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Aravinda guides Sri Lanka to 8-wkt. win LAKENHAM, August 5 — Master batsman Aravinda de Silva, captaining Sri Lanka in place of the rested Arjuna Ranatunga, guided the touring team to comfortable 8-wickets victory over an English Cricket Board XI here on Wednesday in a 50-over warm-up match. De Silva chipped in with an all-round performance (53 not out and 3 for 12) in that triumph, after restricting the English Board XI to 141 for 9 in their alloted 50 overs. Sri Lanka made 144 for 2 wickets, Hashan Tillekeratne made 23, After the Board XI won the toss and elected to bat the spin trio of Aravinda de silva (3 for 12), Upul Chandana (3 for 25) and Niroshan Bandaratilleke (2 for 19) combined effectively to put the brakes on the home team, which after a 48-run first wicket partnership of 48 runs between N. Gaywood (29) and M. Roberts (14), lost wickets at regular intervals. The Sri Lankan opening pace duo of Suresh Perera and Mario Vellavarayan failed to make a breakthrough in sending down four overs apiece. But Bandaratilleke, coming in first change struck quickly removing both openers as he caught and bowled Roberts and then had Gaywood well held by Upul Chandana. After the initial breakthrough, part time off spinner Aravinda de Silva and Upul Chandana joined in the wicket taking act. The English Cricket Board XI lost their second wicket without an addition and third wicket for 49 before a fourth wicket alliance of 49 runs between No. 3 batsman S. Foster (32) and D. Clarke (22) revived the home side's innings briefly. But when they lost a fifth wicket with the total on 99, de Silva and Chandana set about tightening the screws backed by some fine wicket keeping by stand in stumper, Prasanna Jayawardene who accounted for 3 victims, two of which were two neat stumpings to dismiss Clarke off Chandana and J. Fielding off de Silva for 10.
English Cricket Board XI Fall of wickets: 1-48 2-48 3-49 4-98 5-99 6-113 7-130 8-130 9-132 Bowling: Villavarayen 4-1-17-0, Perera 4-0-23-0, de Silva 10-4-12-3, Bandaratileke 9-1-19-2, Arnold 10-2-31-1, Chandana 10-2-25-3, Jayawardene 3-0-12-0 Sri Lanka Fall of wickets: 1-60 2-64 Did not bat: M.Jayawardene, C.Hathurusinghe, N.Bandaratileke, M.Villavarayen, P.Jayawardena, S.Perera, U.Chandana Bowling: Arnold 5-1-26-0, Richardson 8-1-26-1, Foster 6-0-24-1, Fielding 6-0-34-0, Usher 3.1-0-24-0 Result: Sri Lanka won by eight wickets. Six including captain dropped from Sri Lanka
‘A’ XI for 3rd Test In a major shake up, the national selectors have dropped Sri Lanka ‘A’ captain of the first two test matches against South Africa, Sajith Fernando and five others namely, batsman Sanjeewa Ranatunga, spinners Malinga Bandara and Tilan Samaraweera, paceman Chaminda Vaas and wicket keeper T. M. Dilshan in naming a 14-member squad for the third unofficial Test match starting at Uyanwatte Stadium, Matara, on Friday. The new captain is batsman Duleep Samaraweera while the new faces in the eleven for the decisive third and final test which Sri Lanka need to win to square the series are hometown boy, batsman Indika Saram, wicket-keeper batsman Lanka de Silva, paceman Eric Upashantha and spinners Batheesha de Silva and Dinuka Hettiarachchi. Lanka de Silva, the CCC player and Upashantha of Colts CC were notable omissions in the concluded second test which the homesters lost badly. Not in the previous squad Samaraweera, the Colts CC opening batsman has been called up to take up the captaincy reins in a clear surprise move while left arm leggie Hettiarachchi, also of the same club has been rewarded for his 6 for 120 against the tourists for the Board XI at Moratuwa. Saram, the Tamil Union CC batsman has found a recall at this level after a long time and it is hoped this batsman whose career got off with much promise will not be taken and again dumped instead of being given the opportunity to develop. Vaas, who was being tested for a comeback at top level, it is understood has been not upto his full rhythm following his lay off. The squad: Duleep Samaraweera (Capt.), Avishka Gunawardana, Upeka Fernando, Indika de Saram, Manoj Mendis, Malinda Warnapura, Lanka de Silva, Batheesha de Silva, Dinuka Hettiarachchi, Indika Gallage, Eric Upashantha. Reserves: Ruchira Perera, Malinga Bandara, Tilan Samaraweera. Review Sri Lanka ‘A’s humiliating innings defeat at the hands of South Africa ‘A’ in the unofficial second Test match at the Welagedera Stadium, Kurunegala mainly exposed the homesters inability to cope with four days