 Australian batsman Ricky Ponting hits South African fast bowler Allan Donald for four at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on the second day of the first cricket Test yesterday. Ponting went on to score 105 to help Australia to a first innings score of 309 all out - REUTERS |
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The Annual General Meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka will be held on or before March 31, 1998.
Already two contenders have shown their willingness to contest the post of President with a third candidate considering whether he should come forward.
The two who have already announced their candidature for Presidency since Upali Dharmadasa has called it quits, even though he was to be given a third term are Thilanga Sumathipala and Ana Punchihewa.
Ana Punchihewa, a former President of the Board started his campaign from Kandy two weeks ago.
MELBOURNE, Saturday (Reuters) - Gary Kirsten provided the only resistance with an unbeaten half-century as South Africa's top order collapsed in reply to Australia's first innings total of 309 in the first Test today.
The left-handed opener proved unflappable as the tourists struggled to 94 for four from 56 overs at close of play on the second day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
With his side still 215 runs behind, Kirsten will resume today on 61 in partnership with all-rounder Brian McMillan, who remained five not out. Kirsten played with composure amid the chaos, surviving with little difficulty for 221 minutes during which time he faced 177 balls and hit five fours.
Leg-spinner Shane Warne, who claimed the vital wicket of South African captain Hansie Cronje for a second-ball duck, loomed as a growing threat on a pitch offering bounce and turn. Earlier, Ricky Ponting scored 105, his second Test century, after Australia resumed today on 206 for four. Batting at number six, Ponting hit 14 fours and faced 199 balls to reach his century in 262 minutes. He returned to centre stage late in the day to run out Darryl Cullinan for five with a direct hit on the stumps in a superb piece of fielding in the covers.
Scoreboard{tc "Scoreboard"}Australia first innings
(overnight 206 for four)
M.Elliott c Richardson b Klusener 6
M.Taylor c Kirsten b McMillan 20
G.Blewett st Richardson b Symcox 26
M.Waugh c Richardson b Donald 0
S.Waugh c Cullinan b Donald 96
R.Ponting b Symcox 105
I.Healy b Donald 16
P.Reiffel b Symcox 27
S.Warne c and b Pollock 1
M.Kasprowicz c Bacher b Symcox 0
G.McGrath not out 0
Extras (nb-5 lb-6 b-1) 12
Total (121.2 overs) 309
Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-42, 3-44, 4-77, 5-222, 6-250, 7-302, 8-309, 9-309.
Bowling: Donald 29-6-74-3 (nb-2), Pollock 28-6-76-1 (nb-1), Klusener 19-3-48-1 (nb-2), McMillan 10-3-19-1, Symcox 27.2-4-69-4, Kallis 4-2-5-0, Cronje 4-2-11-0.
South Africa first innings
A.Bacher c Healy b Kasprowicz 3
G.Kirsten not out 61
J.Kallis c Healy b McGrath 15
D.Cullinan run out 5
H.Cronje c Blewett b Warne 0
B.McMillan not out 6
Extras (nb-4) 4
Total (for four wickets, 56 overs) 94
Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-62, 3-75, 4-76.
To bat: S.Pollock, L.Klusener, D.Richardson, P.Symcox, A.Donald.
Bowling: McGrath 12-6-13-1, Reiffel 6-2-20-0 (nb-2), Kasprowicz 10-3-21-1 (nb-1), Warne 22-7-37-1 (nb-1), M.Waugh 6-4-3-0
Sri Lanka will come out with their guns blazing when they take on India in the third and final One Day International against India in Goa today.
After being comprehensively beaten in the first One Day International and caught up on an under-prepared wicket in the second one dayer, which was forced to be called off, the world champions face a daunting task in their bid to level the three match series.
They have never beaten the Indians in a one day series in India on four previous occasions, but boast of an impeccable record against their sub-continent rivals in the recent past, winning nine of the 11 games.
The Sri Lankans who have enjoyed a very successful year in which they won three major one day tournaments, will be eager to at least square the series and hold their heads high. On the other hand Sachin Tendulkar's team had little success this year and would be looking to wrap up the year on a successful note.
Sri Lanka will once again turn to their battery of batsmen to bring them victory in this all important game. Although they failed to deliver the goods in the first one dayer, Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu and Aravinda de Silva will have to come up with match-winning knocks if the world champions are to square the series.
The three-some, along with Roshan Mahanama have been the backbone of the batting. The axing of Marvan Atapattu from the second one dayer was shocking. Atapattu has been scoring freely as an opener and lately has proved to be the ideal partner for Sanath Jayasuriya. One only hopes that the stylish right hander will regain his rightful position in the game today.
The eagerness to promote Kaluwitharna as an opener must have been one of the reasons for the tour selectors to drop Atapattu. It must be remembered that Kalu-witharna lost his place due to the loss of form in his batting, which also resulted in poor wicket-keeping later on. Since his exit from the team Kaluwitharna has not done anything exceptional with the bat or wicketkeeping to earn a re-call. However the performance of his predecessor Lanka de Silva was not up to expectations and Kalu-witharna was called back to the side.
Thus it is evident that Kaluwitharna is still not batting to his true potential and is struggling to regain his form. Under these circumstances it's best that Kaluwitharna bats lower down the order. Why the tour selectors promoted the wicketkeeper to open, at the expense of the well established Atapattu is puzzling. The chances of Kaluwitharna succeeding as an opener is very remote. However the damage to Atapattu and his continuity as an opener may be too much for the up-and-coming cricketer.
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