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Indian youth team stun Sri Lanka 3-2

by Shirajiv Sirimane
India took away Sri Lanka's 'Freedom' and USD 10,000 when they overcame the hosts 3-2 to clinch the Bristol Freedom soccer final at the Sugathadasa Stadium last night. For the Sri Lankans it was defeat at the hands of the Indian youth team.

Rajashkumar Panedy became the central figure of the final when he scored,the opening goal and the deciding third goal during the second half of extra time to give his side a hard earned victory.

The Sri Lankans, fielding their full strength side of the national team, as in the previous game, played a fine passing game. They also had a fair share of chances and in the 20th minute Chathura Perera goaled their opener through a fine cross off Isuru Perera to give the locals a 1-nil lead at half time.

In the 50th minute R. Panedy picked up the ball from a mixup and hammered in the equaliser.

Both teams then were seen in a battle for supremacy and in the 60th minute K. M. Kabeer who played with great flair, headed home Sri Lanka's second goal. Isuru Perera set up this goal.

The stadium went into pin drop silence in the 20th minute of the second half when Isuru Perera was ordered off the field for halting a goal bound kick with his hand. The ball had beaten the advancing custodian Weerasinghe who had fallen on the ground.

The referee then awarded a penalty which was goaled by Noel Wilson.

This penalization from the highly respected Singaporean referee Surdi Ismail upset the homesters who never settled in to play their game. However, their defenders did a praiseworthy job with ten men in foiling all scoring attempts by the Indians.

After the 90 minutes extra time, the golden goal was awarded and after a blank first half Pandey scored from a melee in the 107th minute.

Noel Wilson was voted the 'Man of the Match' and much to the surprise of Sri Lankans S. P. Wickramatilleke was awarded the Man of the Series' prize. Many questioned as to how a losing team player could receive such an award and this was a slap in the face for the Indians. Sri Lanka could not even beat Maldives, one coach who was so taken aback by the awards commented.

Jubilant Indian skipper C. V. Pappachan said that this was a very good victory as their team was a youth team. "We thought the home team was going to make it at one time", he said.

Sri Lankan skipper Lalith Weerasinghe declined to comment and was in tears pacing the floor. Lankan coach P. D. Sirisena said that the red card on Isuru Perera upset his team.

Deputy Minister, Jeevan Kumaratunge and Indian High Commissioner, Sri Shankar Menon graced the final as special invitees.

Sri Lanka received USD 5000 while India pursed USD 10,000 and the Bristol Freedom Cup.

Why the change of match time?

Why did the organisers of the Bristol 'Freedom Cup' Soccer Tournament mislead fans as to the commencing time of the finals between Sri Lanka and India? While all posters put up by the Football Federation gave the scheduled time as 6 p.m. in fact the match had kicked off at 5.30 p.m.

A lady official from the sponsoring company, Ceylon Tobacco Ltd., said the time change was on a request by the Rupavahini Corporation who were telecasting it live.

The Rupavahini Sports Director, J. H. Wilson however said no such request had been made.

By this, pressmen were greatly inconvenienced. The press box was occupied by relatives of the Football Federation.

AAA says Susanthika is free to compete

By Shirajiv Sirimane
The suspension which was lifted by the Sri Lanka Athletic Association (AAA) on Susanthika Jayasinghe few months ago still stands and she is free to compete in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games.

This was the position taken up by the AAA Secretary, Rohan Amarasinghe who stressed that even the IAAF had accepted the three member committee's findings on Susanthika. "However the IAAF said that if any protests were made the matter would be referred to an arbitration panel which in turn would then appoint an independent committee to proceed further.

He said that according to information received by him, Singapore and China had protested to the Asian AAA which in turn had conveyed this to the IAAF. "This is why all this speculation is once again in the air" he said.

Amarasinghe stressed that since the IAAF had not intimated any decision to ban or suspend Susanthika, she could compete in the Asian Games.

Thurstan hold Royal to a draw

By Jatila Karawita
Thurstan College,trailing by 39 runs on the first innings,batted out the entire post tea session to reach a total of 196 for 9 wickets to draw their inter-school cricket match against Royal College at Reid Avenue yesterday.

On an otherwise dull day's cricket, the only bright sparks on the second day's play was provided by Royal batsman, Malinda Totuwilage who struck 61, and Thurstan's one drop batsman C. Aravinda who cracked 40.

Earlier in the day, Royal continuing from their overnight score of 150 for three wickets in reply to Thurstan's 170 all out, could not take the initiative of that healthy score from where they could have dictated terms to the Thurstanites.Instead, they added only 59 runs for the loss of six more wickets before declaring.

