Lanka beats Guam

Sri Lanka beat Guam by 8 goals to nil in their 8th Asian Youth under 16 football championships played at Kathmandu, Nepal.

In another game, Sri Lanka lost to Bangladesh by 4 goals to nil. The Lankans will play hosts Nepal in their last match on April 27.

Birthday boy catapults India to victory

SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates, April 24 (Reuters) - Sachin Tendulkar celebrated his 25th birthday with another century as India won the three-nations limited overs tournament on Friday by beating Australia by six wickets.

Tendulkar followed his fluent 143 against the same opposition on Wednesday with an impressive 134 as India overhauled Australia's 272 for nine with nine balls to spare.

It was India's first victory over Australia in a one-day tournament final, having lost world series finals in 1986 and 1991 and the three-nation final in Delhi earlier this month.

A 24,000 crowd was on hand to watch the Indian master produce a rich repertoire of strokes.

Already a veteran of 188 one-day internationals, Tendulkar raced to his 15th century in 103 balls with 10 fours and one six in the 37th over.

Tendulkar, who was involved in a 89-run stand for the second wicket with Nayan Mongia and in a 120-stand for the third wicket with skipper Mohammed Azhaurudin, left in the 45th over when India needed 25 runs off 33 balls.

Azharuddin (58) was the other main scorer as India achieved the target without much fuss.

With his elegant 134 off 131 balls with 12 fours and three sixes, Tendulkar completed the demolition of Australia, notching up a massive tally of 1,130 runs in 12 innings during their twin tour of India and Sharjah.

Earlier, skipper Steve Waugh and Darren Lehmann struck solid half centuries — their first in the tournament — to lead Australia's recovery.

The two were involved in a timely 103-run stand for the sixth wicket in 96 balls to lift the innings which at one stage was tottering at 26 runs for three in just 5.5 overs.

Steve Waugh paced the innings well, stroking a fluent 70 off 71 balls with four fours and one six while Lehmann's equally aggressive 70 off 59 balls contained five fours and one six.

India's bold decision to put Australia in paid off when they seized the early initiative, getting rid of top three batsmen in quick succession.

Tom Moody, however, was unlucky to be given out, caught behind for one after a half-hearted appeal by the Indians even though repeated TV replays clearly showed the ball missed the bottom edge of his bat.

Opener Adam Gilchrist (45 off 60 balls) and Michael Beven (45 off 63 balls) had repaired the early damage with a stand of 59 runs for the fourth wicket.

Gilchrist edged to keeper Mongia off Hrishikesh Kanitkar while Bevan ran himself out when Steve Waugh failed to respond to his call for a second run which saw both the batsmen stranded at one end.

For India, Ventakesh Prasad was the most effective, taking two wickets for 32 runs, taking his tally to 100 wickets in 85 one-day internationals.

India vs Sri Lanka Throwball today

The Indian Throwball team arrived in Sri Lanka today. They play their first match against the KIPZ Throwball team in Katunayake at 5 p.m. today.

The Indian team will be pitted against the President's team at the Girls High School grounds at 11 a.m., in a practice match.

The third and final match will be played on April 27 against the President's team at the Sugathadasa Stadium at 11 a.m., under the patronage of the Deputy Minister of Sports, Jeewan Kumaratunga.

The President's team will be picked from, Anula I. Perera (Captain), Wajira Pushpakumari, Deepthi Alwis, Soma Illangakoon, R. Y. A. Seetha Ramani, Swarna Fernando, Danushi Premaratne, Indika Damayanthi, Pradeepa Rathnamali Priyanthi, Ruwanthi Silva and Buddhika Balagalle.

The Indian team will comprise, Jwala Ananda Rao, (Captain), C. K. Sunitha Krupa, Puri Avanthika, S. Anisha, P. Pavithra, Sharma Sivani, Sultane Nighat, Mamat, Manali Mehta.

Shabbir Jafferjee is the Throwball Association President, and will be the chief guest at the first game.

D.S key to our forward march - Shelley

By Bernie Wijesekera

Bloomfield C and A.C., who emerged 'triple champions' in the local cricket scene last season - winning the 'Sara' Trophy, Hatna A Div., limited overs title and the Div.II championships are maintaining their consistency in the ongoing season, too.

The one-time Park Club, were struggling for survival, but thanks to their president Shelley Wickremasinghe's charisma they are in the forefront after a slippery climb.

Bloomfield are the dedending champions of the P.'Sara' Trophy and has entered the final for the third successive year. They meet SSC in the final a four-day match starting on April 30, at the SSC grounds.

Wickremasinghe was interviewed by the Sunday Times, in the company of former Sri Lanka and Bloomfield skipper Dhanasiri Weerasinghe,who is here on a short holiday from Australia.

