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Ranatunga fashions Lankan victory with unbeaten 90
DHAKA, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Arjuna Ranatunga hit an unbeaten 90 to rescue World Champions Sri Lanka after they looked headed for an embarrassing defeat by New Zealand in the Wills International Cup one-day tournament on Monday.
Set the seemingly simple task of scoring 189 to win, Sri Lanka lost their first three wickets for only five runs. But then the Sri Lankan captain joined opener Romesh Kaluwitharana in a 127-run partnership for the fourth wicket and New Zealand hopes disappeared.
Sri Lanka hit 191 for five to win the quarter-final match by five wickets with 8.3 overs to spare.
The Lankans were rocked early in their innings by New Zealand’s opening pace attack of Simon Doull and Geoff Allott who removed Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu and Aravinda de Silva in the first 20 balls of the innings.
Doull had Jayasuriya caught behind off the very first ball and then removed Atapattu in the same fashion with his ninth delivery. Allott also joined in the act, forcing de Silva to edge a ball outside offstump to Nathan Astle at second slip.
Ranatunga went to the crease with Sri Lanka in dire straits at five for three. But he and Kaluwitharana, who made 48, combined to lay the foundations for victory.
Kaluwitharana was run out with the score on 132 and Roshan Mahanama fell 18 runs later but Ranatunga continued to dominate the bowling and ensure victory. He hit eight fours in his 116-ball innings.
New Zealand used seven bowlers in an attempt to find a breakthrough but none of them made any impression after the first five overs.
The winning runs from four overthrows were the final example of New Zealand’s surrender.
Earlier, New Zealand crumpled to 188 all out one ball short of their 50 overs as Sri Lanka’s spinners kept them tied down.
Adam Parore, with a patient 54 off 87 balls was the only New Zealander to score a half century and they lost wickets at regular intervals.
Muttiah Muralitharan was the pick the Sri Lankan spinners, picking up a wicket in his first over when opener Matthew Bell misread his spin and was stumped.
Muralitharan ended his 10 overs with figures of three for 32.
Sri Lanka will play South Africa in the semifinal on Friday.
SCOREBOARD
New Zealand
M.Bell st Kal’rana bMuralitharan 16
N.Astle c Jayasuriya b Zoysa 10
S.Fleming lbw b Vaas 23
C.McMillan run out 26
A.Parore c Chandana b Dharmasen 54
C.Harris lbw b Jayasuriya 8
A.Tait b Muralitharan 7
D.Vettori c Kaluw’ana b Muralitharan 9
S.Doull run out 7
P.Wiseman not out 7
G.Allott run out 3
Extras (lb-11 w-6 nb-1) 18
Total 188
Fall of wickets: 1-15 2-56 3-58 4-118 5-134 6-150 7-160 8-169 9-176Bowling: Vaas 7-0-27-1 (w-1), Zoysa 6-0-24-1 (w-2), Dharmsena 10-0-34-1,
Muralitharan 10-1-32-3 (w-2, nb-1), Jayasuriya 9.5-0-30-1 (w-1), Chandana 7-0-30-0
Sri Lanka
Sanath Jayasuriya c Parore b Doull 0
Romesh Kaluwitharana run out 48
Marvan Atapattu c Parore b Doull 3
Aravinda de Silva c Astle b Allott 0
Arjuna Ranatunga not out 90
Roshan Mahanama c Allott b Wiseman 7
Upal Chandana not out 22
Extras (b-8 lb-6 w-5 nb-2) 21
Total (for five wickets) 191
Did not bat: Kumara Dharmasena, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Nuwan Zoysa
Fall of wickets: 1-0 2-4 3-5 4-132 5-150Bowling: Simon Doull 5-1-17-2 (nb-2), Geoff Allott 9-0-37-1 (w-1), Daniel
Vettori 10-1-44-0 (w-1), Alex Tait 2-0-9-0 (w-1), Chris Harris 6.3-1-29-0, Paul
Wiseman 4-0-21-1 (w-1), Craig McMillan 5-0-20-0 (w-1).
Result: Sri Lanka won by five wickets
Sri Lanka trounce China 43-6
Althaf Nawaz reporting from SingaporeSri Lanka conformed its position as favourites to qualify from pool ‘B’ of the second Asian Championship with a resounding 43 points (5 goals, a Try and a Penalty) to 6 (try) win over tournament debutante China here Monday at Physical Education Grounds.
All round team effort both by the forwards as well as the three-quarters assured Lankans to prove that they are clear favourites of winning this tournament even though they are without non-nationals.
Nilufer Ibrahim, the Lankan scrum half was the first who had an impressive game converting five tries and he himself planting a try. This effort earned him the ANZ ‘Man of the match’ award. The other three were Full back Radika Hettiarachchi, Haris Omar the number eight and Fly-half Asanga Rodrigo.
