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Kaluwitharana, Atapattu and Tillekeratne
make half centuries; Muralitharan claims three wickets BRISBANE, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Neil Fairbrother struck a characteristically resourceful 67 not out to carry England to a four-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the triangular limited overs series on Monday. Veteran left-hander Fairbrother showed his value in one-day cricket by holding England’s innings together as they won with three balls of their 50 overs to spare, making 208 for six in reply to Sri Lanka’s 207 for seven. England have now won their first two games in the series, having beaten Australia on a faster run rate in a rain-hit match here 24 hours earlier. Monday’s day-night encounter brought England up against off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who destroyed them with a 16-wicket haul in a one-off Test at The Oval last August. The Sri Lankan slow bowler with the unusual action was also making his first appearance in Australia since being no-balled for throwing during his country’s 1995-’96 tour, though his action was subsdequently cleared by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Muralitharan again posed problems for England’s batsmen as he captured three for 34 in his 10 overs, including two wickets with the last delivery of his sixth over and the first of his seventh over. That double strike checked England’s smooth progress which was launched by openers Nick Knight, who hit 40 off 53 balls, and Alec Stewart (24) with a stand of 59. Graeme Hick and Fairbrother sustained the momentum by adding 41 for the third wicket before Muralitharan snapped up Hick (37) and Adam Hollioake (1) in two balls to reduce England to 130 for four. However, Fairbrother found a staunch ally in Mark Alleyne (18), the pair sharing a fifth wicket stand of 57. There was a contentious moment when Fairbrother gave Upul Chandana a gentle elbow as the batsman turned for a second run, prompting a brief heated exchange of words but a potential flashpoint was soon defused. After Alleyne and Mark Ealham (1) fell in quick succession to make England 190 for six, Fairbrother and Robert Croft joined forces to guide their side home. Earlier, opener Romesh Kaluwitharana led the way for the World Cup champions with 58 and was supported by Marvan Atapattu (51) and Hashan Tillekeratne, unbeaten on 50. However, England’s mainly steady out-cricket kept them in check, with Hollioake taking three for 32 with his medium-pacers. Sri Lanka face Australia in the next match in the tournament in Sydney on Wednesday, followed by England playing Australia in Melbourne on Friday. Each side play the other two teams five times, with the top two qualifying for a best-of-three final series. SCOREBOARD Sri Lanka Extras (b-1 lb-3 w-6) 10 Fall of wickets: 1-2 2-99 3-102 4-128 5-139 6-185 7-200 Did not bat: Muttiah Muralitharan, Nuwan Zoysa. Bowling: Gough 9-0-37-1 (w-2), Mullally 10-2-35-1 (w-1), Headley 5-1-22-0, Ealham 6-0-33-1, A Hollioake 10-0-32-3 (w-2), Croft 10-0-44-1 (w-1). England Extras (lb-3 w-1 nb-6) 10 Fall of wickets: 1-59 2-87 3-128 4-130 5-187 6-190 Did not bat: D.Headley, D.Gough, A.Mullally Bowling: Vaas 7.3-0-40-0 (nb-2), Zoysa 6-0-31-0, Wickremasinghe 4-0-16-0, Muralitharan 10-0-34-3 (nb-3), Chandana 10-1-41-1 (nb-1 w-1), Jayasuriya 10-1-35-0, Tillekeratne 2-0-8-1. Result: England won by four wickets. Minister pledges funds from Treasury for
sports The President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge has directed the Sports Minister S. B. Dissanayake not to encourage tobacco and liquor sponsorships for Sports this year. The President has promised that all income generated in this regard would be met by the Treasury. "The President called me on the telephone on December 31 and requested me to discourage this kind of sponsorship for sports," he said. Dissanayake who was the chief guest at a felecitation ceremony in honour of the Asian Games Medal winners organised by the Amateur Athletic Association at Holiday Inn on Saturday, added that he would submit a memorandum seeking a grant in this regard soon. The Sports Minister also disclosed that he has requested for six Duty Free car permits from the President to be given away to sporting personalities who have done the country proud. "I am sure she will approve at least three