      |
|||
|
|||
Upul Chandana 3/24 as Kiwis
collapse... Marvan Attapattu cracked an elegant unbeaten 83 as Sri Lanka coasted to a smooth seen wicket victory over new Zealand in the second match of the Nidahas Trophy limited-overs cricket tournament played at Premadasa Stadium yesterday. Atapattu walked in almost at the start of the Sri Lankan innings when opener Romesh Kaluwitharana was out in the first over and batted magnificently to see his side to victory with ten overs to spare. The stylish right hander executed his trade mark cover drives with a silken touch and often stepped out to play lofted drives during his chanceless 118 ball know which altogether included nine classic boundaries, all hit with great authority. Enjoying his regained form after a poor test series against the Kiwis, Atapattu who scored another fluent 70 in the tournament opener against, India, shared two big partnerships. After Kaluwitharana was out when he stepped on his stumps while attempting a run in the first over, Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya put on 82 runs for the second wicket in 17 overs. Jayasuriya who also made a welcome return to form slammed six boundaries in making 57 off 62 balls before being dismissed in the 19th over when he attempted to drive spinner Daniel Vettoori and was caught off an edge at cover by Craig McMillan. Aravinda de Silva, who made a spectacular 97 in the match against India two days ago also showed great touch in making 42 off 46 balls while associating. Atapattu for 95 runs for the third wicket which almost brought the side to victory. At 180 for 2 with another 14 overs to get just 21 runs for victory de Silva lost patience. Attempting a wild swing he was bowled by seamier Nathan Astle for 42 and it was up to skipper Arjuna Ranatunga to steer the side to victory with Atapattu another three overs later. Earlier recalled right arm leg spinner Upul Chandana bowled brilliantly to fashion New Zealand's final collapse when the visitors lost their last six wickets for just 31 runs in ten overs. Chandana claimed 3 for 24 as New Zealand tumbled from 169 for 3 in the 40th over to 200 for 9 at the end of their quota of 50 overs. Skipper Stephen Fleming and allrounder Craig McMillan were putting on a solid fourth wicket stand when Chandana put the breaks on the Kiwis, and initiated the collapse. Fleming and McMillan put on 57 runs in 15 overs to bring the score up to 169 for 3 by the 40th over. With a lot of batting to come, New Zealand seemed heading for a big score then but the introduction of Chandana in the 38th over completely changed the complexion of the proceedings. Chandana had McMillan caught at wide midwicket by Muttiah Muralitharan in only his second over for 26. McMillan hit one boundary in his 56 ball stay. Skipper Fleming was run out in the same over, another two balls later when Muralitharan and Chandana combined effectively. Fleming made 47 in 75 balls with two fours. Chandana picked up the wickets of Adam Parore and Chris Cairns in his next two overs as New Zealand's decline was hurried. Wickets fell regularly while scoring rate dipped rapidly in the last ten overs during which New Zealand made only 28 runs. Having won the toss and elected to bat, New Zealand were given a promising start by openers Bryan Young and Nathan Astle who put together 71 runs before Young departed in the 15th over. Young who was easily the more attacking player of the two, smashed a rapid 55 off 52 balls hitting seven fours in his knock, before being caught at deep mid wicket by Chandana off Kumara Dharmasena. Astle who was on just 13 when first wicket fell, stepped up a gear hitting debutant Niroshan Bandaratilleka for a six and added 36 in nine overs for the next wicket before Muralitharan shattered his stumps. Astle made 33 in 60 balls stroking a six and a four. An out-of-form Matt Horne faced just five balls when he stepped out to hit Dharmasena and was stumped by Kaluwitharana. It put New Zealand on 112 for 3 in the 25th over. SRI LANKA-NEW ZEALAND TEST SERIES (1) Sri Lankan wicket keeper, Romesh Kaluwitharana passed the 1000 run mark during the series. He became the 12th Sri Lankan Test batsman to do so. His