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New Zealand face young challenge in tour
opener Sri Lankan cricket's future will be seen in action today if rain does not stop visiting New Zealand team's three day tour opener against a young Sri Lanka Bard XI which begins at P. Sara Stadium. Three schoolboys and a bunch of fresh faces into the international scene captained by Mahela Jayawardena is the bold choice of the National selectors to face the talented visiting side which comprises of many talented all rounders but no star batsmen or bowlers. Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga's younger brother Sanjeeva, the only other player except for Jayawardena in the Board XI with test cricket experience, is perhaps the only odd face in a team of youngsters. Ranatunga, at 29, is the oldest player in the side and did not make any noteworthy performance during the last domestic season. Ranatunga who played last of his nine test matches against West Indies last year, making seven and nought when he batted at number six and seven in that match will once again be vying for the same position in the absence of Hashan Tillekeratne. Ranatunga has a test average of 31.55 having made most of his runs as a number three batsman but is not seen by many analysts as future test potential. With Tillekeratne being dropped from the squad, there will definitely be a vacant batting slot in the test side while the most likely candidate to succeed Jayawardena will have to bat really well in the match to strengthen his claim. The absence of Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Soyza also makes room for two pacemen to break into the national side while the two most likely players to fill the void Mario Villavarayan and left armer Ruchira Perera will also come under the microscope of the selectors during the match. It will be interesting to see the performances of the three schoolboys of the side Pradeep Hewage, Prasanna Jayawardena and Malinga Bandara provided they are selected in the final eleven. Hewage was adjudged the best batsman and Jayawardena was adjudged the best wicket keeper in the recently concluded Youth World Cup in South Africa while right arm leg spinner Malinga Bandara from Kalutara is seen by many as a promising player. New Zealanders will have another opportunity in addition to this match to prepare for the first test starting in Colombo on May 27 when they play another three dayer in Kandy beginning on May 22. The tour party must be keen to watch how their three spinners in the side Daniel Vettori, Mark Priest and Paul Weisman slow Sri Lankan tracks while the top order batsmen will be looking for the much needed confidence in this game. However their chances of adapting to the conditions are likely to be affected badly by the rains which opened up only in the early part of the month after a prolonged drought. TEAMS (From) :
Sri Lanka record another victory UNTERMUNCHEIM (May 16) — Sri Lankan table tennis team recorded another victory in their German tour when they beat Untermuncheim TT club by 9-2 in their match series at Untermuncheim. After Sri Lankan team suffered defeat from Grossnlender Club the previous day they played with more confidence to beat the opponents. Sri Lanka skipper Indika Prasad played a good game to take the lead. Indika Prasad beat number one player Wagner Martia by 21-12, 21-15 and went on to beat number two player school boy Bernd by 21-13, 21-13. Most experienced player Thilina Piyadasa who won his first match against Schaifer 21-11, 21-12 lost to number one player Martia 19-21, 17-21 in two straight sets. Young Dinesh Deshappriya also played well to beat experienced Schmidt 21-13, 21-19. Yohan Deshappriya, Rohan Sirisena, K. S. L. Chalitha also won their single matches but Chalitha and Sirisena lost the doubles game to Wagner and Schaifer. A Sri Lankan lady in Germany, Mrs. June Greiner gave full encouragement and co-operation to conduct these matches and accommodated the Sri Lankan players at her residence. Sri Lanka team will play Steinheim TT club on Monday. Sachithra guides President’s to
victory Sachithra Kumarapperuma with an unbeaten 43 paved the way for President’s College, Rajagiriya, to a one wicket victory over Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa, in their Under-15 Horlicks Trophy limited over cricket encounter played at Moratuwa. The President’s College taking first lease made 197 for 9 in 50 overs with R. Jayaratne 37 and L. Pathirage 27. Anoj claimed 4 wickets for 18 for the Cambrians. Prince of Wales College going into bat were all out for 174 in 45 overs with M. Nishantha hitting 52. Sachithra along with Pathirage captured three wickets each. Chief Scores: President’s College 197 for 9 in 50 overs (Tharindu 22, R. Jayaratne 37, Sachithra Kumarapperuma 43 not out, N. Kariyawasam 11, L. Pathirage 27; Anoj 4/18 and Dinesh 2/36) Prince of Wales 174 in 45 overs ( M. Nishantha 52, Anoj 46, Sachithra Kumarapperuma 3/33, L. Pathirage 3/24). Kingswood in 7-5 win over Vidyartha Kingswood College were able to beat the strong Vidyartha College by 7 points (1 goal) to 5 (1 try) in a Central Region inter school rugger match played at Nittawela grounds. It was a good game of rugby, where both sides played well, but the Vidyaratha lads with their weight advantage failed to give off there best, in forward play. Vidyartha had all the chances of pulling this game in their favour if they had kicked the penalty right, they were offered in the second half. Vidyartha is having a good talented side, but they lack good leadership. Kingswood scored their try in the first half to have a 7-0 at the breather. Vidyartha’s try came in the second half, to give them 5 points. A free for all fight broke out among the players. Police, parents and the spectators were able settle the issue. Overile Fernando refereed the game. The public in Sri Lanka want to know why Bruce Yardley is not allowed to talk to the press. Even an accused or man found guilty of a crime is allowed to defend himself. This is a democratic country where freedom of speech should be allowed. Does the dictatorship of the Cricket Board fear the truth. Is the board threatening him of not paying compensation if he talks. What happened to Dave Whatmore's book? Was he also silenced. Why is sports so corrupt today? Your excellency, let us have some transparency at the Cricket Board too. The public is getting fed up of the powerful Mafia taking over sports. Shiromi Fernando Down to zero after three consecutive defeats where lesser mortals would be looking for places to hide, World Champions Sri Lanka, did it again. Instead of wallowing in self pity and heaping recriminations on all and sundry the World Champions turned round upped their game and whipped the proteas in their own back-yard, then took the cock-a-hoop Pakistanis by the scruff of their neck and thrashed them soundly — Alas! too soundly for as a result we witnessed lambs being led to the slaughter house meekly surrendering to the Springboks. Strangely the Pakistan is very proud in victory looked really back broken and dejected with hangdog expression in defeat. I was rather angry at them for this attitude because I support them on most occasions when Sri Lanka is not involved. After all the Pakistanis roared jubilantly and extended their good will and support to Sri Lanka on that great day not so long ago, The World Cup finals. What a contrast from our own lions ‘that's the spirit — that's the stuff You Magnificent Eleven’. No matter if we lose to South Africa tomorrow and not figure in the tri nation final because of 1st round defeats by Pakistan. We have shown them the proteas, the stuff we are made of. Remember well for the coming World Cup matches. We cannot win them all but simple in victory, magnanimous and proud unbending in defeat. We pay our debts — the magnificent eleven. S. Mervyn Dunuwille |
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