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Zimbabwe
knockout Sri Lanka SHARJAH, Nov. 9 — Sri Lanka suffered their fourth consecutive defeat in the Sharjah Champions Trophy Triangular Championship when they were comprehensively beaten by Zimbabwe in a qualifying round match on Tuesday. Zimbabwe, the underdogs in the championship, by this 24-run win the second over Sri Lanka, thus qualified for the finals against India. The Zimbabweans, once again dominated the Sri Lankans. Batting first, Zimbabwe scored 259 for 7 wickets in 50 overs with Andy Flower (95) and Neil Johnson (72) laying a solid foundation. Sri Lanka, opening with Romesh Kaluwitharana back in his familiar slot along with Sanath Jayasuriya, suffered an early setback when the former was controversially ruled out leg before wicket by Pakistani umpire Javed Akhthar to a ball that struck him at waist height with the total on 17. The bowler was Heath Streak. It was an unfortunate decision when the Lankan wicket-keeper batsman looked to be getting into his stride. There after calamity set in with Sanath Jayasuriya blindly hooking a Streak delivery right into the hands of Murray Goodwin at deep fine leg. He made 19 and Sri Lanka’s hopes of reaching the 260-run victory target in 41 overs to make it to the finals evaporated with the world champions But on the backfoot at 2 down for 28. There was hope as long as Aravinda de Silva was at the wicket with skipper Arjuna Ranatunga (0) and Roshan Mahanama (16) having added to the casualty list. But a sudden handicap having strained his right leg in diving to beat a throw at the non striker’s end put paid to a recovery. The Lankan vice captain in an attempt to increase the momentum skied a ball and with his exit Sri Lanka’s chances disintegrated but for a late flourish with recalled left hander Hashan Tillekeratne replying the selectors with an ideally copybook unbeaten 72. With Kumar Dharmasena (39), Tellekeratne staged a late revival associating in a seventh wicket alliance of 93 runs. But hopes of a consolation victory as well vanished with Sri Lanka unable to mainting a run rate of 12 runs per over after Dharmasena’s departure. SCOREBOARD Zimbabwe A.Campbell b Wickremasinghe 9 Extras (b-4 lb-6 nb-1 w-8) 19 Did not bat: Paul Stang, Andrew Whittal Bowling: Vaas 10-1-48-2, Wickremasinghe 10-0-28-3 (w-1), Dharmasena 10-0-41-0, Samaraweera 8-0-46-0, De Silva 4-0-27-0 (nb-1), Jayasuriya 8-0-59-1 (w-7) SRI LANKA S. Jayasuriya c Goodwin b Steak 19 Bowling: Brandes 9-0-51-1, Streak 9-0-51-2 (w-3), Johnson 8.5-1-42-1 (w-1, nb-1), Strang 10-0-32-4, Whittal 10-0-40-1 (w-1), Goodwin 2-0-14-0 Azhar
to receive luxury Benz Mohammed Azharuddin who surpassed Desmond Haynes’ aggregate of 8648 runs in one-dayers scoring 8703 runs during the ongoing Champions Trophy Tournament is to receive a luxury Mercedes Benz 500 car donated by ARY Gold Company. This was announced yesterday. Presentation will take place on Saturday at a ceremony when ARY Gold Company holds its Gold Lottery draw. Azharuddin has been invited to be the chief guest at this ceremony. Azhar speaking after the announcement said that he is delighted over the presentation as it is based purely on performance. He also added the Indian Government will allow him to receive it duty free in India. On an earlier occasion Ravi Shastri was given the opportunity to bring in the car minus duty. He finally said I owned a Benz 200 but to have a Benz 500 is a dream come true. Azhar has played in 304 one-dayers to reach this milestone. Anura
