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SYDNEY, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka were restricted to a moderate total of 181 for seven in a tri-series limited-overs match against England on Wednesday. With the match reduced to 44 overs per team after heavy overnight rain delayed the game by almost two hours, the world champions failed to make the most of a strong start to score at a run rate of 4.11 per over. Sri Lanka have no chance of reaching the finals of the tournament which will be contested by England and Australia. Openers Avishka Gunawardena and Romesh Kaluwitharana put on 71 for the opening wicket only to see the next six wickets fall for just 35 runs. Medium pacer Mark Alleyne was the best of England’s bowlers, taking three for 27 off nine overs in his best performance to date in a one-day international. With Sri Lanka unable to make the play-offs after losing six of their first eight matches, both sides took the chance to rest key players. Sri Lanka left out controversial spinner Muttiah Muralitharan while England captain Alec Stewart and in-form batsman Neil Fairbrother took a break ahead of next week’s finals against Australia. Chaminda Vaas (14), Arjuna Ranatunga (0), Mahela Jayawardene (2), Marvan Atapattu (4) and Upul Chandana (0) went cheaply before Aravinda de Silva (52 not out) and Hashan Tillakaratne (13 not out) rescued them with a late flurry. De Silva, in particular, batted well, bringing up his 50 with a six off the last ball of the innings from Vince Wells to finish with 52 from as many deliveries. SCOREBOARD Sri Rahula
openers shine Sri Rahula openers Upul Samankumara and Chintaka Ratnayake were featured in a superb 110-run stand for the first wicket in their inter school Division I cricket match against Harischandra MV, Negombo at Katugastota. Sri Rahula in reply to Harischandra MV’s 195, made 307 for 7 wickets. Samankumara made 60 with seven fours and a six, Chintaka’s knock contained 13 fours and one six. Harischandra MV, batting first made 195 and 147 for 7 in their second essay. Sri Rahula’s openers Upul Samankumara and Chintaka Ratnayake dished out a superb batting display to score 110 runs for the first wicket. Sri Rahula cricketers in reply to Harischandra MV’s 195 went on a run spree and thrashed the Negombo bowlers to amass 301 runs for the loss of seven wickets. Harischandra lads took the first outing and were able to score 195 runs losing all the wickets, Lloyd Victor top scored with a fine 83 in which he had 12 fours. Senarath Bandara bowling to line and length took 5 for 63 runs. Sri Rahula lads coming into bat went on to score 301 runs losing 7 wickets in 68 overs. Their openers Upul Samankumara and Chintaka Ratnayake put on 110 runs, for the first wicket these two batsmen entertained the large crowd with some good strokes, Upul Samankumara made 60 off 96 balls in which he had seven fours and one six. Chintaka on his debut made an excellent century. It was the first time that this left hander came in as a opener, he faced 194 balls and landed 13 fours and one six. Senarath Bandara who did a superb job with the ball, too batted well and made 73 runs, off 40 balls. He had nine fours and 4 sixers, his batting was like lightning, where he laced the Negombo bowlers to all parts of the field. Harischandra lads coming in for the second time were 103 for 7 in 48 overs when play came to an end. A. Ratnasiri made 44, Lloyd Victor 39 and A. Padmakumara 34. These three were the main scorers. Sri Rahula College, who are playing in the Division II inter school tournament, are fielding a top side and are capable of doing a good job his season, their coach Aubrey Kuruppu has done a good job and the lads are playing good cricket. Scores: Sri Rahula 301 for 7 wkts. dec. (Upul Samankumara 60, Chintaka Ratnayake 110, A. Ilankoon 17, M. Kumara 15 n.o., P. Lucian 3/86). Kandy MC encourages sports The Sports Committee of the Kandy Municipal Council was once again formed at the first council meeting of the year. Their main aim is to develop the playgrounds and the Community Centres which come under them. The Council plays a big role in promotion of sports, through these playgrounds and Community Centres, especially cricket, football, hockey, athletics, rugby, football, netball, volleyball, table tennis, lawn tennis and physical culture. In all these sports they spend a lot on the materials. Most of the Kandy’s sportsmen and women start through these playgrounds and later become top sportsmen and women. There are several national caps, who have come through the Playgrounds and Community Centres. To name a few, in football there is Mahinda Aluvihare, Tuan Amidon, Ratnapala Aluvihare, Tom Ossen, Col. C. S. Fernando, S. Nelson, Sunil Samarasinghe and S. A. Weerasinghe. In rugby there is DIG Daya Jayasundera, Nihal Ananda, Anil Jayasinghe, Nalaka Weerakkody, Lasantha Wijesuriya, Athula Manchanayake. So, the Sports Committee comprising M. H. Marikar (Chairman), David Perera, Chanak Ailapperuma, Hasai Mohamed, Vipula Ranasinghe and Tikiri Kobbekaduwa, are all out to give the fullest backing for all sports. Their first aim will be to upgrade the size of playgrounds. Sri Jayewardenepura MV
