Second unofficial Test against
Zimbabwe ‘A
Sri Lanka ‘A’ in winning wayby
Bernard Perera in Galle
Sri Lanka ‘A’ bundled out Zimbabwe ‘A’ for 221 in the first
innings and enforced the follow on, on Sunday, the third day of the second unofficial Test
here in Galle.
The visitors who were 210 runs behind were tottering again losing three wickets for
only 15 runs. At close they were 20 for 3.
The third day’s play began only after lunch as the wicket was damp due to rain
water seeping in through the covers. The Umpires, after a close look at the wicket at
11.30 a.m., decided to commence the game at 1.00 p.m.
The Zimbabwean overnight pair Craig Wishart and A. Blignaut continued their association
for the fifth wicket adding 87 runs. Blignaut was the first to depart stumped by
Jayawardene off Herath for 34. His innings which lasted for 127 minutes saw him face 95
deliveries. Blignaut’s association with Wishart was the best for Zimbabwe in their
first essay.
Craig Wishart became the top scorer for his side making a patient knock of 103 which at
this stage gave the indication that they were all out to avoid the follow on. But, the
fall of the sixth and the seventh wickets, that of Campbell and Price, dashed all hopes of
a recovery. Wishart was eighth man to fall and this gave Sri Lanka the upper hand in this
game. His innings contained 13 boundaries and came off 195 balls. He was at the wicket for
285 minutes.
For Sri Lanka ‘A’ pacemen Dinusha Fernando and K. Weeraratne were at their
best to grab three wickets each. Spinners Rangana Herath and Tilan Samaraweera, sending
down 36 overs between them, were able to capture two and one wicket respectively. The most
economical bowler for Sri Lanka was Rangana Herath who conceded only 25 runs bowling 22
overs for his two wickets.
Earlier the match referee in consultation with the umpires decided to bowl a maximum of
75 overs for the day. As the light faded quickly the match was called off with two overs
to spare.
SCOREBOARD
Sri Lanka ‘A’ first innings 431 for 8 wickets declared (A. Gunewardene 140, I
de Saram 61, Tilan Samaraweera 106 n.o., Chamara Silva 34, Pradeep Hewage 27, Dinusha
Fernando 25, Mackay 3/100, Peacock 3/70, Price 2/64).
Zimbabwe ‘A’ first innings 62 for 4 overnight contd.
G. Rennie lbw b K. Weeraratne 03
N. Ferreira lbw b D. Fernando 00
M. Vermeulen b Weeraratne 10
C. Wishart c R. Fernando b D. Fernando 103
D. Peacock c Jayawardene b R. Fernando 05
A. Blignaut st. Jayawardene b Herath 34
D. Mavillier b Herath 17
D. Campbell lbw b Samaraweera 00
R. Price b Weeraratne 00
A. Mackay c Jayawardene b D. Fernando 06
D. Mutendra n.o. 10
Extras: 33
Total: 221
Fall: 1-1, 2-4, 3-19, 4-44, 5-127, 6-172, 7-175, 8-191, 9-206.
Bowling: D. Fernando 17-5-52-3, K. Weeraratne 16-4-57-3, R. Fernando 19-2-66-1, R.
Herath 22-7-25-2, T. Samaraweera 14-5-18-1.
Zimbabwe ‘A’ second innings
G. Rennie lbw K. Weeraratne 01
N. Ferreira c Jayawardene b K. Weeraratne 01
D. Mavillier c Saram b D. Fernando 07
R. Price not out 04, D. Campbell not out 03
Extras: 04
Total (for 3 wickets at close) 20
Fall: 1-1, 2-11, 3-15
Bowling: D. Fernando 3-1-7-1, Weeraratne 4-1-6-2, R. Fernando 1-0-2-0, R. Herath
1-0-1-0, Samaraweera 1-0-1-0.
Maldivian
Golden Jubilee Soccer Championship
Sri Lanka beat B’desh to enter finals
Sri Lanka scored a one goal to nil victory over Bangladesh to qualify for the finals of
the Maldivian Independence Golden Jubilee celebrations soccer championship being conducted
in Male.
The Lankan’s got the winner, in the 20th minute of the first half, off the boot of
E.B. Channa.
This was Sri Lanka’s first ever success over last year’s SAF Games gold
medalists Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka had lost to 0 - 1 to Bangladesh in the SAF Gold Cup and earlier 0 - 3 in the
first round of Division three tournament.
