Sri Lanka crumbles but Aravinda redeems pride

LORDS (Saturday) - The mighty cricket atoms of the sub-continent India's Sachin Tendulkar and Sri Lanka's Aravinda de Silva set this home of world cricket alive today with a spectacular partnership that carried the Rest of the World XI to a thumping victory over an all star MCC team in a Diana Memorial International watched by some 35,000 people.

Responding to the MCC team's score of 262 for 4 in their 50 overs, the Rest of the World at one stage were struggling at 54 for 2 in 12 overs, but when De Silva joined Tendulkar, the stage was set for one of the most scintilatting batting displays by two of the world's greatest batsmen.

Tendulkar slammed 125 with 12 fours and three sixes while Aravinda gave him brilliant support in their match winning 177 runs stand for the third wicket before the sky-rocketing Tendulkar was bowled by Indian team-mate Anil Kumble. By then a victory target was within easy reach for the Rest of the World and De Silva led the assault with his innings of 82 which more than made up for the failure of his team mate, Sanath Jayasuriya, who was dismissed for eight.

Aravinda's explosive 82 in this widely awaited match for the W.G.Grace Trophy also made amends for Sri Lanka's shocking debacle in their three-day match against Glamorgan at Cardiff yesterday where the tourists crumbled to one of their lowest ever scores of 54 all out.

Finally the World XI reached the victory target of 262 in 43.4 overs with six wickets to spare.

The England tour...

Meanwhile,Glamorgan were 43 without loss in reply to Sri Lanka's first innings total of 54 on the opening day of their three day match yesterday at Cardiff.

This was in Sri Lanka's first innings score of 54 all out. Marvan Atapattu was the highest scorer with 19. For the home team A.Dale 4 for 20 and S.Thomas 4 for10 bowled well and routed Sri Lanka.

Scoreboard

Sri Lanka first innings

M.Atapattu lbw b Thomas 19

R.Arnold c Maynard b Watkin 3

D.Jayawardene c Law b Davies 0

A Ranatunga lbw b Dale 6

H.Tillakaratne lbw b Dale 2

U.Hathurusinghe c Dawood b Dale 7

U.Chandana lbw b Thomas 1

P.Jayawardene c Dawood b Thomas 0

M.Villavarayan b Thomas 0

K.Pushpakumara not out 8

M.Muralitharan b Dale 6

Extras (b-1 lb-1) 2

Total (all out, 21.5 overs) 54

Fall of wickets: 1-9 2-10 3-24 4-32

5-326-34 7-38 8-38 9-48 10-54

Bowling: S.Watkin 7-2-13-1, A.Davies 5-2-9-1, A.Dale 5.5-1-20-4, S.Thomas 4-1-10-4

Captain's innings - match lost

By Marcus Joseph

A captain's knock of 98 not out by Y. Jinasena could not save St. John's College, Panadura from defeat by Moratu Vidyalaya in their under-15 inter-school cricket encounter played at Moratuwa.

St. John's College 184 (Y. Jinasena 98 not out, R. Dammika 24, R. Fonseka 2 for 18, Amal Perera 2 for 32) and 93 for 4 (L. Kalpage 35 not out).

Moratu Vidyalaya 215 for 4 (D. Kumara 78, V. Mendis 39 not out, R. Fonseka 36, N. Fernando 26 not out).

Colombo Ladies win easily

Anuradhapura's Shakthi SC hosting Colombo Ladies CC at the Central College grounds at Anuradhapura, went down tamely in a 40 over women's cricket match last Sunday.

Shakthi scored 123 all out in 27 overs with Debanu Gunaratne leading with 21 runs and U. Thabrew getting 19. Janakanthi Mala took 3 for 15.

Colombo Ladies won convincingly with 124 for 3 in 19 overs. Vajira Premaratne 28 not out, Sunethra Silva 27, Janakanthi Mala 18 and Deepasika Perera 10 were the chief scorers.

CCC School of Cricket win

The Under 13 cricketers from CCC School of Cricket defeated S. Thomas' Mount Lavinia in a friendly cricket match at Mount Lavinia.

Skipper and opening bat Yasas Hewawitharana with an unbeaten 80 which included three sixes and 6 fours supported by nine year old Thilina Saramasinghe who took four wickets with his right arm leg spinners were the architects of the victory.