Royal's mainstay was Totuwilage with vice captain Ruchira Jayasuriya chipping in with 40. Thurstan's most economical bowler was left arm leggie Gihan de Silva who claimed 3 wickets for 55 runs.

In their second essay, Thurstan 39 behind on the first innings, put up shutters from the outset to settle for a draw with late order batsman, Thushara Perera holding the innings together with a defiant unbeaten knock of 56.He was given good support by C. Aravinda who followed up his first innings knock with the same score of 40.

For Royal, off spinner Jehan Mubarak kept up a fine length and line to claim 3 for 25.

CHIEF SCORES:

Thurstan 1st innings 170 and 196/9 wkts., at stumps.(T.Wickramasinghe 10, S.Soyza 12, C.Aravinda 40,Thushara Perera 56 not out, N.Deen 15, J.Mubarak 3/25).

Royal 1st innings 150/3 wkts overnight, 209/9 wkts., decl.(M.Totuwilage 61, R.Jayasuriya 40, A.Perera 23, H.Rajakaruna 16, J.Mubarak 14, A.Perera 17, Gihan de Silva 3/55, C.Aravinda 2/45).

Sri Lanka 'A' Tour of England 1999

Consequent to an invitation extended by the England Cricket Board, Sri Lanka 'A' team would be touring United Kingdom during the period July 4 to August 20, 1999. The itinerary of the tour is as follows:

JULY '99

July. - 4, 5, 6, Vs ECB XI, Oakham School (Leicestershire) (Three Days).
July. - 7 Vs New Zealand, Campbell Park. (Milton Keynes) (One Day).
July. - 9, 10, 11, 12, Vs Lancashire, Old Trafford or Sussex at Hove. (Four Days).
July. - 15, 16, 17, 18 Vs Northamptonshire , Northampton (Four Days).
July 19 vs Gloucestershire, Cheltenham (One Day).
July. - 19 Vs Gloucestershire, Cheltenham (One Day).
July. - 21, 22, 23, 24, Vs Essex, Chelmsford (Four Days).
July. - 26, Durham, Riverside Ground (One Day).
July. - 28 Vs FCC Select, Riverside Ground/Headingly/Leicester (One Day).
July. - 30, 31, Aug. 01, 02. Vs Gloucestershire, Bristol ( Four Days), (If Gloucestershire enters the final of Super Cup, fixture would be arranged with Surrey at the Fosters Oval).

AUGUST '99

Aug. - 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, Vs Denmark, (To be Confirmed) (Five Days).
Aug. - 10, 11, 12, 13, Vs. Worcestershire, Worcestor. (Four Days)
Aug. - 15 Vs. Somerset, Taunton, (One Day) (If Somerset enter the final of NWT Semi Final, fixture would be arranged with Sussex at Hove).
Aug. - 17, 18, 19, 20 Vs MCC, Shenley (Four Days).

Will Darell create a 'hair-raising' series?

by Mahinda Wijesinghe
The occasion was the annual Cricket Writers' Club dinner held in London recently. The Sunday Telegraph table had, inter alia, current England Test player, Angus Fraser, the former West Indian paceman, the straight-shooting Colin Croft, famed journalists Colin Gibson and Seyld Berry, and former Lancashire and England opening batsman, left-handed Graeme Fowler, the only cricketer to have scored twin centuries in first-class cricket using a runner in both innings! The discussions were, naturally, lively and stimulating. As Fowler reports with delightful humour about his friendly jousting with Croft:

Fowler: "Crofty, I was just wondering whether you thought Muralitharan throws the ball, because if anyone should know it's you, because you used to throw it." (Of course, Fowler does not believe either threw - he was merely baiting Croft)

Croft: (With a large smile on his face and not falling to the bait) "Let me tell you, Muralitharan cannot throw the ball with that action. It is impossible. Let me also tell you, Fowler, in the 1980's, all the West Indian fast bowlers were filmed and you tell me who had the straightest arm?

Fowler: "Was it Michael Holding's?"

Croft: "I tell you it was mine'.

For the next 20 minutes, reports Fowler, this quintet of well-informed cricketing personalities took part in "a highly technical discussion on the bowling action, its users and abusers. And, their conclusions? ":ÉÉthat Muralitharan is a unique, world-class spinner."

John Etheridge for The Sun newspaper, making use of the fact that Muralitharan's arm is slightly deformed "drew a precise conclusion" when he suggested that Muralitharan "is physically incapable of chucking because a delivery is only illegal if a bent arm is straightened on release."

