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Suranga Peiris a fabulous haul of 5 wickets for 18
Thomians give Royal the 'Blues'

By Jatila Karawita
A tantalising match winning spell of left arm leg spin bowling from Suranga Peiris who returned fabulous figures of 13.4-8-18-5, swept S. Thomas' College to a thrilling four-wicket win over Royal College in the 120th 'Battle of the Blues' cricket encounter at the SSC grounds yesterday. Thomians, who were set a victory target of 110 runs in two full sessions of play following an astounding batting collapse from the Royalists who were shot out for 80, were anchored to their victory by opener and fresher Heshan Peiris who made an undefeated 44 with some sensible batsmanship.


THE MATCH WINNER-Thomian leg spinner,SURANGA PEIRIS who bowled his side to a memorable 4-wicket win over Royal College in the 120th 'Battle of the Blues' yesterday at the Sinhalese Sports Club grounds.(PIC BY SRI LAL GOMES).		 Royalists, who were defending a mere target, made a game out of it by picking up wickets at regular intervals as the Thomian batsmen with the exception of Heshan Peries self destructed themselves through some irresponsible strokeplay. However, young Peiris kept a cool head in the trying situation and with valuable support coming from No. 3 bat Shanaka Caldera who chipped in with a useful 24, guided the Mount Lavinia school to this most astonishing win against all the odds. Earlier, Thomian Vice Captain Suranga Peiris delivered a sensational spell of top class leg spin bowling to completely bamboozle the Royal batsmen in the pre-lunch session to send the Reid Avenue school sliding to defeat in the process recording their lowest total in the 'Battle of the Blues' for 38 years.

Last occasion the Royalists were bundled out for a score lower than this was way back in 1961 when they were humbled for 67 on the first innings under the leadership of N. Senanayake. During the Royal second innings capitulation only three batsmen reached double figures as the experienced Thomian left armer ran through the Royal batting like a knife slicing through butter to restrict the 'Blue and Gold' coloured side to a sorry looking score of 80. Royal College, which began their second essay with the overnight score on 41 for 1, crashed to their eventual score after nine wickets tumbled for a mere 39 runs. Of the Royal batsmen to make any impact in the midst of this batting carnage opener Malinda Thotiwilage (20), Skipper Thushan Amarasuriya (22) and wicket keeper batsman Andrew Perera (20) made useful contributions while the rest caved in without a hint of a fight after their first innings batting heroics when they amassed a total of 288 for 3 declared.

The sheer magnitude of the incredible batting collapse by the Royalists was astonishing to say the least as the team which made all the running in the first two days of play strangely enough ended on the losing side, thus giving credence once more to the age old saying 'Cricket the glorious game of uncertainties.' This win by the Thomians, which they achieved after a gap of two years was also sweeter for them as the lads from Mount Lavinia who went into the big match sans their best batsman, Sri Lanka Under-19 Skipper Upeka Fernando, confounded all alike including the critics who predicted a draw by coming from behind to register a fantastic four-wicket win from out of blues.

This stunning win by the Thomians also took their victory tally in the series to 33 against 32 wins by their rivals who were left to contemplate on what might have been had their fielders led by Skipper Amarasuriya had held on to some sitter catches offered by the Thomian star batsman Meshad Peries who transformed the entire complexion of the match with a brilliant innings of 103 on Friday. His knock not only took the Thomians out of the woods, but enabled them to enforce an early declaration which ultimately went a long way to put them on the victory path.

SCOREBOARD

Royal College first innings 288 for 3 wickets decl.
And second innings (overnight 41 for one wicket contd.)

RAVI PERIES lbw b Ratwatte 0
M.THOTUWILAGE c E. S. John b L. L. Fernando 20
TUSHAN AMARASURIYA b L. L. Fernando 22
RUCHIRA JAYASURIYA run out 0
ANDREW PERERA st. Kanaka b Rajive Gunawardena 20
ANGELO PERERA lbw b Suranga Peiris 4
HARITH RAJAKARUNA c H. Peries b S. Peries 4
H. RAJAKARUNA ct. M. Peries b S. Peries 0
F. AHAMED c M. Peries b S. Peries 6
S. UDUMALAGALA b S. Peries 0
R. RAJAPAKSE not out 0
EXTRAS (3 leg byes, 1 no balls) 4

TOTAL all out in 40.4 overs 80

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-8, 2-45, 3-45, 4-45, 5-53, 6-77, 7-77, 8-77, 9-77.