where our batsmen lacked temperament and our bowlers wilted against some purposeful batting by the tourists who underlined the importance of occupation. The locals batting indepth could be seen by the low totals of 196 and 206 as against the South Africans massive 402 for 8 wickets declared. In their first essay no batsman posted a fifty with only Manoj Mendis of Sebastianites A & C and schoolboy Malinda Warnapura of St. Peter's coming up with substantial scores of 46 apiece. Mendis, the former Thomian went on to show consistency with another 48 in the second essay while Avishka Gunawardena, the SSC batsman came up with the homesters only half century in the match in the second innings. Moreover, it was the failure of the frontline batsmen in the first innings that saw Sri Lanka give the South Africans control of the match as from the second day as the tourists batsmen proceeded to capitalise on the good work of their bowlers with D. Ackerman and Herchelle Gibbs both plundering centuries. The difference was made by the South African batsmen occupying most of day two and three. The homesters, on the other hand did not have a balance. Batsmen Captain Sajith Fernando and Sanjeewa Ranatunga were notable failures in both innings. The South Africans, on the other hand fielded a more professional side with as many as four players having done duty at top level in Ackerman, Nick Boje, Gibbs and allrounder Derek Crookes. The pace bowling duo of Allen Dawson and Garry Gilder also proved too much for the local batsmen. Spinners Boje and Crookes did the damage in the second innings sharing seven wickets. The Lankan bowlers were unable to make an impact. Especially spinners Malinga Bandara and Tilan Samaraweera going wicketless. Chaminda Vaas, making a comeback after a long injury lay off, though being economical was not penetrative going with a solitary wicket, clearly showing he needed more exposure to get into top fettle. FORMER BCCSL PRESIDENT CONFIRMS There were only three Sri Lankan journalists who covered the Sri Lanka cricket team's tour of South Africa early this year namely Srian Obeyesekere 'The Island', Elmo Rodrigopulle 'Daily News' and Premasara Epasinghe 'Lakhanda', said the then Cricket Board President Upali Dharmadasa and not 7 as claimed by his successor, Thilanga Sumathipala. The former BCCSL President said so when contacted by the 'The Island' yesterday following the current President stating at a recent TV debate that 7 Lankan mediamen had covered the said tour. 20-member Lanka squad for one-dayers At a meeting of the Selection Committee yesterday, at the Board, the following squad was selected to represent Sri Lanka 'A' against the visiting South Africa 'A' in the unofficial One-Day Internationals: Dulip Samaraweera, Upeka Fernando, Manoj Mendis, Lanka de Silva, Dinuk Hettiarachchi, Eric Upashantha, Tilan Samaraweera, Hemantha Botheju, Pradeep Hewage, Anil Ridigammanagedera, Avishka Gunawardena, Indika de Seram, Malintha Warnapura, Batheesha de Silva, Indika Gallage, Ruchira Perera, Malinga Bandara, Ruchira Palliyaguru, Ruwan Kalpage, Sajeewa Silva. Thusal is Midsummer Windsurfing Champ The sport of windsurfing came alive after a lull for sometime, at the Negombo Airport Garden Hotel waters with the Midsummer Windsurfing Championships. As expected, the favourite Thusal Gunawardane once again reigned supreme, after the three races. A record number of 35 surfers turned up for the race, speaking volumes of its success. The weather at the picturesque lagoon was tailor made for the sport and the first Olympic course race was won by the bulky southerner Thusal. However, all was not easy for Thusal in the second as Lalith Lalendra bounced back to catch up with Thusal who was pushed into second place. However, Thusal, guided by his vast experience and superior technique earned sweet revenge in the third and deciding race to win the championship, by a close 3-2 points. Lalith, who was placed second in both the first and third course races, showed enough promise of maturing into a top surfer. Thusal, who has won this event for three successive years, took away the Baron de Livera Trophy awarded for the best Sri Lankan. In addition, he received the Sportsrizen Trophy for winning the overall title of the championship. Lalith Lalendra, who was the overall second, received the Airport Garden Trophy. Younger brother of the Champion, Priyantha, who was third, walked away with the Carlsberg Trophy. Franchaise Fernando, Anton Peiris and Sankasiri de Silva finished among the top