• Confident Australians confront India today
• Sri Lanka to make three changes
• TTSC Shuttle C’ships begin
• Upeka’s ton boosts Thomians
• Mahinda old boys call the shots
• Bartleet Group cricketers to tour Malaysia

Confident Australians confront India today

Australia after a successful Test series 1-0 win over Pakistan arrived in Dhaka yesterday to participate in the ongoing Wills Cup Tournament. Today they will confront India in a quarter final fixture which looks to be a thrilling affair.

India’s batting sensation Sachin Tendulkar’s performance today could decide the fate of its entry to the semi-final.

On the other hand Australians too are confident of making it to the semifinals on their present form. Aussie skipper Mark Taylor who has reached his peak form in batting could trouble the Indian bowlers.

Australian speedster Glen McGrath and spinner Stuart MacGill could also pose a threat to Indian batsmen.

Sri Lanka to make three changes
Althaf Nawaz reporting from Singapore

Shamly Nawaz and M. J. M. Mushtaq will make their debut at International Rugby today when Sri Lanka confront Malaysia in a key Group ‘B’ match of the 16th Rugby Asiad at Physical Education Grounds under lights.

Nawaz a former Isipatanian who later turned out for Havelocks will replace Haris Omar who is nursing a knee injury. Omar left the field during the latter stages of the game against China.

Assistant coach Ajith Abeyratne said they did not want to take any chances and want to keep him for the crucial match on Saturday.

Musthaq will play as the winger with Indrajith Bandaranayake as replacement for Kishan Musafar who pulled a mussle failed to prove his fitness.

Sri Lanka will make another change in the forwards line. When Alfred Hensman makes a come back as flanker B. M. Dharmapala too will be allowed to rest. He had a nasty blow on his ribcage area during the game against China. Rest of the team remains unchaned. The morale in the team is very high and it should not be a problem for Lankans against the Malaysians who won 32-25 over China in their curtain raiser game. When inquired about the game plan and the changes made Ana Saranapala and Ajith Abeyratne said they preferred to play the same side which won over China. But due to injuries they had to make few changes. They further said, ‘we will go flat out, to win this game. We will adopt several new strategies to seal the game in favour of us’.

Malaysians are to decide the team on the day of the match. They too have few injury problems according to their officials.

Dr. Maiya Gunasekera arrived in Singapore last morning. He will fly to Thailand to attend a meeting regarding the Asian Games which is to be held Bangkok, Thailand this December.

Singapore crushed debutante India 85 points to nil in their Group ‘B’ match yesterday.

TTSC Shuttle C’ships begin

Seventeen teams (eleven men’s and six women’s) will vie for honours at the annual Travel Trade Sports Club Badminton Championships which will be played today and tomorrow at the SLBA Courts Maitland Place commencing 8.30 onwards in both days.

N-Car Travels and Tours sponsors the tournament for the third successive year.

Air Lanka won the men’s and women’s championship last year. They are expected to retain these titles this year too.

TGL Travels is the only new entrant this for the men’stitle. According to the Secretary of Travel Trade SC Tyronne Perera, seven men’s teams will play in two sections (DR)

Upeka’s ton boosts Thomians

Former Thomian skipper Upeka Fernando (103) notched up his first century for the 98-99 inter-school, cricket season, as he helped S. Thomas’ College to first innings score of 235 for 9 wickets at the end of the first day’s play in the inter school cricket match against Kingswood College Kandy which began at Mt. Lavinia yesterday.

Fernando the dashing right handed opener took the Kingswood attack to task from the word go to sheer his side. Fernando during the course of his superb innings was also involved in three productive stands with co-opener Dilsha Gunawardena, in a 61 run stand for the first wicket as well as with, left hander Gehan Fernando a 48 run stand for the third wicket and finally, a frolicking 43 run alliance with his skipper Naren Ratwatte for the sixth wicket respectively.