BOWLING
N. Ratwatte 2-2-0-1. L. L. Fernando 9-3-11-2. Gihan Fernando 3-0-21-0. S. Peries 13.4-8-18-5. R. Gunawardena 10-6-7-1. E. S. John 3-0-18-0.

S. Thomas' College first innings 258 for 9 wickets decl and Second Innings

Z. KANAKA b Harith Rajakaruna 17
H. S. PIERIS not out 44
S. CALDERA run out 24
G. FERNANDO lbw b Harshana Rajakaruna 0
M. PERIES st. Andrew Perera b Udumalagala 5
N. RATWATTE b R. Rajapakse 8
S. PERIES st. Andrew Perera b R. Rajapakse 1
D. GUNAWARDENA not out 0
EXTRAS (byes-8, leg byes-2, no balls 2) 12

TOTAL for 6 wkts. in 29.2 overs 111

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-28, 2-77, 3-77, 4-88, 5-107, 6-109.

BOWLING
S. Udumalagala 7-1-28-1. H. Rajakaruna 5-2-16-1. R. Rajapakse 9-0-30-2. H. Rajakaruna 5-1-13-1. F. Ahamed 3.2-1-12-0.

Gunasekera (84) pulls Peterites out of the woods

By Dhammika Ratnaweera
A fighting knock of 84 by Sean Gunasekera took St. Peter's College out of the woods in their 65th 'Battle of the Saints' against St. Joseph's College yesterday at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium.

The Peterites, who were bowled out for 130 runs in their first innings, following on were in dire straits at 5 wickets for 113 before Gunasekera, coming in to bat at No. 5 steered his side to safety.

When the Peterites resumed their first innings on the second day at 95 the last 4 wickets added a further 35 runs with the overnight pair of Gavin Ludowyke (26) and Dilshan Rupasinghe (18) taking their seventh wicket alliance to 47 runs with Dinraj Fernando causing the debacle as the Josephian right arm leg spinner finished with figures of 5 for 36 with Anuk de S. Wijeratne chipping in with 3 wickets for only 9 runs.

When St. Peter's were made to follow on, Dinraj Fernando was again among the wickets when he had Suranga Pinto stumped by substitute wicket keeper, Johannes Jayasuriya for 4 with the total on 16. The Peterite second wicket pair of Jehan Jayasuriya (43) and Mahesh Perera (35) revived the innings with an alliance of 65 runs. However, the Josephian bowlers made inroads as the Peterites lost three wickets in the space of 10 runs. With the fifth wicket falling at 113 runs, it looked as if the Josephians were within sight of victory with the Peterite middle order in. However, Sean Gunasekera batted with great determination as he stood between defeat and victory. His 84 came off 99 deliveries inclusive of 12 fours in a 140-minute stay at the wicket. He also shared in an invaluable sixth wicket alliance of 74 runs with Gavin Ludowyke (26). Ludowyke struck two boundaries in his 50-ball knock.

Once again, Dinraj Fernando was among the wickets claiming 4 for 53 to collect a match haul of 9 wickets for 89 runs.

Meanwhile, it was a big occasion for substitute wicket-keeper Johannes Jayasuriya who deputising for the injured Glen Peiris, set up a new college record becoming the first Josephian to have five victims behind the stumps. He bettered the record held by Ajith Alliraja of 4 victims in an innings in 1987. He also equalled the record of seven victims in a match for both schools by Darrell de Silva (1956) and C. Christoffelsz (1967) of St. Peter's.

SCOREBOARD

St. Joseph's first innings 252 for five wickets declared.
St. Peter's first innings 95 for six wickets overnight continued.

GAVIN LUDOWYKE st. J. Jayasuriya b D. Fernando 36
DILSHAN RUPASINGHE st. J. Jayasuriya b Wijeratne 18
AMMAN SAMSUDEEN not out 4
CHRISHANTHA PIERIS b Wijeratne 0
NIRMAL DE SILVA st. Ramanayake b Wijeratne 0
EXTRAS (b-2, lb-1, nb-0, w-1) 4

TOTAL (all out in 49.1 overs) 130

FALL OF WICKETS: 7-126, 8-126, 9-130.