Sticky relations with Sri Lanka
Though reports reaching from Australia indicate that six out of the eight matches featuring the Sri Lankans during the upcoming Carlton & United One-day International triangular - with England the third side - have been sold out with ticket sales topping Aus. $6M, the tour presently seems to be heading for a lot of acrimony. The reason? Comments made by Australian umpire Darrel Hair regarding the validity of not only off-spinner Muralitharan's action but also that of Ruwan Kalpage and Kumar Dharmasena has sparked the fuse, and could well further strain the sticky relations the world champions have with Australia.

Murali's permanent bent arm
Hair 'called' Muralitharan seven times in a 3-over spell in the Second Test at Melbourne on Boxing Day in 1995 whilst officiating from the 'head umpire's position, even while the off-spinner delivered a leg-break, and subsequently another Australian umpire, Ross Emerson, 'called' Muralitharan in Brisbane. The Sri Lankan Board immediately consulted world-wide medical opinion from eminent experts in this particular field, and it transpired that due to a congenital defect, Muralitharan has a permanent bent-arm. Representations were made to the I.C.C. and, judging from the fact that Muralitharan continued to play thereafter - including a tour of England - without any hiccups, the matter was deemed over.

A ruse to sell his book?
Then from the blues comes the news that Hair is still not satisfied, and is basically raring to have another 'go' at Muralitharan. The timing of Hair's comments seem toe suggest that it is a clever marketing strategy to sell his autobiography due for release shortly. There is nothing better than controversy to sell a book or a newspaper.

Of course, the local Board of Control has come to Murali's defence once again. In fact, when the bubble burst first, in 1995, the then officials of the Cricket Board headed by Ana Punchihewa, spared no pains to defend Murali. Naturally, it was a difficult proposition then, since the problem was new. Now, it is a matter of traversing the same ground. Current President, Thilanga Sumathipala has made his protest to the I.C.C. and also to his counterpart, the Australian Cricket board President, Dennis Rogers. Hopefully, Hair will not be asked to stand in any of the matches involving Sri Lanka, or for that matter any in the triangular series.

Remove hair
In the old days - when cricket was played, chiefly, for the love of the sport - if the touring team does not want a particular umpire to stand in any of their games, a discreet request, and the host country always respects such wishes. Such methods do not seem to work anymore. But, the present situation is such that unless Hair is removed, the entire tournament will be submerged in controversy. Playing cricket under pressure is one thing, but when the game is being controlled by officials whom the players feel, justifiably or otherwise, are prejudiced, the cricket fare served will be below par.

Colts double wicket tourney today

Colts Cricket Club which celebrates its 125th anniversary has organised a double wicket tournament to be played today and tomorrow at their grounds commencing 9.00 a.m. each day.

Twelve leading clubs will battle in 4 groups on a league basis. Two top teams from each group qualify to play in the quarter finals.

Winners and runners up will be awarded Trophies and cash awards of Rs. 25,000 and 15,000 respectively. Other special awards on offer are Trophies and cash awards for Man of Tournament Rs. 5000. Best Batsman Rs. 3000. Best Bowler Rs. 3,000 while the Best Fielder and the Best Batsman with the highest number of sixes will go away with Trophies and Rs. 2000 each.

East West Marketing (Pvt.) Ltd. sponsors the tournament. Jeevan Kumaratunga Deputy Minister for Sports will be the chief guest while K. Mathivanan Managing Director of the sponsors will be the guest of honour on the final day.

The participating teams are:

GROUP A - SSC, Panadura SC, Colts.
GROUP B - Bloomfield, Tamil Union, Galle CC.
GROUP C - CCC, BRC, Kurunegala YCC.
GROUP D - NCC, Sebastianites SC, Moors SC.

Junior Cricket Pool pruned to 60

The under 19 cricket pool has been pruned down to 60 players from the original 120. Another trial game has been arranged for November 25 at the NCC grounds said Carlton Burnadus the coach of the junior cricketers.

After the trial game the pool will be further pruned and will play in the three two day games on November 26, 27 at NCC and on November 30 and Dec. 1 at SSC & NCC grounds.

Following players are requested to be present on November 25 at NCC grounds 8 a.m.

(Colombo Region) - Upeka Fernando, Chamara Silva, Malintha Gajanayake, Chamara Lasantha Perera, Hasantha Fernando, Naren Rat-watte, Nalin Wije-singhe, Ian Danial, Johannas Jayasuriya, Jerome Fernando, Shashi Lafir, Mahesh Perera, Duminda Perera, Mevan Porage, Roshan de Silva, Prasanna Jayawardena, J. Sivaneshvarajan, Sanjeewa Arangalla, Jude Nicalas Perera, Indika Suranga Perera, Dinusha Fernando, Gehan Fernando, Tilina Kandumbi, Muthumu-dalige Pushpakumara, Jetendra Perera, Jehan Mubarak, Akalanka Ganegama, Malshan Fernando, Arshad Junaid, Malinga Ban-dara, Darshika Jaya-kody, Dhanushka Gunatilleka, Ranil Dhammika, Suranga Pieris, Manjula Somaratne.