Ranasinghe no more Former Sri Lanka cricketer Anura Ranasinghe passed away yesterday in his sleep, according to family friends. He was 42 years old. Ranasinghe, a product of Nalanda College was an outstanding all-rounder who made his Test debut for Sri Lanka in 1982 against Pakistan. He had an illustrious career as a schoolboy having captained Nalanda College and emerged ‘school-boy cricketer of the year’ as well. Ranasinghe’s best year was when he skippered the Sri Lanka schools cricket team with great success defeating Pakistan in the Ali Bhutto Trophy. Incidentally, Pakistan was led by the now famous Javed Miandad. Anura Ranasinghe was lost to Sri Lanka cricket during his prime when he joined a rebel cricket squad to South Africa led by breakaway captain, Bandula Warnapura in 1983. He also played for Sri Lanka as a schoolboy cricketer in the late 1970s in unofficial tests. At the time of his death he was the Bloomfield Under-23 coach and division III captain. He is survived by his wife and son, Tharun. His funeral takes place on Thursday at the Kirillapone General Cemetery on Thursday 12. 19
teams for cricket tourney Nineteen teams have entered the Badulla District Division III Cricket tournament organised by the Badulla District Cricket Association which will be conducted on a knock-out basis this year. Bandarawela Sports Club will meet the Sri Lanka Air Force, Diyatalawa in the inaugural encounter at the Vincent Dias Stadium. SAAF
Athletic Championship Sri Lankan athletes clearly proved that they can perform well against tough opposition when they established four Sri Lanka records at the first day of the two day Caltex SAF Athletic Championships at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday. The two day national championships which was held at the Stadium two weeks ago only had four national marks. The central figure of the games was Sri Lankan sprinter Sugath Tillekaratne who established a new Sri Lanka record in the 200 m. event. Sugath who took this event seriously only in the recent past, clocked 21.09 seconds and equalled on SAF Games record as well. His breath taking timing also beat the former national mark of 21.19 seconds held jointly by Chinthaka Soyza and himself. The Sri Lankan 400 m. women relay quartet too had an impressive show when they stamped a new national mark finishing the event in 3.39.48 seconds. The quartet represented by Nimmi Soyza, Jayamini Illeperuma, Swarnamali Edirisinghe and Damayanthi Dharsha bettered the former record of 3:43.59 seconds by the national team in 1991 SAF Games. India was second (3:59.28). The hosts mens 100 m. relay team too ran for a new national mark by returning in 40.58 seconds to bettering the former record of 40.60 (S.L. Army). The fourth record as expected came from Paul Vaulter Ruwan P. Perera when he went over 4.80 metres. However while in previous events all was not rosy for him as India’s Prabhjot Singh gave him a close fight clearing 4.80 m. as well. In addition to the four Sri Lanka records two meet records (G. G. Promila (India) long jump 6.26m. and Harijan Ratnayake 400m. Hurdles 50.96 sec.) were lowered. The much anticipated presence of South Asia’s fastest women Susanthika Jayasinghe in the 100 and 200 metre sprints was not visible as she is ill. Sriyani Kulawansa who missed out at the nationals will defend her 100 m hurdles title (1.45 p.m.) while Sugath will star in the 400 m. (1.55 p.m.) and 4x400 m. relay. (3.30 p.m.) which will be the last event of the day. The Games began with a colourful cultural ceremony and the games torch was lit by Ramani Mangalika and Hemalal Priyankara. Both Indian and Pakistan managers Yadvinder Singh and Sarmad Saeed said they fielded their ‘B’ team since their ‘A’ team was in preparation for the Asian Games. If this event was held 10 days ago the full Indian team would have been here, Singh said. Pole Vault, Ruwan Pradeep Perera Sri Lanka 4.80 m., Prabhjot Singh India 4.80 m., M. G. Sanka Nuwan Sri Lanka 4.30 m. 4x100 m .Relay (Men) (SL) 40.58, (I) 40.87, P 42.64. 