BOWLING:
Roshan de Silva 9-2-33-0, Ishan Hettiarachchi 8-2-19-1, Sanka Rupasinghe 4-1-11-1, Dinraj Fernando 17-5-36-5, Asanga Fernando 3-0-18-0, Anuk de S. Wijeratne 8.1-3-9-3.

St. Peter's second innings

JEHAN JAYASURIYA b Hettiarachchi 43
SURANGA PINTO st. J. Jayasuriya b D. Fernando 4
MAHESH PERERA ct. J. Jayasuriya b Wijeratne 35
ANGELO FONSEKA st. J. Jayasuriya b Rupasinghe 5
SEAN GUNASEKERA st. J. Jayasuriya b D. Fernando 84
KAUSHAL LOKUARACHCHI run out 11
GAVIN LUDOWYKE st. Ramanayake b Wijeratne 26
D.RUPASINGHE st. (sub) Perumal b D. Fernando 1
AMMAN SAMSUDEEN not out 12
CHRISHANTHA PIERIS st. J. Jayasuriya b D. Fernando 5
EXTRAS (b-1, lb-0, nb-0, wb-1) 2

TOTAL (for nine wickets declared in 73 overs) 226

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-16, 2-81, 3-87, 4-91, 5-113, 6-187, 7-198, 8-214, 9-226.

BOWLING:
Roshan de Silva 6-1-24-0, Ishan Hettiarachchi 11-2-28-1, Dinraj Fernando 23-9-53-4, Asanga Fernando 4-1-23-0, Anuk de S. Wijeratne 23-2-59-2, Sanka Rupasinghe 3-1-19-0, Dhanuka Pathirana 3-0-19-0.

St. Joseph's second innings

DHANUKA PATHIRANA c M. Perera b Pinto 0
JOHANNES JAYASURIYA not out 4
DILANKA PERERA not out 12
EXTRAS b-0, lb-0, nb-0, w-9) 9

TOTAL (for one wicket at close in five overs) 25

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-0.

BOWLING:
Suranga Pinto 2-0-8-1, Amman Samsudeen 2-0-15-0, Dilshan Rupasinghe 1-0-2-0.

Match-fixing allegations against Gavaskar

by Mahinda Wijesinghe
The spectre of match-fixing reared its ugly head, yet again, during the Pakistan v Sri Lanka clash at Lahore being played to decide the Asian Test champions. It is more a moral issue. When US$ 250,000 are involved it is difficult to strictly adhere to morals. The purpose in a tournament is to win the title. There is little or hardly any point in winning the semi-finals if it means you jeopardise chances of winning the finals. Obviously, it is better the other way around. Not win a battle but win the war. A matter of tactics.

LOSE A BATTLE BUT WIN THE WAR

For instance, countless are the times when the fielding side gifts a run to the more skilled batsman in order to get at his weaker partner. These are day-to-day tactics in cricket. Alternatively, the better batsman, quite often, refuses a single farming the bowling it is called in order to protect his weaker partner. Come to think of it, even sending the opposition in to bat after having won the toss, is another tactic used in cricket. These are however short-term tactics in order to win a battle. What the Pakistanis seemed to have done, at Lahore, were tactics in order to win the war. True, this short-changed the Indians, but, what would the Indians have done, given the same situation? The same no doubt. The Pakistanis obviously decided that it would be safer to meet an injury-ridden Sri Lankan side than lock horns with an Indian team presently at full strength.

IF SRI LANKA UPSETS IN DHAKA!!

Unfortunately, what aggravated the situation was the involvement of Pakistan. With the earlier problems involving Salim Malik and the charges made by Shane Warne and Mark Waugh, Wasim Akram is action simply added fuel to the fire. That the Pakistani skipper and off-spinner Saqlain Musthaq did not bowl at the crucial stages of the game, quite clearly indicated whom the Pakistanis preferred meeting at Dhaka. Not that they can admit this matter in public. Bad luck to India, but, the Pakistanis will have to fight hard to win the first-ever Asian Test championships. They are not assured of the title, especially with the return of Aravinda de Silva and Chaminda Vaas. If, Sri Lanka can upset Pakistan at Dhaka there will be many blushing faces in Pakistan!