Sri Lanka will meet the winners of the India versus Maldives game in the final on May
10.
The results were released to the media by senior v. president of the FFSL J.S.N.
Anandarajah.
Kandy SC whip
by Hafiz Marikar from Nittawela
Defending champions Kandy Sports Club maintained their unbeaten record in the
inter club League this season with a 36 points (one goal, 4 tries and 3 penalties) to 3 (a
penalty) victory over Havelocks Sports Club at Nittawela on Sunday.
The score at Lemons was 14-3.
Though the Nittawela ruggerites scored 36 points, the game was closely contested and
the hosts did not have things their own way. It was their superior senior players like
Lasantha Wijesuriya, skipper Dunstan de Silva, Sameera Silva, Suranga Amarasinghe and Sri
Lanka skipper Asoka Jayasena, who was side lined and brought in during the second half,
when the Nittawela boys were finding difficult to penetrate the Havies defence, that
things began to brighten for them.
The Havelocks SC ‘pack’ played hard and had the better of the forwards
exchange in the first half. They also dominated the lineouts. They had the weight and
former Sri Lanka scrum half Sudath Sampath worked hard.
Kandy SC forwards did not combine well but they were superior in the loose play. Their
backs were fast and they were sound in attack as well as in defence. The Havies backs too
played in a similar fashion but failed to complete their good work.
Kandy SC is packed with some of the best players in the country, but they are still to
produce quality rugby. Most of the rugby lovers who were at Nittawela, were disappointed,
the way Kandy SC played except for few players like, Pushpakumara (in the first half)
Nilufer Ibrahim (in the second half), Suranga Amarasinghe, Asoka Jayasena (in the second
half), Lasantha Wijesuriya and Sameera Silva.
The Havies not to be outdone, played well, with players like Sudath Sampath, Jiffery
Shaeed, Dilshad Ansari, Nishantha Chanaka and Sanjeewa Jayasinghe excelling.
The mode of play of Kandy SC was not what it was in the early days. They are winning
matches, but rugby wise, the run and pass presentation is not there. It seems that there
are too many players at the Nittawela camp, and they have made their matches a chuckers
game, (players are changed according to fancies of the officials on the bench).
The next game for the Nittawela club is against the Army SC on 13th Saturday.
they should try and give a better performance if they are to overtake the soldiers.
Radhika Hettiarchchi, Lasantha Wijesuriya, Kapila Silva, Asoka Jayasena and Nalaka
Werakkody planted the tries, one of the tries and three penalties were goaled by the last
named. For the Havelocks SC it was Dilshad Ansari who knocked the penalty.
Nizam Jamaldeen refereed.
CR down luckless Police
by Mike Andree
A second half rally saw last season’s runners-up CR&FC down a gutsy but
finish lacking Police SC outfit by 23 points ( a goal, 2 tries and 2 penalties ) to 3 ( a
penalty ), after leading 8 - 3 at half time, in a League rugby tournament first round
match played at Police Park, on Sunday.
The final scores do not in anyway do justice to the losers who played their hearts out
but found that when anything can go wrong it certainly does.
As the game got underway, an upset seemed to be on the cards. Police forced the
favourites CR into conceding three penalties within three minutes. The latter were lucky
that these were out of kicking range. The former completely dominated the battle of the
forwards in the first half but in the second session they began to wilt.
The Police back division made a few exciting moves but lacked the finish due to lack of
back up. They could have made more of an impression if they had made clean and quick
passes between themselves.
CR, on the other hand, seemed to be lacking in purpose during the first half and were
caught up in a web spun out of their own mistakes. They were fortunate that their
opponents did not capitalize on these blunders.
On the whole the set pieces were shared and even in the loose their seemed to be no big
difference between the two sets of forwards.
Police drew first blood in the 13th minute through a 35 metre penalty converted by fly
half Sudesh Dissanayake. CR drew level in the 26th minute with a 30 metre penalty
conversion by fullback Halimdeen. They then drew ahead in the 35th minute with a push over
try mid right by flanker Shamly Nawaz. This went unconverted.