4x400 m. Relay )Women) (SL) 3:39.48 sec., (I) a 3:59.28 sec. 400 m. Hurdles (Men), Harijan Ratnayake (SL) 50.96, Mohammad Amin (P) 51.43, J. M. A. K. Jayasundara (SL) 52.11, 400 m. Hurdles (Women.) Mangalika de Silva (SL) 62.81 sec, Viyanka Welpahala (SL) 63.55 sec, Anusha Jayaweera (SL) 64. 52 sec, 800 m. (Men) V. Ratnakumara (SL) 1:49.30 sec, Anil Methiw (I) 1:49.86 sec, P. M. G. A. Dharmasena (SL) 1:50.34 sec, 800 m. (Women.), Rekha (I) 2:09.45 sec, Geetha Manrel (I) 2:09.97 sec., Jayamini Illeperuma (SL) 2:11.35 sec, 200 m. (Men) Sugath Thilakeratne (SL) 21.09 see, Ajay Rajsingh (I) 21.92 sec, K. D. A. S. Katulanda (SL) 22.07 sec, 200 m. (Women.) Vanitha Tripathi (I) 24.21 sec., Nimmi de Soysa (SL) 24.63 sec., Pandeshwari (I) 24.64 sec., 5000 m. (Men.) Gojen Singh (I) 14:42.79, Nishantha Dayasiri (SL) 14:56.56, Saman Weerawardane (SL) 15:25.37, 5000 m. (Women.) M. A. Molly (I) 17:04.02 sec., Keshani Samarakoon (SL) 17:17.27 sec. Shayamen Stouter (SL) 17:58.75 sec., Triple Jump (Men), Nelan Siriwardane (SL) 15.58 m., S. Chandimal Niroshan (SL) 15.35 m., K. G. Amarasinghe (SL)14.74 m., Shot Putt (Women), HarpreetKaur (I) 16.02 m., Surindergee Kaur (I) 14.96 m., L. R. Siribaddane (SL) 12.81 m., Long Jump (Women), Promila G. G. (I) 6.26 m., Nayanthi Chandrasena (SL) 6.22 m., Lekha Thomas (I) 6.20 m. Defence
Services stickers win The Defence Services Hockey Association won the 26th Junior Hockey National Championships worked off at the Kandy Police grounds beating the Wennappuwa DHA by 2 goals to nil. A good display was given by the Defence Services coached by former National Skipper, M. Mulafer. They were quick in moving the ball with right inside D. Panditharatne sounding the boards mid way in the game to take a 1-nil lead.. He went on to net the second goal as well in a match that the weather was not all that conducive. The championship was well organised by the Kandy District Hockey Association on behalf of the Sri Lanka Hockey Federation. But sad to say, Galle DHA failed to participate. The championship matches were officiated by Messrs G. Jayasinghe Kelum Shanthasiri, M. I. M. Ashraff, & H. K. Mithrapala, D. Lewke, Damith Jayasena, S. Jayasinghe, M. Hamid, D. R. Ratnayake, Irshad Niyas, I. Herath and Saman Wijesinghe. Amila’s century gives Old Antonians
victory Old Antonians Sports Club beat Saracens Cricket Club of Kandy by 54 runs to emerge group leaders in the Division III Kandy District Tournament at Katugastota recently. The tournament was conducted by the Kandy District Cricket Association. Old Antonians, who took first lease, totalled 246 runs with the innings revolving around a fine century by Amila Pinnaduwa who top scored with 111 runs. It was an entertaining knock spiced with several hits to the ropes. Dileepa Wijekoon bowled well to claim 3 wickets for 25 runs. Saracens CC, in their turn scored 192 with Seneviratne Bandara top scoring with 37 runs. Scores: Old Antonians SC 246 (Ravi Wickramapala 35, Amila Pinnaduwa 111, P. Ranawake 38, Daminda Wijeratne 2/29, Dileepa Wijekoon 3/25) Saracens CC 192 (Seneviratne Bandara 37, Dileepa Wijekoon 36, C. Telwadana 35, Anurudha Wekadapola 19, M. Kumara 11, Zareen Hameed 2/19, Amila Pinnaduwa 3/40, C. P. P. Raj 2/32). |
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