of them and these three will be given to Damayanthi Darsha, Sugath Tilakaratne and Sriyani Kulawansa. In addition to the two Sports cars which we will be giving Darsha and Sugath, the Ministry has also decided to allocate land for all the medal winners of the Asian Games from Colombo,’’ he disclosed. The Amateur Athletic Association (AAA) also awarded Rs. 125,000 to Darsha, Rs. 100,000 to Tilakaratne and Rs. 75,000 to Kulawansa. In addition their coaches Sunil Gunawardane, Derwin Perera and Anura Bandara were presented with Rs. 50,000 each. The Minister also promised to find a conveyance for Sugath’s coach Anura. He also predicted that despite some wanting Arjuna Ranatunga to quit, Aravinda de Silva’s and Sanath Jayasuriya’s personal problems being highlighted, the team would win the World Cup for the second time this year. "The netball team which takes part in the next World Cup in September in New Zealand too will do very well. We are bringing down a Australian coach for them," he added. The Minister requested the AAA to concentrate more on events over 800m and on field events. "The AAA has set an example by providing financial aid for their district Associations and we will ensure that the athletic coaches would get good financial benefits," he said. The Minister also disclosed that a Russian Circus troupe would be in Sri Lanka to raise funds for the AAA. Ariya Kannangara the President of the AAA said that they are in the process of finding a permanent sponsor for the sport amounting to Rs. 10 million. "When this sponsorship is confirmed the AAA too will have to work in a more professional a manner," he cautioned. The president noted that the Sri Lankan technical standard is still at a low ebb. Ratnam bag CFL title for second year Ratnam defeated Saunders (4-3 in penalties) for the second year in succession this time to annexe the City Football League’s championship final at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Sunday. The final turned out to be a drab affairs with both teams playing defensively. This was more evident during the first half of the game and in the second half too all attempts to find the net were foiled. Referee W. V. S. Jayaweera then enforced the ‘Golden Goal’ and that extra 30 minutes too proved unproductive. Eventually the two goal keepers M. Francis of Saunders and J. Hassimdeen were put to the test and the latter emerged triumphant in the penalty shoot out. Hassimdeen who leaped around and denied several certain goals for Saunders during play, once again proved his class by foiling two penalty conversions fired by Saunders U. L. Nihal and I. Mohamed. Ratnams goals were slotted in by M. Raffi, Ruwan Chandana, S. Simmnah, and S. M. C. Muneer. President of the Football Federation V. Manilal Fernando was the chief guest. Thurstan scored 178 while Nalanda in a dramatic collapse, slumped to 60 for 5 in their inter school fixture worked off at NCC grounds yesterday. Scores Thurstan 178 for 9 Dec. (A Dayananda 88 C. Aravinda 29, N. Gamage 23, D. JayasundEra 3 for 19, S. Perera 2 for 22, B. Ranaweera 2 for 26). Nalanda 60 for 5 at close. (M. Porage 15, P. Perera 26). Umpire charged over Muralitharan comments CHRISTCHURCH, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Australian umpire Darrell Hair has been charged with bringing the game into disrepute after comments he made in a book about Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan. The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Monday that Hair had been charged under the ICC’s Code of Conduct following a meeting of the board’s executive in Christchurch, New Zealand. ICC chief executive David Richards said the matter had been referred back to the Australian Cricket Board (ACB), which had agreed to establish an independent hearing to investigate the charges and any possible penalties. "These are unprecedented circumstances. No-one ever contemplated that an acting umpire would actually make public comment about current players," Richards said. Hair called Muralitharan for throwing on seven occassions during a match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1995. Sri Lankan officials later complained to the ICC after Hair criticised Muralitharan’s bowling action in his autobiography "Decision Maker". In the book, Hair described the bowler’s action as "diabolical" and said he would have no hesitation no-balling him in the