playing with handicap Sri Jayewardanepura MV Kotte possesses a team with six senior players for the inter-school cricket season. The team comprises good all rounders with Varuna Silva leading the side. Fourth year player Varuna is the leading run-getter this season making over 500 runs with a fine century against Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya. He made these runs in eight matches. He is a good opening batsman and has given many starts with co-opener Iroshan Liyanage. Janaka Beruwala, a fifth year player is the deputy to Varuna. He opens the attack with Duminda Jayaweera. Beruwala, a right arm medium paceman took over 20 wickets last season and scored over 350 runs. Chanushka Hewawitharana is an aggressive stroke-maker. He scored over 500 runs in nine matches last season. This season he has made over 200 runs. He is a useful left arm leg spinner. Wasantha Silva, the brother of skipper Varuna is the off-spinner of the side. He has taken over 20 wickets this season. Their number three batsman is S. A. D. Indika. So far, he has scored over 200 runs with a top score of 95 against Sri Sumangala, Panadura. Kosala Samarasekera is the wicket keeper of the side. He has scalped 20 victims this season. Chatura Lakmal, Sujeewa Parakrama and Eroshan Liyanage are the other spinners in the side. Newcomers Dinesh Nalaka and Chandana Nilantha are two promising pacemen. Nalaka took 10 wickets with best figures of 4 for 37 against St. Sebastian’s while Nilantha took 20 wickets with best figures of 4 for 26 against Sri Sumangala, Panadura. B. S. Perera, their master-in-charge gives the cricketers all encouragement. He said they have a good side. But the biggest problem they are faced with is the lack of ground facilities for their practices. They have to go out for practices. Malinda Rasanjana, a former cricketer of SJMV, coaches the team this year. SJMV will play their big match against St. Thomas’, Kotte on March 8 - 9 at R. Premadasa Stadium. Following are the penketches of the players: VARUNA SILVA: (Captain): Fourth year player. Left hand opening batsman and effective medium paceman. Last season he scored over 500 runs in ten matches. This season he has already scored over 500 runs in eight games with a century against Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya. He has captained over 15 wickets this season. Janaka Beruwala (Vice Capt.): Fifth year player. Left hand batsman and right arm medium paceman. Opens the attack.Last season he scored over 350 runs and took 20 wickets. This season, he has taken 10 wickets while scoring over 250 runs. Chanushka Hewawitharana: Fifth year player. Left handed batsman and right arm leg-spinner. Last season he scored over 500 runs. So far has collected over 200 runs. Wasantha Silva: Fourth year player. Right hand batsman and right arm off-spinner. Last season scored over 350 runs and also took over 30 wickets. This season, he already scored over 250 runs and took 20 wickets. Chatura Lakmal: Third year player. Left-hand batsman and right arm off-spinner. Made over 200 runs and captured 12 wickets. Sajeewa Parakrama: Third year player. Right hand batsman and useful right arm off-spinner. Duminda Jayaweera: Second year player. Left hand batsman and medium paceman. Opens the attack with Beruwala. This season he scored over 250 runs with highest score of 68 against Wesley. Has taken 12 wickets so far. Kosala Samarasekera: Fresher Right hand batsman. Wicket keeper of the side. Has 20 victims so far. Eroshan Liyanage: Fresher. Right hand batsman who opens the innings with Varuna Silva. S. A. D. Indika: Fresher. Right hand batsman who bats at number three. Nearly scored over 250 runs with a top score of 95 against Sri Sumangala Panadura. Reserve wicket keeper of the side. Nishan Liyanage: Fresher. Right hand batsman and right arm off-spinner. Has captued over 15 wickets with best figures of 4 for 15 against Dharmapala MV, Pannipitiya. Dinesh Nalaka: Fresher. Left hand batsman and right arm medium paceman. Has taken over 10 wickets so far with best figures of 4 for 37 against St. Sebastian’s. Manoj Prasanna: Fresher. Right hand batsman and left arm leg-spinner. Chandana Nilantha: Fresher. Right hand batsman and left arm medium paceman. Isuru Sampath: Fresher. Left hand batsman and left arm medium paceman. Harshana Ranaweera: Fresher. Right hand batsman and right arm off-spinner. Coach: Malinda Rasanjana. Master-in-Charge: B. S. Perera. |
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