six in the overall standings. It was also pleasing to see many broadsail and windsurf club members too participating. The race was organized directly by the Winsurfing Association guided by its three main figures Baron de Livera, Tilak Weerasinghe and Roy Wijewardene. The event was co-sponsored by Airport Garden Hotel and Ceylon Breweries; Many BOI firms dealing in sailing equipment presented many valuable items for the winners. Ruchira Fernando struck a fine century (120) inclusive of fifteen fours which enabled make St. Peter's total 283 in their under-15 division I semi final cricket fixture against Dharmaraja which commenced at Bambalapitiya yesterday. Ruchira Fernando and Shaminda Gunasekera (68) inclusive of three sixes and four fours, added 147 runs fifth wicket. N. Wickramaratne returned the impressive figures of 6 for 70 for Dharmaraja. The match will be continued today. Scores: ST. PETER'S 283 all out. Ruchira Fernando 120, Shaminda Gunasekara 68, Jehan Jayasuriya 25, N. Wijeratne 16, N. Wickramaratne 6 for 70. (DR) Inter Schools Rugby Tournaments 1998 As a keen and interested follower of the game, I was most sad and disappointed to note the last minute withdrawal of renowned and leading schools, from the President’s Trophy Tournament for 1998. The Schools Rugby Association decides on the format, dates and rules of each tournament at a meeting before the start of the season, where every rugby playing school is represented. Thereafter circular instructions and full details are sent to all schools involved. As such I am unable to understand why such last minute withdrawals should take place. As an old boy and former rugby player of Science College, I remain interested in the Science College Rugby Team. I am personally aware that four students from Science College, reading for the GCE Advanced Level Examination this year, who are members of the rugby pool, did not attend practices at all this year. In addition, two others, in the team stopped playing during the season, one in May and one in June, to concentrate on their studies for this examination. Four of our team are on the injured list. One of them is the captain of this year’s team who has up to now played only one match. In addition to the above, three of the regular team, including a Sri Lanka Schools Team reserve in 1997, have been forced to drop out of rugby and even from school, due to economic difficulties. Despite all of the above, we have continued to participate in the spirit of the sport and recognizing the need to conform with the requirements of the Schools Rugby Association. Understandably with our team being selected from the rest of the pool, comprising many junior and inexperienced players, we have lost some games. We did not stop playing because we did not win. We were not ashamed to lose games to schools, which perhaps had lesser or greater numbers of: 1. Advanced Level Students who could play rugby if not for their examinations. 2. Injuries to players, key or otherwise. 3. Students in the school and therefore numbers to select from. 4. Facilities. 5. Privileges, financial support and sponsorship. We were proud and happy to play and learn from the leading schools, their high standards of rugby, sportsmanship and values, while accepting the fact that some schools must necessarily have better facilities and support than others. It is in these circumstances that I am greatly saddened by the decision of three leading schools to withdraw from this tournament, at the last moment, on grounds of Examinations and injuries to players. Reasons which surely cannot be peculiar only to them. If such is the example and standard set by the "Leaders" what must the followers do and what future is there for the Schools Rugby Association and for the development of Rugby Football in the schools. With a view to clarifying the confusion, which has arisen in the minds of our students and persons like me, I have taken the liberty of giving copies of this letter, to others involved in the development of Schools Rugby, including the Press, for their comments and observations. Rathnasiri Sayakkara, W. P. Body Building C’ships final today The finals of the Western Province Body Building Championships will be held today at the National Youth Services Council, Maharagama at 6 p.m. Minister for Samurdhi, Youth Affairs and Sports, S. B. Dissanayake will grace the occasion as Chief Guest. The meet is organised and conducted by the Sri Lanka Body Building Federation (RN) |
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