(Galle Region) - Y. S. S. Mendis, Sampath Kelum, Prabath Nis-sanka, G. D. Lanka-tilleke, H. E. Mendis, Tilan Liyanage, Umal Erandika, Prasad Nalaka, Oshad Suma-thipala, Chamil Perera.

(Dambulla Region) - Sheran Mendis, H. M. S. Jayasundera.

(Kandy Region) - Pubudu Seneviratne, Chanaka Wijesinghe, R. Wickremapala, Kaushalya Weera-ratne, P. A. Ariyadasa, Namal Pushpa-kumara, M. O. Miz-ran, Ranga Dassa-nayake.

(Kalutara Region) - Jayantha Manjula, Sanjeewa de Silva.

(Badulla Region) - T. G. Kalansuriya. -(DR)

REFLECTIONS
TURNING THE BACK ON OUR CRICKETERS

The Sri Lankan cricketers returning from their disastrous tour of Sharjah did not walk into the usual type of welcome they get on winning a trophy. They came empty handed and the VIP's were not there other than the skipper, Arjuna Ranatunga's father, the Deputy Minister of Ports and Shipping, Reggie Ranatunga. That also when the second batch of the Lankan Skipper, Vice Captain Aravinda de Silva and coach Roy Dias returned a day after the rest had arrived last Sunday. The first batch with which Sanath Jayasuriya arrived, had reportedly virtually nobody to receive them while some had to look for telephones to find transport back home.

If this is how the cricket authorities look at their players, it is a sad day for the game VIP treatment on winning and a 'find your own way' attitude when they don't win a tournament. Whether they win or lose, our cricketers should not be given the cold shoulder. Losing does not mean that they should be looked upon as discards. That is far from what this sport, so widely acclaimed as 'the gentleman's sport', defines where more than victory, it is how you played the game that matters. Of course this does not mean that cricketers must not endeavour to win. But the spirit of the game is that both victory and defeat should be taken in the correct spirit. Thus, the attitude of those who look down on the cricketers when they lose should not be to look down on them in defeat.

WHY NO SECOND STRING TEAM?
Meanwhile, following Sri Lanka's disastrous performance at the recent Champions Trophy Triangular in Sharjah, Skipper Arjuna Ranatunga had reportedly stated that it is high time that the cricket authorities started a second string squad to feed the national team. This is a need which had been emphasised time and again by the media and it is a minus factor for Sri Lanka cricket that the authorities have not done so in the greater interest of the game looking at the future.

A second string team, like in India, with regular coaching would ensure that Lankan cricket would not decline when the seniors call it a day or need to be dropped when they cannot maintain the same form.

Chess goes down south

Blind students at the School for the Blind, Tangalle, are showing a keen interest in mastering the game of Chess thanks to the National Chess Association of the Visually Impaired which had started a training programme for them at Tangalle, since early October. 26 students are undergoing training under the expert guidance of current National Champion, Tony Alvis and the President of the Association, E. A. Sumanapala, both of whom are also blind.

Chess being the one sport at which the blind can play with the sighted on par, thus the blind students are showing great enthusiasm and zest. It is known that the blind have other senses that are sharp and acute and Chess provides an ideal opportunity to develop such senses and their skills.

The Association proposes to take the game to other outstation areas and seeks the assistance of benefactors and supportive organisations to meet the commitments involved. Those desirous of playing or learning the game of Chess are invited to the Association's premises at No. 107 St. Micheals Road, Colpetty, by prior appointment with the Secretary (Rienzie Benedict) on Phone 437768 (Office) and 233337 (residence) or write to the above address.

Caltex Cup Sailing Regatta

The Ceylon Motor Yacht Club will sail the Annual Caltex Cup Sailing Race on Sunday the 29th of November 1998 on Bolgoda lake.

A Press conference will be arranged on Tuesday the 24th of November at 5.00 p.m. at the Caltex office No. 62, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 03.

The Caltex Cup is a single fleet race - GP 14, Enterprise and Laser - where boat and personal Handicap will apply. About 20 boats are expected to take part and will either be crewed or manoeuvred single-handed on a 75 to 90 minute course.

Last year's winner was Anders Olmin who had his wife Maria as crew. The couple has since left the island and are now residing in China.

The Race Officer of the day will be Jeremy Bollin and chief guest will be Zaharine R. Hameen of Lanka Lubricants Limited. The race will start at 11.00 a.m.

In the afternoon an Optimist Race for children has been organized for 10 young sailors who will sail their small boats single-handed.

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