 97 for 5 in 21.5 overs when rain halted playfor 28 minutes. Due to this stoppage the match was reduced to 39 overs with the home team requiring 52 runs to win in 17.1 overs with five wickets intact.
Bloomfield with some tight bowling coming from Jayasuriya (2 for 4), K.Dharmasena (2 for 18) and R. L.Perera (2 for 28) steered the visitors to the final round. BRC were eventually all out for 131 with the last man Mohan Perera being injured.
Bloomfield - 172 for 9 (S.Jayasuriya 42, Sampath Perera 21, K.Dharmasena 36 n.o, Priyankara Wickremasinghe 12, H.Boteju 12; D.Rajapakse 3 for 19).
BRC - 131 in 33.4 overs (C.Jayasinghe 36, Sidat Tennekoon 30, C.Perera 10; P.Wickremasinghe 2 for 22, K.Dharmasena 2 for 18. Sanath Jayasuriya 2 for 4, R.L.Perera 2 for 28).
Professional batting by Galle CC's eighth wicket pair of S. Faumi (20 n.o) and Malaka De Silva 17 (n.o), who were associated in a 29 runs stand, helped Galle CC to score an exciting three wickets win over Moors SC in a Division One Inter-Club limited over cricket tournament match at Braybrooke Place yesterday.
Galle CC chasing 207 to win in 50 overs were given a flying start by openers Chanaka Vithanage 36 (one six and one four) and Saman Fonseka 33 ( three fours) who put on 81 runs in 25 overs but they lost their way somewhat when they were 105 for 4. A fifth wicket stand of 59 runs in 57 balls between Duminda Wickremasinghe 37 (three fours) and Vajira Lakmal 30 (two sixes and two fours) helped them to reach 164 for 4 in 43.3 overs but three quick wickets fell leaving them at 182 for 7. At last the eighth wicket partnership saw them romp home. Galle CC will play SSC today and will have to draw the match or win on a better run-rate if they are to book a place in the final round. Moors SC entring the final round will be decided from today's result between Galle CC and SSC The latter have already booked their berth in the final round. Earlier Moors SC, batting first after winning the toss, made 206 for 8 in their allotted 50 overs thanks to two useful partnerships for the seventh wicket of 44 between A. Jayasinghe 53 (two sixes, three fours) and Rasika Priyadharshana 55 n.o (two fours) and an unbeaten eighth wicket stand of 58 between Rasika Priyadarshana (55 n.o) and T. Nonis (26 n.o).
Moors SC- 206 for 8 in 50 overs ( A.Jayasinghe 53, R.Priyadarshana 55n.o, T.Nonis 26n.o; D.Sudarshana 4 for 48)
Galle CC - 211 for 7 in 49.3 overs ( C.Vithanage 36, S. Fonseka 33,
C. Hewamana 11, D.Wickremasinghe 37, V. Lakmal 30, S.Faumi 20 n.o, M.De.Silva 17 n.o; R.Sridhar 2 for 42, T. Nonis 2 for 34)
High class Spin and pace bowling by Tamil Union bowlers helped them to beat Police SC by two wickets in their Division One Inter-Club limited over cricket match at the P. Sara Stadium yesterday.
Police SC batting first made a moderate 151 for 8 in 50 overs. A.Priyantha (26) and Chamara Silva (35 ) did the bulk of the scoring helping them to reach 151. For Tamil Union, Mario Villavarayan
(2 for 24), Upul Chandana (2 for 28) and Nuwan Shiroman (2 for 7) bowled best.
Police SC - 151 for 8 in 50 (A.Priyaratne 26, C. Silva 35; M.Villavarayan 2 for 24, U.Chandana 2 for 28, N.Shiroman 2 for 7)
Tamil Union - 139 for 8 in 43.3 overs ( A.Galegoda 23, V. Waragoda 28, R.Yasalal 26n.o; U,Gunawardena 2 for 19) -(SI)
NCC scored a thumping eight wicket win over Nomads in their Division one Inter Club limited over cricket match at Maitland Place yesterday.
After skittling out Nomads for a partly 73 all out in 37.5 overs NCC reached 74 for 2 in 14.5 overs.With this win NCC are through to the final round.
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