Asian Test C'ship in the balance

By Marlon Fernandopulle

The inaugural Asian Test Championship which was likely to be worked-off early next year is in the balance.

According to a spokesman of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan are negotiating a five Test and One-day series in India during the same period. If these negotiations succeed the Test championship will not come-off.

The Test championship is organized by the Asian Cricket Council ACC and is scheduled to be held in February and March next year, two months before the World Cup.

According to the President of the BCCSL Thilanga Sumathipala Sri Lanka agreed to participate at the Test championship despite the tournament being held two months before the World Cup.

"We consulted the relevant people before taking the decision to participate at this tournament," said Sumathipala.

Bangladesh has confirmed hosting the Asia Cup in March and April next year. This will be Sri Lanka's last One-day tournament before the World Cup in England. The Sri Lanka team is scheduled to leave for the World Cup on April 23.

The team will play a few practice matches against Leicestershire before being hosted by Northamptonshire.

POW poised for the kill

By S.M.D. Sirisena and Shane Seneviratne

Prince of Wales, helped by a good all round performance by Janaka Gunaratne (4 for 29 and 63 n.o) held the upper hand at the end of the first day of their Inter School cricket match against Kingswood at Moratuwa yesterday.

Prince of Wales enjoyed a lead of 54 runs, when they ended the first day on 186 for 5 in reply to Kingswood's first innings score of 132 all out. POW will go for the kill today. The Match will be continued today

Kingswood - 132 all out in 55 overs (L. Ekanayake 39, D. Madanayake 11, M.Pushpakumara15 n.o, T. Madanayake 12; H. Weerawansa 3 for 23, J. Gunaratne 4 for 29, B. Dananjaya 2 for 19)

Prince of Wales - 186 for 5 (S. Fernando 36, D. Ranaweera 23, S.Wijeratne 28 n.o J. Gunaratne 63 n.o (8x4,1x6), T. Devindra 22, V. Seneviratne 2 for 38, T. Madanayake 2 for 59)

Opening stand: Only bright spot

A dazzling first wicket stand of 116 runs between Milinda Wickremasinghe (45) and Sahan Wijesekera (72) for Isipatana was the only bright spot as their Inter-School cricket match against Isipatana ended in a draw at Cambpell Park yesterday.

Wesley -197 and 143 for 9 in 42 overs at close (Rakitha Wijetunga 49, Nalin Balasuriya 18, Danushka Dissanayake 23, Manoj de Silva 24, Dharshana Madagedera16 n.o; Hiran 2 for 13)

Isipatana - (68 for no loss overnight) 273 for 8 dec. in 89.3 overs (Milinda Wickremasinghe 45, Sahan Wijesekera 72 (4x9), Manoj Fernando 51(4x8), Kanchana Rodrigo 34, Krishantha Jayawardena 32; Pubudu Chandrasekera 3 for 77, Dharshika Jayakody 3 for 62) - (SI)

Sebs recover

The Inter-School cricket match between Sri Jayawardenapura MV and St. Sebastian's Moratuwa ended in a draw at Moratuwa yesterday.

St. Sebastian's after being badly placed at 98 for 6 recovered to be all out for 155 with their last four batsmen adding 57 runs.

Sri Jayawardenapura MV -142 all out and 165 all out (W. Silva 57, V. Silva 16, S.Beruwala 23; M. Fernando 2 for 23, N.Fernando 2 for 45. T. de.Mel 2 for 25)

St.Sebastian's - (98 for 6 overnight) 155 all out (H.Perera 47, H.de.Silva 46, R.Mendis 26; D.Nalaka 3 for 15, D.Jayaweera 3 for 53) and 80 for 3 at close (N.Fernando 18 n.o, M.Fernando 17; D. Nalaka 2 for 23) - (SMDS)

Honours for Maris Stella

Maris Stella, Negombo took major honours in their drawn Inter-School cricket match against Trinity at Asgiriya yesterday.

Maris Stella - 169 for 8 dec and 75 for 4 at close (K. Bulathsinhala 30, A.Jayalath 32; P. Weeraratne 3 for 6)

Trinity - (9 for no loss overnight) 158 all out (K.Weeraratne 27, H. Fernando 25, P.Weeraratne 40, R. Gamage 18; A. Dias 4 for 46, D.Rodrigo 5 for 37).

Titles for Bens and Hindu

By Gokulan Nadarajah

St. Benedict's College, Kotahena and Hindu College, Bambalapitiya won the Under 18 and Under 16 Colombo District schools soccer titles with wins over D.S. Senanayake and St. Anthony's Wattala, respectively, in the finals worked off at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday.