Sri Lanka, showing its experience and polished coordination, totally dominated possession from the start and took only six minutes before scoring its first try through prop forward Shantha Rohana. Rohana after a series of rucks and rolling mauls touch down mid-left. Scrum half Nilufar Ibrahim converted to make the score 7-0. From there the Lankans were well in control of the game and prevented the bigger sized Chinese team getting in to stride.
Seven minutes later, the Lankans won a line out 30 meters out and, after hard runs by number eight Haris Omar and lock Suranga Amarasinghe, fly half Asanga Rodrigo a subtle pass to centre Manjula to Scrum. Ibrahim once again did no mistake with the conversion to make it 14-0. The Lankans extended their lead this time through winner Indrajith Bandaranayake after some beautiful side-stepping and some slippery running by full back Radika Hettiarachchi. Ibrahim added the extra points.
China finally started winning more possession and after some dynamic forwards drives, got its reward when flanker Bi Zhong Chen scored in the 22nd minute.
But the nippy Ibrahim soon re-established Sri Lanka’s lead in the 27th minute when he finished off a break-out to score under the posts, a try he converted to make it 28-5 at breather.
China started the second half stronger but made handling errors at crucial times. Lanka capitalised and scored its best try, after a mercurial run by fullback Hettiarachchi in the 47th minute. Ibrahim’s conversion made 35-5.
Another penalty goal by the scrumhalf and a try by Bandaranayake finished off the scoring 43-5.
With this win Sri Lanka has won ten matches in fifteen outings at International level. The jubilant Lanka coach speaking to ‘The Island’ said he was happy to have won this game. They had planned a match strategy their game plan before meeting Malaysia on Wednesday under lights at the same venue.
Chang as Secretary?
Meanwhile, Asian Rugby Football Referees (ARFR) present Secretary is to step down his post after several years. It is strongly tipped that one of Sri Lanka’s senior referees S. W. Chang is to fulfil the vacancy. Chang has been serving the game for quite long time.
Two athletes missing?
By Shirajiv SirimaneThere is growing speculation that two veteran athletes who participated in the recently concluded Veterans Athletic Championships has decamped. The Veterans team which arrived last Katmandu SAF Games Gold Medalist along with a Female athlete from the hills are the two who have gone missing.
When contacted a Veterans Athletic Association official reluctantly admitted that these two players did not come along with the other team. "But these have relatives in Japan and when their 90 day Visa expires they will come back" he said.
Thomians meet Kingswood today
By Dhammika RatnaweeraS. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia meets Kingswood College Kandy in their inter-school cricket fixture at Mount Lavinia today and tomorrow. (27-28)
Thomians led by Naren Ratwatte have a well balanced side with last year skipper and inform Upeka Fernando leading the way.
Kingswood who lost to Prince of Wales Moratuwa by an innings and ten runs last Sunday are under tremendous pressure.
Thushara Madanayake the brother of former Skipper Suwanji is the all rounder for Kandy side. Madanayake who captured four wickets for 82 runs and scored 35 against Prince of Wales match is expected to repeat his performances today.
Asian Games trials on Saturday
An Asian Games trial of 20 km. Race walking will be held on 31st October, 1998 commencing 6.30 a.m. from the Torrington Place Sports Ministry grounds.
Standard for selection for Asian Games pool will be a timing of 1H. 33:58.
All race walkers interested in participating at the above trial should report to the starting point at 6.00 a.m. on 31st October.
Pushpakumara Best Player
By Dhammika RatnaweeraMuthumudalige Pushpakumara (Ananda College) was adjudged the Best Player in recently concluded U-17 Singer Trophy cricket tournament. He recieved the coveted trophy at Award ceremony held at Kularatne Hall Ananda College Sunday.
Pushpakumara played in both Under 17 and first XI teams last season performed well both with bat and ball to clinch this title.
Ananda College together with Royal College were joint champions in the Under 17 division I tournament while Ananda Sastralaya Kotte won the Division II championship trophy. Rewatha MMV Balapitiya won the runner up in the Division II Ibbagamuwa MMM and Basilika College Ragama were the joint champions in the division III.
Hemaka Amarasuriya Chairman Singer Sri Lanka Ltd was the chief guest at the awards ceremony. Hemaka Amarasuriya said, young school cricketers do their best to reach National level. Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association gives its fullest support to these young cricketers. Singer (Sri Lanka) Ltd’s sponsorship has been of immense value to cricketers he said. Lakshman Gomes the President of the SLSCA vice President T. B. Damunapola and Secretary of SLSCA B. S. Perera too were present.