Talking of match-fixing, that stormy petrel, the former Pakistani fast bowler, Safraz Nawaz created not waves but a tidal wave with his comments on the subject when being interviewed during this game by Tony Greig on Star TV.

WHEN WHATMORE MADE HIS TEST DEBUT

Before coming on to his comments let us go back in time, 20 years almost to the day 15th March 1979 to be exact - to the Melbourne Cricket Ground when the Australia met Pakistan in the first of two Tests they were billed to meet. It was the final day of the first Test. Look at the background. Pakistan was playing their 100th Test. Dav Whatmore, a name now synonymous with Sri Lanka is World Cup win in 1996, was making his Test debut for Australia, and scored 43 and 15. Clarence Harvey, elder brother of Neil was making his debut as a Test umpire and made his presence felt. Rodney Hogg batting at No.10 was run out by the bowler Sikhander Bakht, in his run-up, at the non-striker is end. At which juncture, Pakistani skipper Musthaq Mohammad rather generously asked umpire Harvey to revoke his decision and call Hogg back. Harvey refused and Hogg demolished the stumps before leaving the crease! After enjoying a first innings lead of a mere 18 runs, Pakistan, bolstered by a century from opener Majid Khan (108), declared their innings closed at 353/9. This meant Australia had to score 381 runs for victory.

7 WICKETS FOR 1 RUN IN 33 BALLS!

At 4.30 on the fifth and final day, Australia riding on a gritty century from Allan Border (105), were 305/3 - needing just 77 runs with 7 wickets in hand. A mere canter to the post it seemed. It was not to be. In what proved to be one of the greatest spells of bowling in any level of cricket, Safraz Nawaz, simply sliced through those 7 wickets in just 33 balls at a personal cost of a run! Australia nose-dived from a comfortable 305/3 to 310 all out, leaving the Pakistanis unlikely winners. Safraz ended with an analysis of 9/86 (match-bag of 11/125) and became the first Pakistani to scalp 9 Test wickets in an innings. He will never be forgotten in the history of Test cricket for that spectacular feat.

GAVASKAR REFERS TO SCUM OF THE EARTH

Coming back to his comments on match-fixing at Lahore the other day. Safraz, quite categorically mentioned the names of Sunil Gavaskar and Asif Iqbal in connection with match-fixing and said that these two also should be questioned on this subject, when being interviewed by Greig. When the microphone was reverted to the commentary box who was there but Gavaskar himself and Boycott. An obviously irate Gavaskar angrily retorting that charges were being levelled without a shred of evidence, referred to the one who made such charges as is sum of the earth! More than strong words from a usually mild mannered man. Then, he was surely provoked. Let us see what the fall-out of this incident is going to be.

In the meantime, let us wish our boys the best of luck at Dhaka. An upset win is all what we need now to bolster our sagging morale.

Trinity-Antonian big match fizzles out to a draw

Hafiz Marikar reporting from Asgiriya
The 83rd Kandy's Battle of the Blues between Trinity and St. Antony's ended in a draw at the Asgiriya Stadium on Saturday. The Antonians who were 49 for 1 in reply to the Trinitians 301 for 9, rattled up 246 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in 301 minutes after batting for 80.2 overs. The two overnight batsmen of St. Anthony's Ravindra Wickremapala and Romesh Deen put on 59 runs for the second wicket. Ravindra Wickremapala grafted 36 runs from 124 balls, Romesh Deen crushed the naturally attacking game that saw him scoring 38 runs. Wickremapala hit six well timed boundaries, and Deen had seven. Much was expected from skipper Suranga Pinnaduwa, who was smartly caught at mid-off by Rajarathna off Selvakumar. Nafees Nizam looked confident, and was netting for a big score but trying to cross a ball off Wijesekara was ruled lbw, he made 24 with two fours.

Prasad Ranawaka, settled down well. Coming at No. 6 he pulled the ball to all parts of the field, and had landed seven hits to the fence and one over it, in his stylish knock of 53. Mohamed Pawas batted with ease. Pawas and Ranawaka put on 69 runs for the 5th wicket. Pawas who has been having a wonderful time with the bat made a solid 53, in which he had five fours. The Antonians declared at 2.45, where they made 246 runs for the loss of seven wickets.