In the Under16 final Hindu beat St. Anthony's Wattala by five goals to nil. Striker P. Arulraj scored four goals, including a hat-trick.

In the Under 18 final St. Benedict's beat D.S.Senanayake 1-0. The only goal in the game was scored by Dilan Roy.

The finals for the Under 12 and Under 14 age groups were won by Hameed Al Hussainia College defeating St. Benedict's.and St. Joseph's, respectively, earlier.

The chief guests were Messrs. Ranjith Pandithage, Gamini Edirisingha, Tissa Dharmasena and G. C. Adikari.

Overruled?

The fitness of a certain referee was very much in doubt to blow at a Asian Championships but all rules were thrown aside and the referee, left for the event with the Referees Committee's approval.

Left turned right

A leading batsman in the Sri Lanka cricket team who is a left hander has been made a right hander by a leading electronic media organisation in their advertisements.

Umpire grounded

An umpire officiating in a indoor sport final did not know his basics when he awarded a point not once but twice against a player mistaking it to be a provocation to him!

Boxing bout

Two senior referees of a popular sport gave a display resembling a boxing bout at a school ground at Reid Avenue much to the dismay of the tiny tots involved in a scrummage.

Squash titles for Hirantha, Kushani

By Saif Izzadeen

Hirantha Gunasekera and Kushani Daluwatte carried away the boys' and girls' under 19 titles, respectively, at the Junior Squash Nationals worked off at the Trans-Asia Hotel Squash Courts yesterday.

The tournament was conducted by the Sri Lanka Squash Federation and sponsored by the Trans-Asia Hotel. The competition was conducted among five age groups.

In the other age groups in the boys events, Asitha Gunasekera, Prassana Dharan, Indika Cooray and Naveen Samarasinghe won the under 11, 13, 15 and 17 titles respectively. In the girls' events Sathya Madawi, Terani Guruge, Manisha Hettiarachchi, Rashni Lankage won the under 11, 13, 15 and 17 titles respectively.

NCC on target for a win

NCC were poised for an outright victory over Matara SC in their Under 23 game at Maitland Place yesterday.

After bowling out the visitors for 65 runs NCC hit up 149 for 9 declared and had Matara SC reeling at 28 for 5 at the close. Kumara Sangakkara top scored with 43 for the home side while Anil Riddigammanagedara and J Sigera were among the wickets for NCC.

Sebestianites were strongly placed in their encounter against SSC at Maitland Place.

The visitors were bowled out for 189 but hit back strongly to have SSCbadly placed at 45 for 4 by the close. For the Sebestianites Mario Reisz top scored with a polished 65 which included five boundaries and a six.

Bloomfield after being put into bat were all out for 279 in 89.4 overs at end of the first day of their under 23 inter club cricket match against Moors SC at Reid Avenue.

At Maitland Place: NCC vs Matara Sc

Matara SC-65 (S. Mendis 34, J.Sigera 4/18, A Riddigammanagedara 2/7, C. Jayasinghe 2/23) & 28/5 (J. Sigera 2/11, A. Riddigammanagedara 2/8)

NCC- 149/9 decl (A Pathirana 18, K Sangakkara 43, P Hewage 32; P Nissanka 2/52, K. Rohana 2/15, N Guruge 2/45)

At Maitland Place SSC vs Sebastianites

Sebastianites -189 (Mario Reisz 65, Chamara Liyanage 35; Ruchira Perera 8/46)

SSC - 45/4

At Reid Avenue Bloomfield vs Moors SC

Bloomfield - 279 in 89.4 overs (Bathisha de Silva 67, R.Weerasinghe 50, S.Dissanayake 42, Taraka Gunaratne 41; N.Pallihakkara 5 for 87, R. Priyadarshana 2 for 63) –BW

Large contingent for Asian Games

Sri Lanka will be represented by over 100 participants at the forthcoming 13th Asian Games to be held in Bangkok from December 6 to 20, a source close to the National Olympic Committee told The Sunday Times.

The Lankans chances of winning more medals look bright with the official sponsors being Caltex who are exploring the possibilities of sending a journalist from every newspaper in Sri Lanka to cover this prestigious event which will draw the best athletes in Asia.

With more Sri Lankans likely to visit Bangkok to witness this event Transair Travels Private Limited, are offering tickets at a considerable rate and those wishing to make use of this facility, could contact them at No. 117, Hunupitiya Lake Road Colombo 2.

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