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Sri Lanka lose their first game to Malaysia
68-25 Sri Lanka youth cagers lost their opening game to Malaysia 68-25 at the 14th Asian Youth Basketball Championships now in progress in Japan. The first ten minutes of the game saw Lankan cagers take full control of the proceedings. Malaysians sensing this used a full scale attack to control their opponents which they held until the final whistle. In the first five minutes Malaysia took a 7-5 lead. But Lankan managers caged to overcome them in the tenth minute when they had a scorline of 16-9 in favour of Lankans. Sri Lanka managed to gain 14 points from free throws out of a total of 25 points while Malaysians grabbed 16 points in the same manner. Anupama Yahampath and Pramil Fernando were penalised on five occasions and had to leave the courts in the first and second halves respectively. Lankans had to face this humiliating defeat as they failed to control the ball specially when shooting at the baskets. It was also highly visible that Lankan cagers never played to a plan and they were trying to go all alone to score. They also failed to grab opportunities that came their way to score. In a another game Hong Kong cruised to a one point win over India. However Hong Kong led 28-25 at the short whistle. Francis Perera Manager of the Lankan team said after the defeat: ‘I am satisfied with the performance of the team. Malaysia is a team with lot of international experience so it was not that difficult for them to beat a country like ours with less experience’. Coach Supun Wimal said though Lankans played their defensive part well they failed to attack whenever it was possible. Today Korea meet Sri Lanka in a game where Korea goes as hot favourites. The funeral of Brig. Susantha Mendis who died in action will take place today at the Mahaiyawa General Cemetery. Brig. Mendis was an outstanding sportsman during his school days at St. Sylvester's College. The school authorities request all students and old boys of St. Sylvester's Colleg to be present near the school premises at 2.00 p.m. (HM) Eight-member Lankan judo contingent for India
Cup Junior Meet An eight-member contingent comprising five judokas and three officials will leave for India on September 16 to participate in the Fourth India Cup Junior Judo Championships. The tournament will be held in Chandigarh from September 19-23. The team comprises of M. M. M. Mohideen (under 50kg), A. M. S. K. Attanayake (under 55kg), H. P. Asoka (under-60kg), B. J. Jayaweera (under-66kg), and Ranil Senewiratne who will participate in the open event. The five judokas will be accompanied by Rohitha Palpola (coach), W. K. Godwin (International Umpire) and F. L. O. Ranasinghe (Manager) Pen pix of the squad M. M. M. Mohideen - Brown Belt in Judo Represents Colombo Municipality Sports Club. A student of Asoka Vidyalaya. A. M. S. K. Attanayake - Brown Belt in Judo Represents St. Andrews Sports Club, Gampola. A student of Gampola St. Andrews M.V. H. P. Asoka - Brown Belt in Judo Represents National Youth Services Council, Maharagama. A student of Royal College Colombo. B. J. Jayaweera - Brown Belt in Judo. Represents Sarasavi Sports Club. A student of Thurstan College, Colombo. Ranil Senewiratne - will take part in the Open event. A student of Asoka Vidyalaya. Rohitha Palpola - Coach. Black belt second grade Committee members of the Sri Lanka Judo Association. Has been involved in the sport for the past twenty years. F. L. O. Ranasinghe - Manager of the team. Black belt second grade. Secretary of the Sri Lanka Judo Association. Has been involved in the sport for the past thirty years. W. K. Godwin - International Referee. Black Belt third grade. Coach of Kalutara Training College. President of the Sri Lanka Judo Association's Referees Society. Sri Lankan Cricket in splendour in Britain A Pre-match review — Thanks to 'the Island' of August 7, we were able to make the following comments and predictions:— To the query "Will S.L. fare well at Lords, the Oval and other cricket fields in Britain:" — We said, 'Yes, I say the small mighty Sri Lankans can do it, in overpowering the said to be giants at the game born in England'. Yes, the required 'Spirit was there, confidence had been built up...' While effort and a determination (the true indigenous Sri Lankan Yodaya spirit) of Murali, Aravinda, Sanath, Marvan and joint team effort by Arjuna, the Cool Head, were clearly evident SL cricket was enjoyed by the British crowds that filled the grounds — SL won the day in England, a land that had not played fair estimating SL cricket as not 'worth the gates the sterling pounds expected'!!!! Let me also repeat what the President of the Australian Cricket Society, Dr. Neville Turner, former Lecturer in Sports Law at Monash and other Universities predicted on S-L cricket... "When I visited Sri Lanka in '92, I forecast in the journal of the Aug. Cricket Society that SL would be the cricketing force in the ensuing years... I am bold to say that in 1998 it will be the strongest country in the world...". (ACS magazine of 97-98). While decrying that England and West Indies had not been fair Dr. Turner was emphatic in saying, "...it is scandalous that a full series of tests had not been given..." he spoke loud that the cricketing patrons of these countries were denied a great privilege to see cricket as it should be played today —, we say even beyond the Australian — England Ashes series of old. We had also made the following suggestions at play; * The Tri Partite leadership of the Captain, Coach and Manager will have to consider the cricketing and non-cricketing tricks of the VIPP in English cricket, anticipate wisely and get our players to be well prepared for the wiles of the game and withstand the adversities. (Done! full marks — we offer a bouquet to the tripartite leadership — Arjuna, Roy, Ranjit — as efficient