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| First unofficial cricket test
between South Africa 'A' and Sri Lanka 'A' Will rain ruin it again ? by Channaka de Silva Reports from the Hill capital Kandy are of heavy rains typical of the season and chances of play look very much in jeopardy in the first unofficial test between Sri Lanka 'A' and South Africa 'A' which is to begin today at Asgiriya Stadium. The entire South Asian region is experiencing a heavy rainy season which has caused havoc and added to the Sri Lankan damages would be cricket. However bright sun shine prevailed in Colombo last morning. The tourists, whose arrival in the country co-incided with the beginning of the monsoonal rains after a prolonged drought period, have already seen their opening three day game against a Sri Lanka Board XI washed off without a ball being bowled. There are only three changes between the Sri Lanka 'A' side and the Board XI side which was to meet the South Africans in that opening match. Board XI players Anil Rideegammanagedara, Amal Dalugoda and Hassen Rushdie make way for Tilan Samaraweera, Malinga Bandara and Hassen Rushdie in Kandy. Colts player Sajith Fernando who hails from Kandy will lead the side which features many promising young talents. The odd face in the side once again is Sanjeewa Ranatunga, the younger brother of Sri Lanka captain Arjuna and Board chief executive Dhammika. However the selection comes as a little surprise considering the recent procedure of team selections. Ranatunga who has lately done little to merit the selection, is the only test player in the side and is easily the oldest member among the bunch of youngsters who could all be considered future hopefuls. The real surprise however is why Ranatunga was not appointed as the captain. South Africans will obviously be a formidable opposition with renowned players such as H.D. Ackreman, Herschelle Gibbs, Derek Crookes and captain Dale Bankestein. The Africans are renowned for their pace attack and Asgiriya should be one pitch they must make a telling impact, considering the other strips they are likely to get during their month long tour. It will be interesting to see how three schoolboys in the side Upekha Fernando, Malinda Warnapura and Malinga Bandara will come up against their first real test at international level. Out of the three, Warnapura is facing his first major international opposition. TEAMS • SRI LANKA 'A'-- Sajith Fernando (Captain), Avishka Gunawardena, Upekha Fernando, Sanjeewa Ranatunga, Manoj Mendis, Malinda Warnapura, T.M. Dilshan, Tilan Samaraweera, Indika Gallage, Malinga Bandara, Ruchira Perera. RESERVES -- Indika de Saram, Eric Upashantha, Ruchira Palliyaguru. • SOUTH AFRICA 'A' -- Dale Benkenstein (Captain), Nicky Boje (Vice captain), M. Bruyns, H.D. Ackerman, Herschelle Gibbs, M. Van Jaarsveld, L. Bosman, Nick Pothas, Derek Crookes, C. Henderson, Henry Williams, Allen Dawson, Ashwell Prince, G. Gilder, H. Bakkes. |
| 12th Asian Senior Track &
Field Championship Kulawansa manage only a bronze Susil Premalal reporting from Japan Sriyani Kulawansa one of Sri Lanka's gold medal hopes at the 12th Asian Track and Field meet in Fukuoka, Japan had to be content with a bronze medal yesterday in the 100 m hurdle event. Sriyani who won the gold at the last meeting in Indonesia clocked 13.16 secs for the event. Winner of the event from Kazakstan Olga Zishimina had a time of 13.04 secs while the second placed competitor from China clocked (13.10 secs). Sriyani's best timing for the event was 12.91 secs but she failed to achieve this level here. Zishimina with the latest time erased the Asian record for the event which stood at 13.07 secs. She was the second fastest in the world for the same event few years ago but was suspended for two years when she was found positive for drug offence. This was her first appearance in an international event after expiry of the suspension period. Sriyani speaking to The Island said she had a late start. I can't believe it. I had a fine start in the preliminary round where I clocked 12.91 but Olga finished in 12.44 she said. The event got off to a start after a 21/2 hour delay due to bad weather. This too worried me she added. Winner Olga said it was not a tough race for me but the other competitors fought hard. Sri Lanka's quartet for the 4X400 m relay qualified for the final to be staged today when they were placed third in the preliminary round with a time of 3:8.19 secs. Japan who won the event had a time of 3:06.15 secs and first runners up India clocked 3:06.33 secs. The relay team comprised of Sumith Mendis, V. Ratnakumara, Ranga Wimalawansa and Sugath Tillekeratne. Pradeepa Herath who skipped the women's long jump event due to an injury managed to participate in the women's 200 m event. She secured the third place when she timed 24.43 secs. But in the overall standings she was placed ninth and failed to qualify for the final. China with 10 golds led the medals table followed by Japan (3) and Sri Lanka (2). |
| The