Trinitians coming for the second time, made a quick 99 runs in 110 minutes and faced 27.4 overs, there one drop bat M. Rajarathne scored freely, he batted with lot of confidence and made an unbeaten 50, with eight hits to the ropes, the century maker in the first innings skipper Kaushaliya Weeraratne was run out for 18.

Trinitians set a target of 155 runs for the Antonians to win which was an impossible task, the Antonians were 22 for the loss of 2 wickets at the end of the day in 6 overs, and batted for 25 minutes.

This big match, is one of the most looked forward, sporting events of the hills, but sad to say the crowd was very poor, on the first day it seemed only the students, staff and the parents of the players, on the second day there was a little improvement. A big hand should be given to both the Trinity and Antonian supporters mostly school boys, they behaved well, not a flag was seen in the streets during the match, well done, keep it up, the other schools too should follow this!

SCOREBOARD

Trinity 1st innings 301 for 9 decl.

St. Anthony's 1st innings - 49 for 1 overnight - Ravindra Wickremapala ct Rajarathne b Samath 36, Romesh Deen run out 38, Suranga Pinnaduwa ct. Rajarthna b Selvakumar 03, Nafees Nizam lbw b Wijesekara 24, Prasad Ranawake run out 53, Mohamed Pawas lbw Rajarathna 53, Samson Burke not out 00. Extras (LB-4, B-16, NB-9, W-4) 33. Total 246 for 7 decl. in 80.2 overs 301 minutes. Fall 73, 85, 91, 160, 198, 246. K. Weeraratne 18-6-52-0, M. Rajarathna 11.2-2-37-2, I. Gammanpila 3-2-9-0, H. Samath 8-3-22-1, S. Selvakumar 8-3-16-1, D. Rodrigo 8-3-19-0, A. Wijesekara 15-5-44-1, C. Aluthge 9-2-14-0.

Trinity 2nd innings - H. Fernando b Jayawardena 15, A. Imbuldeniya ct. Jayawardena b Pinnaduwa 02, M. Rajarthna not out 50, K. Weeraratne run out 18, C. Aluthge ct Deen b Burke 04, I. Gammanpila not out 01 - Extras (LB-1, B-6, NB-2) 09 - Total 99 for 4 in 27.4 overs, 110 minutes. Fall 2, 33, 62, 94.

Bowling: L. Fonseka 3-0-5-0, S. Pinnaduwa 4-1-18-1, P. Jayawardena 10-3-35-1, N. Nizam 3-1-11-0, K. Jayarathna 6-1-11-0, S. Burke 1.4-0-10-1.

St. Anthony's 2nd innings - Ravindra Wickremapala ct. Wijesekara b Gamage 04, Kasun Jayarathne not out 05, Romesh Deen b Samath 03, Nafees Nizam not out 05 - Extras (NB-5) - 5. Total 22 for 2 in 6 overs 25 minutes. Fall 11, 17.

Bowling: R. Gamage 1-0-6-1, I. Gammanpila 2-0-3-0, H. Samath 2-0-4-1, C. Aluthge 1-0-4-0.

Battle of the Golds ends in a draw

Reggie Goonewardene Moratuwa Correspondent
The 49th Battle of the Golds between Prince of Wales and St. Sebastian's Colleges fizzled out in a tame draw for the 22nd year at the De Soysa Stadium, Moratuwa, without a break in the big match JINX for the 22nd year.

Prince of Wales continuing their overnight 1st innings total of 69/1 declared at 246/8 in reply to St. Sebastian's declaration at 218/9. Overnight batsmen Rashan Peiris (30), Janaka Wannakuwatta (55) with ten boundaries and Hasantha Fernando (57) with 9 boundaries were the high light of the innings. Suranga de Silva and Taraka de Mel shared 3 wickets each. St. Sebastian's going in for a second lease were 132/2 at close with an opening stand by Kanchana Cooray (42) and an unbeaten 71 by Sumalka Perera.

Manjula Bandara (PoW) was adjudged the best bowler, Nuwan Fenando (PoW) the best batsman, Taraka de Mel (St. Sebastian's) as best fielder and Hasantha Fernando (PoW) as best all rounder.