Dilan Nayanajith 32 with 5 fours and Amrit Wijesuriya 3 for 18 were the other good performers for CCC. For the losers, C. Samarasinghe 30 and D. Ratnayake 27 batted well while Adan Wazil 2 for 20 and P. Gunasekera 2 for 15 bowled well.

S. Thomas' Mount Lavinia 144 all out. C. Saramasinghe 30, D. Ratnayake 27, D. de Soysa 16, I. Irshad 15, Thilina Samarasinghe 4 for 52, Amrit Wijesuriya 3 for 18.

CCC School of Cricket - 173 for 9 wickets. Yasas Hewawitharana 80 not out, Dilan Nayanajith 32, Adnan Wazil 2 for 20, P. Gunasekera 2 for 15. (AF).

Women's cricket tour to S'pore, Japan ?

In view of the raging controversy regarding women's cricket administration and the resultant injustice to end the desperate plight of players, the Women's Cricket Federation of Sri Lanka has been formed to give an opportunity to all players and officials to participate at national level irrespective of the groups they belong to.

A two-week tour of Singapore and Japan to play six ,50 over matches, has been arranged for October this year by this newly formed Women's Cricket Federation.

All players and clubs are requested to contact or write to Mrs. Sureka Hannibal, Secretary, Women's Cricket Federation of Sri Lanka at C/3/16, De Soysa Flats, Moratuwa.

Already several clubs and officials have pledged their support to the activities of the Federation. - (AF)

Will the Board agree to Roshan's request?

Marlon Fernandopulle

England tour discard Roshan Mahanama has requested for two months' leave from the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka.

Roshan Mahanama like all the other Lankan cricketers have signed a contract with the Cricket Board which entitles them to lucrative monthly payments ranging from US dollars 1000 to 2000. The contract entails the cricketers to be available for selection to National sides during this period.

According to informed sources Mahanama's request is very likely to be rejected.However the Cricket Board along with the selection committee were meeting last night to take a final decision on his request.

If the cricket Board accedes to Mahanama's request the world record breaking batsman will not be considered for September's Commonwealth Games. Roshan's chances of making it to England for the Triangular would also be out if he opts for two months leave.

On the contrary if Mahanama's request is rejected the right hander may be drafted into the Sri Lanka A side to pad up against South Africa A.

In another development three promising fast bowlers were having their bowling actions scrutinised by a panel of Umpires after the National Selectors alleged that the bowlers were throwing.

The action of the three bowlers were videoed and closely watched by the special committee comprising umpires B C Cooray, Udaya Wickremasinghe, T M Samarasinghe, D N Pathirana and Asoka de Silva. After watching i t closely the umpires are expected to take a final decision on each bowler's action.

Two victories for Maris Stella

Maris Stella College, Negombo scored their second consecutive win in the Under 17, Division 1 of the Singer Trophy second round matches at Negombo.

A fine all round performace by Skipper Mevan Fernando who scored a brilliant 89 and captured 2 for 31, helped Maris Stella to a resounding win over Thurstan.

Mevan scored his second consecutive half century.

Opening batsman Malik Jayawardena and Mevan put on 141 runs for the third wicket, with Malik's share being a patient 48.

Thurstan-165 all out in 49.5 overs. (C. Aravinda 25, B. Ratnayake 24, T. Nadishan 21, N. Randika 20, Buddika Fernando 3 for 25, Mevan Fernando 2 for 31, Malik Jayawardena 2 for 36.)

Maris Stella-217 for 6 in 50 overs.

(Mevan Fernando 89, Malik Jayawardena 48, Buddika Fernando 31 not out, Achala Jayalath 22, C. Aravinda 2 for 27.

In another match, Maris Stella helped by an unbeaten 64 by skipper Mevan Fernando beat Prince of Wales by 4 wickets at Moratuwa.

Prince of Wales-202 all out in 48.3 overs. (M. Bandara 49, L. Lakmal 23, U. Suranga 20 not out, Mevan Fernando 4 for 26, Damian Fernando 2 for 41.)

Maris Stella-216 for 6 wickets in 50 overs.

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