tale of two substitutes Mahinda Wijesinghe Hamish Marshall, the young unknown substitute from New Zealand who took the field, at Lord's amongst the world's best cricketers at the Princess Diana memorial One-day International game, will remember 18th July 1998 as the red-letter day of his life. Not only did he get the opportunity of going briefly on to the field - for Pakistani paceman Wasim Akram - during a match that is being telecast around the world but in those few minutes, the youngster with the curly locks and an endearing smile, covered himself with glory. First he scored a direct hit on to the stumps from the covers in a valiant attempt to run out Michael Atherton, and then took a relatively easy catch a skier of countryman Chris Cairns's bowling to dismiss the same batsman to have his name on the records. However, the title of the most famous substitute fielder in the history of the game is still considered the exclusive property of another unknown, Sydney Herbert Copley, a member of the Nottinghamshire groundstaff who earned this title on 17th June 1930 during the First Test between England and Australia played at Trent Bridge. It is the summer best remembered as the one marked by the first appearance of the phenomenon of Don Bradman in England. A series during which the 21-year old Australian plundered a record-breaking aggregate of 974 runs - in 7 completed innings at an average off 139.1 - in 5 Tests, a figure unsurpassed after 68 years and over 1200 Test matches. During this Test, incidentally the only one won by England in this series, Australia had to chase a victory mark of 428 runs. Australia were 200 runs still short of their target on the fourth and final afternoon - they were 4-day Tests - with Bradman and McCabe cruising along having added 77 runs. Then, McCabe (49) mistimed an on-drive off the bowling of Maurice Tate and young Copley (just like Marshall was substituting for another paceman, Larwood, suffering from an upset stomach) "made a lot of ground, took the ball at full-length and, although rolling over, retained possession" (Wisden Almanack 1931). A contemporary report adds: "That catch turned the course off the innings and England went on to gain their only victory of the series, by 93 runs". Eight days later, possibly as a reward, Copley was picked by Nottinghamshire for their game against Oxford University. He scored 4 and 3 and never played a first-class game again. Let us all wish young Hamish Marshall a better future as a cricketer and let Copley keep his title! |
| Telecom H/Q overall Champions By Dhammika Ratnaweera Headquarters team of the telecom won the championship while Overseas Telecom Services team was placed second at the annual Telecom Games '98' which concluded at the Sports Ministry grounds Reid Avenue last Sunday. Sports festival held for the second consecutive year. The champions Headquarters team obtained 136 points while the runner up Overseas Telecom Services team gained 100.5 points. Metro North team with 77 points was placed third. Track and field events Badminton, Cricket, Elle, Football, Netball, Volleyball and Cycling were the events competed by participants. Head quarters team won Badminton (Men), Badminton (Women) and Badminton doubles titles. Combined team from North Western and North Central Province won the Netball title. Central Province became the runner up. Y. M. R. Weerasekara won the cycle race. NOC Chairman and Priminister's Secretary said, we hope to continue this Telecom sports. Chairman Sri Lanka Telecom NOC Chairman Hemasiri Fernando speaking on the occasion said he hope to make this an annual event. He further added that with this sort of event we would be able to produce national level sportsmen from Telecom Chief Executive Telecom Hideaki Kahmitsuma promised assistance for sports in future too. Minister for Transport and Highways A. H. M. Fowzie was the chief guest on the occasion and gave away the awards. Results: Badminton (Men's doubles), Winner-Headquarters, Runner up-Overseas Telecom Services Badminton (Men's singles), Winner-Headquarters, Runner-up Overseas Telecom Services Badminton (Mixed doubles), Winner-Western Province, Runner up-Overseas Telecom Badminton (Women's doubles), Winner-Headquarter Services, Runner up-Overseas Telecom Badminton (Women's Single), Winner-North Western Province, Runner up-Overseas Telecom Services. Cricket, Winner-Uva Province, Runner up-Western Province. Elle — Winner-Western Province, Runners up-Overseas Telecome Services. Football — Winner-Uva Province, Runner up-Metro North Netball — Winner-North Central/North Western Province, Runners up-Central Province. Volleyball (Men) Winner-North Western Province, Runner up-Headquarters. Volleyball (Women) Winner-Metro, North, Runner up-Overseas Telecom Services Cycle Race — Y. M. R. Weerasekera, North Central/North Western Province Overall Championship - Headquarters Team (136 pts) 1st Runner up — Oveseas Telecom Services (100.5 pts) 2nd Runners up — Metro North Team (77pts) |
| Club Dolphin wins travel trade sixes title By Dhammika Ratnaweera Club Dolphin Waikkal won the championship 22nd Annual Travel Trade Softball Cricket Sixes tournament when they beat Club Palm Garden, Beruwela in the final concluded at BRC grounds last Saturday. Club Dolphin scored 51 for one wicket in their allotted five overs while Club Palm Garden managed only 46 for two wickets in their five overs. In the semi-finals Club Dolphin beat World Air while Club Palm Garden defeated Mackinnons Travels. Club Dolphin also clinched the winners championship too. They defeated Aitken Spence Travels. Aitken Spence Travels made 50 for four wickets in allotted overs. Club Dolphin reached their target losing two wickets. Viraj Kumara Club Dolphin was adjudged man of the final and the Best batsman's in the men's section while Sudath Premalal Club Palm Garden won the Best Bowler's award and P. Romesh Club Palm Garden received best fielders award. Prasad Silva Club Palm Garden and Himalee Samarajeewa Club Dolphin won the Man of the Tournament and Woman of the Tournament awards. Himalee was also adjudged the Best Bats woman while Ethel Rita Club Dolphin received the the Best Bowler and Best Fielders awards. Travel Trade Sports Club conducted the tournament for the 22nd successive year. Results Men's Semi Finals Club Dolphin 64 for 2 beat Word Air 63/4. Club Palm Garden 74 for 3 beat Mackinnons Travels 65/5. Final Club Dolphin 51/1 beat Club Palm Garden 46/2. Winners Semi Finals Aitken Spence Travels 73 for no loss beat N-Car Travels 72/1. Club Dolphin 77/1 beat Kandalama Hotel. Final Club Dolphin 51/2 beat Aitken Spence Travels 50 for 4. |
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