In the 46th minute (six minutes after half time) Halimdeen put CR further ahead with a
simple 22 metre penalty when a Police player was spotted playing the ball from an off side
position in a maul. In the 57th minute, CR were put into a safe position when off a second
phase move, flanker Sahan de Silva made a break but was collared inches from the line. He
however slipped a pass to co-flanker Shamly Nawaz, running in in support just inside the
right touch line and the latter did the needful by the right corner flag.
In between, Police made some threatening moves and once were almost over but they just
lacked what was needed for the finish at the all important time.
Then came the best move of the game. In the 75th minute Police were threatening the
opposing defence. But CR won possession off a maul inside their ‘25’ and Fly
half Asanga Rodrigo cut across before passing out fullback Halimdeen, who sprinted ahead
drew the defence and sent substitute flanker Dinesh Fernando well over 50 metres,
practically untouched, to score under the posts. Halimdeen added the extra points.
Mahinda Jayawadene refereed.
FLASH
Zimbabwe ‘A’ struck down by Fernando duo!
Bernard Perera reporting from Galle
It was all over before lunch on the fourth and final day as Sri Lanka
‘A’ piled on the pressure to bowl out Zimbabwe ‘A’ for a paltry 76 and
win the second unofficial Test by an innings and 134 runs here yesterday.
The final day’s play began as scheduled as there was no rain here the previous
night.
Sri Lanka set about their demolition act almost immidiatly. With only six runs added to
their overnight score of 20 for three, Zimbabwe were to lose their fourth wicket, that of
Donald Campbell caught by Indika de Saram off Dinusha Fernando, who struck again sending
back new man M. Vermeulen without any addition to the score. First innings century maker
Craug Wishart then arrived on the scene and together with overnight batsmen Ray Price
tried to stage a rescue act. But, they were not to be together long. After an addition of
only 28 runs to the score, the latter departed scoring 20 caught by Jayawardane off
Herath. Wishart was joined by Blignaut and together they defied the bowling for nearly 54
minutes before the latter, after scoring only seven in off 34 deliveries. He was caught in
the gully by Sangakkara off Ranga Fernando. His was the seventh wicket to fall and
Zimbabwe were now in dire straits still 149 runs behind and defeat staring them in the
face.
Ranga Fernando kept up the pressure to end the visitor’s innings as he snapped up
the last three wickets too, including that of Wishart for 15 caught by Hewage. Wishart
braved the bowling for 135 minutes in a vain attempt to hold the fort.
Dinusha Fernando was the most economical of the local bowlers. In his eight over spell
he gave away only nine runs taking three wickets. Kaushalya Weeraratne picked up two
wickets giving away 13 runs while the most successful but relatively costly Ranga Fernando
snapped up four wickets for 35 runs.
Have your say
Cricket Miracle!
Who said "Miracles" are false and unworthy of belief. Of course, many do not
accept that miracles do happen. But seeing is believing. When we witness them on the
Cricket Field, they are referred as "Glorious uncertainties of Cricket". This
was at its best in the "Botham’s Ashes Series" where even Lillie and Marsh,
worthy opponents, cashed on the miracle.
When it happens outside the perimeter of the playing field, in the Board room of
cricket, especially when accounting discrepancies vanish into thin air, how do we call
them ????
The writer refers to the news item appearing in a newspaper headlined "three
member panel finds no serious mix-management of funds" and continued regardlessly to
describe about BCCSL finances and the impending AGM.
Flabbergasted lay public, like the writer, are at a loss to understand if the matter
was so simple why the leading journalists caused such an uproar and made a "mountain
out of a molehill". The underlying mystery on the whole episode is that after the
accounts were referred to the Attorney General’s Dept., all irregularities existed in
the document appeared to have disappeared. May we presume that "political
patronage" has overtaken "Natural Justice?"
Now the path is clear for the "miraculous escapees" to indulge in more
defamation cases against journalists who have been made to bite dust. After all, similar
"miraculous deeds" could be adopted to replenish any shortfall in the accounts
even in future, or else, other devices could be used to make the public believe that
nothing sinister has taken place - why worry ? "POLI - TIKS" could do wonders in
this "Paradise Island".
At this juncture, when "Cronje‘s Affair" has shaken the whole cricketing
world, it would not be out of place to quote the quotes of Imran Khan, the most successful
Pakistan cricket captain of this era -
"even talking to a bookie should be considered an offence." In this context,
we ponder, "where our cricketers would stand?"