aggregate now stands at 1160 at an average of 32.22. (2) During the 3rd Test Hashan Tillekeratna took his 50th Test catch. He has also taken 31 catches as a wicket keeper. (3) New Zealand’s Brian Young took his 50th Test catch during the 1st Test. After 33 Tests he has taken 53 Test catches. (4) New Zealand captain S. Fleming passed the 2000 run mark during the 1st Test. Fleming has now scored 2349 runs at an average of 37.88 with 2 centuries and 18 half-centuries. The century he scored in the 1st Test (176 n.o) is his highest in Tests. (5)During the series, all-rounder Chris Cairns achieved his 100th Test wicket. His tally now stands at 103 wickets. As he has already scored 1442 runs in his Test career, he became only the 3rd New Zealander to achieve the rare double of scoring 1000 runs and taking more than 100 wickets. The other New Zealanders who achieved this mark were Sir Richard Hadlee and J. G. Bracewell. Sir Hadlee scored 312 runs and took 431 wickets, while Bracewell scored 1006 runs and took 102 wickets. (6) The aggregate of 630 runs during the 2nd Test is the lowest aggregate for Test matches between the two countries. (7) New batting find, Mahela Jayawardena’s aggregate of 300 runs in 3 Tests, is the highest for Sri Lanka for matches against New Zealand in Sri Lanka. Similarly Stephen Fleming’s aggregate of 359 is the best for New Zealand in Sri Lanka. (8) Kumar Dharmasena’s 6/72 in the 2nd Test is the best innings analysis for Sri Lanka for matches against New Zealand. A similar feat was achieved by Daniel Vettori for New Zealand when he took 6 for 64. This is the best innings analysis for New Zealand against Sri Lanka. (9) New comer N. Bandaratilleke’s 9 for 83 in the 2nd Test was the best match analysis for Sri Lanka for matches against New Zealand played in Sri Lanka. (10) M. Muralitheran’s 19 wickets in 3 tests at 19-79 is the best for a 3 Test series for Sri Lanka against New Zealand. (11) Sanath Jayasuriya's 9 catches in the series is a seriess record for Sri Lanka for matches against New Zealand. (12) D. Vettori became the 3rd New Zealander to obtain a pair of ducks against Sri Lanka. Earlier D. Morrison and D. Nash were victims. There was only one new partnership record for Sri Lanka. This was for the 10th wicket, between R. Kaluwitharana (88) N. Muralitheran (26 no) which realized 71 runs - S. S. C. grounds. (14) For New Zealand, there were 2 new partnership records. (a) 4th wkt - S. Fleming (176 no) C. McMillan (142) - 240 runs — R. Premadasa Stadium. (b) 9th wkt — A. Parore (30) - P. Wiseman (23) - 43 runs - Galle. - M. L. Fernando Mercantile Cricket 'B' division final Bartleet Group emerged Mercantile 'B' Division champions when they defeated defending runners-up HNB 'B' in the final which concluded at P. Sara Stadium yesterday. Bartleet Group on winning the toss invited their opponents to bat first. HNB batsmen were struggling on a sticky wicket and bowled out for a mediocre score of 160 in 44 overs. Then, Bartleet Group batted cautiously to reach their target for the loss of five wickets and three overs to spare. By this grand victory Bartleet Group are promoted to 'A' division. HNB opener Damitha Hunukumbura made a fighting 55 but the others failed to support him to reach a big total. Sanjaya Rajapakse bowled his off spinners to capture 2 for 32. On the other hand for Bartleet Group Ashan Ranaweera (48) and Dhammika Rajapakse (40 n.o.) batted well to steer them to victory. Ranaweera was adjudged the Man of the Final. Bartleet made 161 for 5 in 44 overs. For HNB, leg spinner Suranga Wijenayake and off spinner Anush Perera shared four wickets among them. Bartleet Group off spinner Sanjaya Rajapakse captured 2 for 32 to contain the HNB batsmen. Meanwhile, Damitha Hunukumbura (HNB) and Harith Jayasuriya (Coats Tootal) won the best bowlers awards up to the semi-final stage in this tournament. This tournament was sponsored by HNB and Rienzie Wijetilleke, Managing Director of HNB was the chief guest and gave away the awards. Bertie Fernando, President of MCA and Chrysantha Obeyesekera, Vice President of MCA also graced the occasion. Scores: HNB 160 all out in 44 overs (Damitha Hunukumbura 55, Nilan de Silva 