supervision and guidance were, I feel, a major contributory factor to the victories) * Arjuna, the great smiling Captain to continue his 'cool' and do consult his senior team mates often, * Aravinda, the world's most steady batsman to be ware of the lbws and the pull shots to leg and cover with good fielders placed at strategic points * Sanath to play safe for a few overs and try his grand shots over the fielders when he is set * Murali to bowl at the particular batsman and vary his length and pace * In running between wickets Aravinda, Atapattu etc to be carefull — hope Roy Dias gives advice... Well done!!! Distinctions to the players advisors on and out of the field (I talk as an educator — We can give 90% pass marks for the answer shown at tests on the field.) A post-match commentary: May I bring to light a few highlights of the series: * Team Spirit in the field-Disciplined play and behaviour were evident and no flaws were seen or made known by the foreign commentators on the Sri Lankans performances. * Sportsmanship and fairplay in splendour among Sri Lankans even in times of adversity of dubious umpiring decisions, sledging, stares, pushes, abuse, silent intimidation etc. in plenty by opponents. * All three prizes at Emirates Trophy for S.L. — Champion Team, Man of the Match, Man of the Series. * Murali showing off as the best spinner in the world, Sanath as the fastest scorer in cricket, even at tests in scoring 100 off 124 balls, Aravinda, the steadiest sober batsman of the day in the world, Arjuna, the most intelligent leader in cricket — he not only changed bowlers about also changed sides to lead a Muralia to outplay the best of batsmen. *The English crowds showing a new leaf and honouring the fine performances of the Sri Lankans eg. Sanath got one of the best ovations with all standing and appreciating the great display of shots in his 213. Our final remarks made earlier: "We hope we in SL will be able to shower bouquets on the return to our homeland". True it happened as we liked it — yet no bouquets could be showared by the ordinary patrons and especially the commoners in particular, who were glued to the Radios on match days. The general public needs an occasion to thank our great ambassadors to UK from the SL cricketing arena. I strongly recommend that one of the TV units and a paper like 'The Island' organise a special supplement on the doings of Arjuna and his team in 'going, seeing and conquering' in the oldest home of English (now World) cricket. Sussex University escape defeat Sussex University XI replying to Sri Lanka Foundation Cricket XIÕs total of 195 for 5 declared off 42 overs hung on grimly with a score of 148 for 9 wickets in 47 overs to force an exciting draw in their one innings cricket match which concluded at Havelock Park yesterday. The University XI which began their innings in mid afternoon session saw no fewer than four of their top-order batsmen making scores of over 30 but none going on to compile a substantial individual contribution that would have seen them winning this game. For the visitors their burly skipper and middle-order batsman Pakistani born Ali Salman top scored with a brisk 37 which came off as many balls, that also included five handsomely struck boundaries. Besides Salman Ali, Wills with 34 and Charlie Austin who made 30 batted well involving themselves in a opening stand of 60 runs. Their late order bat and Vice Captain Paul Brindle then enlivened the dull proceedings towards the dying stages of the game with a quick-fire 33 which contained six fours. The tourists who were at one stage of the game well poised to overtake the Foundation XI score collapsed in sensational style in the middle of their innings losing six wickets for 30 odd runs eventually did well to prevent the local team from bowling them out in this match. For the Sri Lanka Foundation Cricket XI their left arm leggie Ishara Perera returned the best figures of 4 for 38, while Lasitha Suwandarathne too bagged 2 for 7 runs. Earlier in the pre-lunch session who won the toss and batted first did well to reach their ultimate score thanks to a compact knock of 65 made by Chamara Silva. His knock which came off 82 balls was studded with ten crisply executed boundaries while Lasitha Suwandarathna also chipped in with 35 which included five fours. Indika Sunimal also contributed a painstaking 44 runs to their final innings total with medium pacie Charlie Austin being the best of Sussex XI bowlers with figures of 2/69. SRI LANKA CRICKET FOUNDATION XI 195/5 in 42 overs (Indika Sunimal 44, Chamara Silva 65, Lasitha Suwandarathne 35, D. Kumarasinghe 25 n.o., Charlie Austin 2/69). SUSSEX UNIVERSITY XI 148/9 in 47 overs (Ali Wills 34, Charlie Austin 30, Ali Salman 37, Paul Brindle 33, Ishara Perera 4/38, Anura Silva 2/22, Lasitha Suwandarathne 2/7). Seeduwa-Raddoluwa CC beat Kelaniya CC by 13 runs in a Sustagen Trophy semi final match conducted by Gampaha District Cricket Association at Tudella yesterday. SEEDUWA-RADDOLUWA CC 180 in 30 overs. (Sanjeewa Arangala 47, Priyantha Tissera 39, K. A. Perera 29, S. Malraj 2/40, L. Perera 3/18, C. Pitiarachchi 2/3). KELANIYA CC — 167 in 29.1 overs. (C. Sandaruwan 24, D. Dasanayake 27), P. Sanjeewa 31 not out, D. Surendra 2/10, S. Ratnapala 2/31, K. A. Perera 3/31). Lasantha Perera captured 11 for 40 as Air Force thrashed Nugegoda CC by an innings and 161 runs in an under 23 cricket tournament match ended at Katunayake yesterday. NUGEGODA 46 all out in 31.3 overs. (J. S. Beruwala 18, Lasantha Perera 5 for 17, Indika Dilhan 3 for 10). AIR FORCE 252 for 8 decl. (Saman Wijeratne 65, Amila Piyaratne 40, R. Fernando 38, A. Siriwardene 23, R. Peiris 23, J. S. Beruwala 2 for 40, K. S. W. Silva 2 for 70, T. Kodikara 2 for 23). NUGEGODA 45 all out in 27.1 overs. (K. S. W. Silva 20, Lasantha Perera 6 for 23, Indika Dilhan 4 for 2). |
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