future. "I could have called him 27 times or more but I did not want the matter to become a complete farce," Hair wrote. Hair, Australia’s top-ranked umpire, agreed to stand down from matches involving Sri Lanka on their current tour of Australia while the matter was being investigated. He told reporters on Monday after learning about the charges that he been instructed not to comment on the issue. Sports Minister S.B. Dissanayake awarded a grant of Rs. 10 million to the Amateur Athletic Association of Sri Lanka as a bonus for the medal winning performance of the athletes at the Asian Games in Bangkok. He made this announcement at a felecitation ceremony for Damayanthi Darsha, Sugath Tillekeratne and Sriyani Kulawansa held at Holiday Inn on Saturday. Easy win for Kandy FL Kandy Football League defeated Gampola Football League by 2 goals to nil, in their Inter League Singer Trophy Football Tournament match conducted by the Football Federation of Sri Lanka. The game was played at the Weegulawatta play grounds Gampola on Sunday. Kandy lads playing their usual run and pass game, Gampola Footballers guessing at times . Coach S. A. Weerasinghe, too played in the first half. He was a tower of strength with his penetrative running. Kandy had to play the first half with ten players, as R. M. Nishab given marching orders for rough play by referee D. M. M. Indrapala. Weerasinghe after helping the side to net two goals in the first half, kept out in the second half. The two goals came off the boot of S. Chaminda and Indika Samarasinghe. In the second half, FIFA Referee Sunil Senaweera took the field and tried his best to give the Gampola lads, the much wanted backing but they failed to score. In the second half both sides, played well, but failed to score any goals. Goalkeepers were at their best during this session. SSC ride on Hemantha’s 203 n.o A superlative career best unbeaten knock of 203 from SSC skipper Hemantha Wickramaratne enabled the Maitland Place Club to record a facile first innings win over Tamil Union in their inter-club Premier League match at SSC grounds Wickramaratne, resuming from his overnight score at 106, went after the Tamil Union bowlers from the word go. He ultimately helped his club to gain a lead of exactly 100 runs when they were bowled out for 446. The former Ananda left hander, leading SSC in the absence of national skipper Arjuna Ranatunga who is on National duty in Australia, faced 305 balls in his marathon batting stint whilst hammering 17 delightful fours and four towering sixes. He received solid support from the late order with J. Silva (18), M. Perera (16) and Rohana Jayawardene (10) making vital contributions to swell their score. Scores Tamil Union 346 and 114/9 wkts at close, (C. Jayasinghe 28, J. Silva 4/48, D. Fernando 3/53, D. Gamage 2/30) (J.K) Renown
win 6-1 Renown Sports Club scored 6 goals to 1 win over Green Park Sports Club Kandy in an Exhibition match at Bogambara Stadium on Sunday. Renown had very little to worry against a lack luster Green Park XI. They were excellent in defence and attack and had bulk of the possession. The Renown displayed fighting qualities through their superior set of forwards. Green Park fielding a young outfit, could not match the opponents but they kept the game going. In the first half the score board read 2/0, both goals came off the boot of T. G. S. Susantha. After the turn over Dudley Steinwal scored two goals, one off a penalty kick in a space of ten minutes. The other two goals were scored by S. Devasagayam and D. Devedasan. For the losers it was S. Sivaji who netted the solitary goal. M. Jamaldeen controlled the game. First innings points for Antonians Antonians Sports Club gained first innings points over Kurunegala YCC in their inter-club Premier League Championship cricket encounter at Welagedara Stadium yesterday. After scoring a formidable 224 runs in the first innings Antonians bowled out by the home team for 98 runs. At stumps on day two Antonians were 60 for the loss of two wickets. Anthonians SC 224 all out (B. Ekanayake 90, P. Perera 24, M. Fernando 30, U. Hettiarachchi 21, W. Kumara 2/33, R. Madurasinghe 5/67) Kurunegala YCC 98 all out (R. Madurasinghe 19, M. Fernando 2/21, I. Kodikara 4/41, M. Saranasekara 2/6,) Anthonians SC 60/2 wkts at close. (P. Perera 26 n.o., I. Kodikara 11 n.o,). (A.N.) |
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