Q- What is the secret behind your club's achievements ?

A- Discipline not only among the members, but also among the players. The player interest is the upper most thing. They are afforded with all the facilities to go places for their future betterment. With all this assistance if they don't toe the line, then they have the option of moving out for better clubs, he added. As for the century old club all are equal.

More recently, my committee has gone out of the way to treat the cricketers as well as we could afford. Imagine the youngsters were afforded on opportunity of going to the centre of cricket - (England), to play in an invitation tournament where we emerged as champions. This exposure helped them greatly thanks to Pepsi Cola, who were one of the main cornerstones to make this tour a reality, he added.

Q- With you in the driving seat, anything special for your club's forward march?

A- Yes, in the past, what we lacked mostly was a competent coach. But we are fortunate today to have in our midst D.S. de Silva, the former Sri Lanka allrounder, who has played in England and in Australia with much success.

Very few people know that he has captained and coached in a leading club Northshore in Geelong, Victoria (Australia) and won the championship for three years in- a- row speaks volumes for his ability and know-how. Today, he has done the same for Bloomfield to enter the P.'Sara' final for the third successive year.

Of course Lalith Kaluperuma, is the manager. The duo get on well and won the respect of the players. One cannot reach that top from the top, but it has to come from the grassroots level. To achieve success one needs a strong management and impartial management, that treated and looked after the players on all account, he added.

I am proud to mention that D.S. to me is a complete coach on and off the field. He is understanding, his simple ways and proven ability has helped the club to be in the limelight.

Bloomfield, is fortunate to have Hatton National Bank as our main sponsors - our partner in progress. This is an unbroken partnership that is going from strength to strength, thanks to the HNB hierarchy headed by Mr. Rienzie Wijetilleke.

Q- What are your chances in the forthcoming final against SSC?

A- There is no doubt we have the material and talent to achieve the objective.

My point has been proved last year, when we won, minus seven of our regulars, with a tremendous team effort put up by the youngsters. For Bloomfield, it is the spirit of the game that matters in the end. Trophies are secondary, the genial president concluded.

Dhanasiri Weera-singhe, told the Sunday Times, if Bloomfield are in the position thanks to Shelley's vision to achieve his mission. It was hard grinding, facing many obstacles. Any other person could have melted and simply brought down the shutters. He had the courage and determination and never succumbed to pressure . We owe him a debt of gratitude, Weerasinghe added.

Finally he added that Bloomfield had the best allrounder in D.S. as coach. He played under me for Sri Lanka and gave of his best. The other personality is Sri Lanka off- spinner Lalith Kaluperuma as manager. Both are fine spinners. They have the ability to bat when the chips are down. With this foundation plus an infrastructure mapped out by its committee, the Reid Avenue Club should be able to produce many more national players for the future, Weerasinghe nodded.

Dhanasiri returned to Australia on Thursday (April 23)

Last year, when D.S. took over the coaching from Indian coach, the club was lying fourth. But he won the next seven matches outright to emerge champions.

Mahen Thambiah wins open motor race at Nuwara Eliya

By Shane Seneviratne

Mahen Thambiah driving a KIA Pride won the Open Motor Cars event at the Nuwara-Eliya Road races defeating Rohith De Silva in a Toyota and Henry Mudalige in a Dihastu.

Rohan de Silva won the A Group motor cars event on his Nissan with Mahen Thambiah second in his KIA Pride and Yoga Perera third in a Nissan.

Rohith de Silva made amends winning the Group A cars event 14-15 Kgs on his Toyota with Henry Mudalige second and Praneeth Kavikar third.

The other results:

Modified Motor Cycles100 CC - Sujith Kavikara-Honda MB 80, Mohammed Ershad-Yamaha TZMR, Kamal Duminda-Yamaha TZR. Modified Motor Cycles 125 CC - Ajith Perera- Yamaha TZR, Sujith Karunasekera- Yamaha TZR, Damian Gunatilleka- Yamaha TZR,

Motor Cycles 125 CC - Krishan Dias-Honda RS, Prabath Peiris-Honda RS, Damian Gunatilleka-Honda RS.

Modified Motor Cycles 250 CC - Dilan Kao-Honda NSR, Ajith Perera- Honda NSR, Srimal Wanniarachchi-Honda NSR.

Racing Motor Cycles 250 CC - Ruwan Peiris-Yamaha, Prabath Peiris-Honda RS, Sajith Mallawathanthirige- Honda.

Motor Cars Group A-15 Kgs, Nilanga Dela- Mini, Bri Ponnambalam-Renault, Hafiz Cader-Morris Mini.

Motor Cycles 250 CC Open - Dilan Kao-Honda NSR, Krishan Dias-Honda RS, Prabath Peiris- Honda NSR.

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