20, Sanjeewa Warusamana 16, Sanjaya Rajapakse 2/32) BARTLEET GROUP 161 for five in 44 overs (Ashan Ranaweera 48, Dhammika Rajapakse 40 n.o., Suranga Wijenayake 2/35, Anush Perera 2/31). Mercantile 'A' division Tourney Access Group beat Singer by 7 wickets in their Mercantile 'A' Division cricket fixture concluded at NCC grounds yesterday. Indika De Saram played a magnificent innings scoring 98 while Anil Rideegammanagedera was unbeaten on 56 to steer Access Group to this victory. Singer (Sri Lanka) who batted first could score only 173 helped by Hashan Tillekeratne who top scored with 62. Access Group is the only unbeaten team in this tournament reached their target in 27.2 overs for the loss of three wickets to enter the final round with the maximum points. Meanwhile, John Keells created the biggest upset defeating HNB 'A' in their fixture at Colts Grounds yesterday. Scores: SINGER 173 all out (Hashan Tillekeratne 62, Rohan Soysa 16, Kosala Kuruppuarachchi 17, Sanjeewa Jayaratne 2/30, Anil Rideegammanagedera 2/36, Cha-rinda Fernando 2/16, Sajith Rupasinghe 2/43) ACCESS GROUP 175 for 3 wkts in 27.2 overs (Indika de Saram 98, Anil Rideegammanagedera 56 n.o. Kosala Kuruppuarachchi 2/22). CR beat Kandy SC by 17/12 CR and FC beat Kandy SC by 17 points (1 goal, 2 tries) to 12 (4 penalties) in the first round of the Carlsberg League Tournament match played at Nitta-wela yesterday. With this win, CR and FC heads the points table. This was the first defeat for Kandy SC and from last season to this match Kandy SC remained unbeaten. For winner, CR and FC, Shantha Rohana (1) and Champika Nis-hantha (2) were the try scorers. Nalaka Weerakkody goaled one of them. For Kandy SC Micheal Collins put over the four penalties. Soon after the match there were some ugly incidents at the venue. Referee: Aruna Jayasekera. Rugby Referees to be
trained in Kandy Kandy should introduce more and more rugby referees, says one of the country’s top notch referee Anil Jayasinghe, who is also one of the most knowledgeable referees in the rugby scene of Sri Lanka. Anil Jayasinghe, is keen in helping new referees, and getting them fit for matches. Kandy has some top class rugger players who can take up blowing like Saman Edama who is blowing at present, Saman Kothalawella, Maurice Joachim, C. S. Ekanayake, Bimal Fernando, Ikram Odayar, Nihal Ananda to name a few. In the early days Kandy had referees like C. Y. Ching Snr., Daya Jayasundara, Late Gen. Denzil Kobbekaduwa, Mohamed Azain, Nimal Leuke, D. Samarasekara, Leslie Handunge, Maurice Perera, Irwin Howie who did their best with the whistle. According to Anil Jayasinghe, Sri Lanka Rugby referees Society is all out to give off their best, to get many referees trained from the hills. So, this is a good opportunity for the knowledgeable ruggerites to get into refereeing, then there will be no problems, in finding referees. Sometimes matches get to a late start, due to the delay of referees who arrive from outstation. Give Aravinda chance to captain Aravinda de Silva is the key man in the Sri Lankan Cricket team and has played the sheet anchor role in many a match be it saving the game or bringing victory to the team. Has the country shown its appreciation to Aravinda for bringing credit to the nation? Unfortunately he was even removed as vice-captain and only recently reinstated. The nation owes it to Aravinda to appoint him as captain of the Sri Lankan Team even if its for a short period. He has done so much for cricket that it is only right we allow him the distinction of leading the national team. The excuse that Aravinda & Arjuna may retire together should not be held as a hindrance. If Arjuna wants to continue playing now, he could do so but he should be a good sport and step aside to give Aravinda a turn to captain the side. During the last tour to Australia by the Sri Lankan Team even the international commentators were of the view that Aravinda should captain the side. Lets give this world class talented batsman and the saviour of the Sri Lankan Team a chance to his talents at captaining the national team and show him that we are indeed grateful and do appreciate his services to the game. T. R. Perera |
|||
 |
|||