Upeka’s 103 runs which came off 137 balls was studded with seven scorching fours as well as two huge sixes, as the Thomian master batsman underlined his true prowess with the willow in no uncertain terms. For the Mount Lavinia school their skipper Ratwatte also chipped in with a quick fine knock of 40 runs with the aid of three fours and two sixes to guide them to their final score of 235.

For the Kingswoodians who came into this game after an innings defeat suffered at the hands of Prince of Wales last week. Skipper and off spinner Tushara Madanayake returned the creditable figures of 5/58.

Chief-Scores

STC 235/9 wkts. at close. (Upeka Fernando 103, D. Gunawardena 22, S. Caldera 17, Gehan Fernando 23, Naren Ratwatte 40, Tushara Madanayake 5/58) vs Kingswood (JK)

Mahinda old boys call the shots
By Dhammika Ratnaweera

Mahinda College Old Boys clinched the R. D. Abeygunawardane Trophy when they beat arch rivals Richmond Old Boys in their limited over cricket fixture concluded at MCA grounds on last Saturday.

Mahinda old boys team led by Upul Sumathipala scored 161 for six wickets in their allotted 23 overs while Richmondites led by Ravindra Lalith de Silva were 146 for six wickets in 23 overs.

This was the first time that both Old boys played a limited cricket encounter, in Colombo. It was organised by Richmond College Old Boys (Colombo Union) and Mahinda Club.

Champaka Ramanayake the former National team medium pacer who is back in Sri Lanka after playing in Lancashire League with a fine all-round performance (45 n.o. and 2 for 26) excelled for Richmond. He had three sixes. He also earned the man of the match award.

Opener Ruwan Korala the former skipper made a fine knock of 23 for Richmond. Ranjan Dias Jayasinghe also scored an unbeaten 15 for Richmond side.

Gajaba Pitigala was the highest scorer for the Mahindians scoring 30 while opener Mihira Egodage (24) and J. C. Ariyaratne (23) also made useful contributions. Pitigala won the best batsman award.

Former National off cutter bowler Jayananda Warnaweera was the Mahinda side’s most successful bowler finishing 2 for 26.

The match was well organised by the old boys of both schools and they hope to continue this match as an annual encounter, an organiser said.

Scores:

Mahinda Old Boys 161 for six wickets in 23 overs. (Mihira Egodage 24, J. C. Ariyaratne 23, Gajaba Pitigala 30, P. H. K. H. Ranasinghe 12, Upul Sumathipala 19 (n.o.), Champaka Ramanayake 2 for 26).

Richmond Old Boys 146 for six wickets in 23 overs. (Ruwan Korala 23, Champaka Ramanayake 45 (n.o.), Ranjan Jayasinghe 15 Jayananda Warnaweera 2 for 26).

Bartleet Group cricketers to tour Malaysia

Bartleet Group Sports Club, who became the champions in the Mercantile ‘B’ Division Cricket Tournament, will be touring Malaysia and Thailand at the end of this month. They will be playing two games in Malaysia against th Malaysian Under 23 side and the Royal Salonga Club.

The team will be led by former Peterite all rounder Sanjaya Rajapakse who also represents BRC Sports Club. There are quite a number of talented youngsters in their fold, viz. Samantha Dodanwela former Trinitian all rounder and of SSC and also a Sri Lankan poolist who led Bartleets a couple of years ago. Dammika Rajapakse who represents BRC Sports Club and was in the Sri Lanka ‘A’ Pool in 1996. Ashan Ranaweera who represents BRC Division ‘I’.

The squad — Sanjaya Rajapakse — Captain, Samantha Dodanwela, Dammika Rajapakse — BRC, Ashan Ranaweera — BRC, S. K. Perera — Bloomfield, Nalin Guruge — Matara SC, Susantha de Alwis, Dishan Fernando, Amaljith Tilakeratne, Nishantha Perera, Ajith Edirisinghe, Prashan Boteju, Amal Wannigasekera, Indika Bethmage, Shehan Fernando, Sampath Nishantha, Nadeeka Taranga, Manjula Perera, Suminda Rajapakse, Nalaka de Silva.