We welcome an elected body through "Democratic means" but not by
"D.E.M.O.’Crazy - Sri Lankan style" followed by "Titanic
nosedive" of our cricket. However, let us be optimistic that nothing would happen to
our cricket. We are aware of capabilities of our prospective administrators in
"shrouding all dirt under the carpet - in style". Who knows, contrary to all
beliefs, may be, an "internally rehabilitated and rejuvenated bunch" would take
over the cricket administration and continue Sri Lanka cricket in the same right path,
without rocking the apple-cart, which is being safely guided by the Interim Committee.
So, let us await the Cricket Board’s elections with our fingers crossed.
"O Lord, have mercy on us,
We love our cricket
Do not bring us to the test
Do not test our patience."
M. Balasubramaniam
Ragama.
109th Open
Amateur Golf Championship
Dudley Senanayake and Levers Shield
The 109th Open Amateur Golf Championship, sponsored by Dulux, got underway at the
Nuwara Eliya Golf Course on Saturday May 6.
In the Medal round of Dudley Senanayake & Levers Shield K. Prabakaran of the Nuwara
Eliya Golf Club led the field on the first day with a Net 63. Following closely behind was
team mate P. Soundrajan on 68. The Pakistani duo of Tariq Mahmood and G. Mehmood were tied
in third place with a Net 70 each.
On the second day, F.J.de Saram of the Royal Colombo Golf Club led with a Net 66, three
strokes ahead of P. Sunderam of the Nuwara Eliya Golf Club
Best results 6th May
K. Prabakaran Net 63 NEGC
P. Soundarajan Net 68 NEGC
Tariq Mahmood Net 70 Pakistan
G. Mehmood Net 70 Pakistan
Dr. C. Thurairaja Net 71 NEGC
Best results 7th May
F. J. de Saram Net 66 RCGC
P. Sundaram Net 69 NEGC
W. Subramaniam Net 69 NEGC
T. Chandradasa Net 70 RCGC
A. Rohana Net 70 RCGC
K. Prabakaran Net 70 NEGC
K. Soundarajan Net 71 NEGC
Joe Perera Net 71 NEGC
It’s HNB all over
by Revatha S. Silva
Hatton National Bank (HNB) won all the major awards at the 5th Open Club Netball
tournament, conducted by the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka, which ended on Sunday, at
the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium, Colombo. The venue of the event had to be shifted from
Gampaha to Colombo due to bad weather.
The final day’s highlight was the Division ‘A’ final between HNB and
Ports Authority, solely because the two teams shared more than 10 national players between
them.
Though their shooting department was very poor, having missed nearly 15 opportunities,
HNB dominated the game, particularly in the first two quarters of the match. The revival
of the Ports Authority in the latter stages, with sharp interceptions and defence, did not
affect the final score. HNB won 37 - 26.
Is Sri Lanka’s netball scene heavily centred around the HNB? Its coach is e
national coach and its captain, the captain of Sri Lanka team. It has six national players
in its ranks.
This point, which was raised by ‘The Island’, was mildly rejected by Lourdes
Jayasekara, the coach of HNB and the present national team.
"It is disciplined, dedicated and scientific training that has made HNB the
undisputed champs for the past five successive years", she pointed out. She accepted
that not maintaining a national pool throughout a year is a problem.
Results of the finals
‘A’ Division - HNB bt. Ports Authority - 37/26.
‘B’ Division - HNB and Police Sports Club declared Joint champions.
‘C’ Division - Samurdhi bt. Galle - 17/14.
‘D’ Division - St. Josephs Nugegoda bt. Maliyadeva ‘B’ - 31/10.
Veterans - Speed Birds bt. Inland Revenue - 14/2.
Mixed - HNB bt. Kalutara ‘B’ - 16/4.
Winners of Awards:
Best Male Player - M. Thihawaram (HNB).
Best Defence - Harshani Wijayalath (HNB)
Best Centre Court - Jayanthi S. de Silva (HNB).
Best Shooter - Anoma Sriyakanthi (Air Force).
Most Promising Player - K. Sakunthala (Galle).
Netball Queen - Thushari Kodituwakku (HNB).
‘D’ Division - Best Player - Pabasara Gunasekara (St. Joseph’s Nugegoda)
‘C’ Division - Best Player - L. A. Chitralatha (Samurdhi).
‘B’ Division - Best Player - Chanika Aponso (HNB). |