Prince of Wales 1st innings 246/8 dec. in 69.04 overs - Rashan Peiris b Suranga de Silva 30, Janaka Gunaratne ct. K. Cooray b. Tharaka de Mel 55 Hasantha Fernando ct. S. de Silva b Mel 57, Kalpa Fernando b S. de Silva 15, Janaka Wannakuwatta ct. S. Perera b Malshan Fernando 01, Pubudu Ranaweera ct. P. Perera b T. de Mel 01, Suhan Wijeratne ct. P. O'Brien b Malshan Fernando 13, Manjula Bandara 01 n/o. bowling - Nuwan Fernando 9-3-17-0, Suranga de Silva 13-1-52-3, Himal Perera 4-0-18-0, Sumanjan Fernando 17-1-44-0, Dileep Fernando 9-3-26-0, Malshan Fernando 3.4-0-14-2, Taraka de Mel 13-3-49-3 fall of wickets 1/7, 2/73, 3/130, 4/175, 5/208, 6/216, 7/245 and 8/246.

St. Sebastian 1st innings 218/9 dec. and 133/2 at close Kanchana Cooray run out 42, Sumalka Perera 71 not out, Suranga Silva b Suranja Rathin 11, Manoj Fernando 01 not out. Extra 8, Bowling S. Weerawansa 3-0-4-0, Manjula Bandara 4-0-9-0, Hasantha Fernando 3-1-14-0, Pubudu Ranaweera 6-3-9-0, S. Fernando 4-1-18-0 & S. Rajitha 10-3-14-1, J. Gunaratne 8-0-38-0, J. Wannakuwatta 3-1-9-0, Sahan Wijeratne 1-0-0-0.

COMMENT
Withdrawal of ruggerites a setback for Lanka at Hong Kong Sevens

By Srian Obeyesekere
The Sri Lanka rugby team for the forthcoming Hong Kong Sevens is said to be one of the weakest that will be competing in an international event in the history of Sri Lankan rugby.

It is understood that the withdrawal of several key players from the squad including the captain Indrajith Bandaranayake, has led to a very under strength squad having to be selected again. These ruggerites are from Kandy Sports Club (KSC) and the national selectors say that these players had pulled out because a KSC player, Nalaka Weerakkody had been omitted. Weerakkody is considered to be one of the leading ruggerites on the local rugby scene who has in recent years been in much demand by the two leading clubs on the domestic scene, KSC and CR & FC. One of the best place kickers, Weerakkody's boot has kicked both these clubs to victory, time and again turning out for one of the two clubs which invariably met in the finals of the main local tournaments. And when he was omitted from the Hong Kong tour party he had just crossed over from CR & FC to KSC.

In this stalemate there have been views for and against his omission. The selectors, it is understood, had overlooked Weerakkody for the reason that he does not go for the ball to avoid being tackled. That this had been costly for Sri Lanka at some international tournaments.

In favour of Weerakkody's inclusion are his club colleagues who do not agree with the selectors school of thinking.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SCRFU) sources claim that a big wig of Kandy SC had influenced its players to pull out of the squad.

Be it as it may, this tug-o-war between the administration and the club is against the interests of Sri Lanka's chances at the Hong Kong Sevens when the best should do national duty.

Fox-Hill Supercross 99

The 6th Fox-Hill Supercross annual event will be staged within the picturesque Diyatallawe Arms Training Complex on April 18. This year's event will take the form of a farewell to the 20th Century and a welcome to the next Millennium. The planned pomp pageantry display by the Sri Lanka Military Academy will be equally matched by a well planned, rehearsed and breadth-taking schedule of Motor-Car and Motor-Cycle events presented by Sri Lanka Association of Racing Drivers and Riders (SLARDAR).

Being by far the most prestigious and looked forward to Meet in the Motor Sports Calendar of Sri Lanka, the Organisers - Sri Lanka Association of Racing Drivers and Riders (SLARDAR) together with the Sri Lanka Military Academy has already commenced preparatory work to make this the Motor Sport event of the Century.

It is intended to run 20 events - 10 for Motor Cycles and, l0 for Motor Cars. This year too Lanka Lubricants Limited - Marketers of Caltex and other popular brands of lubricants and petroleum products will sponsor the event. Spectators are assured of plenty of thrills and spills through keen competition provided by the best competitors in the land. Some of the most sophisticated racing machinery will be seen in action.

The entries will open on the 10th of March and close on the 30th of March at the SLARDAR Office on the 3rd Floor, 129 High Level Road, Nugegoda - (Park and Shop Premises).

The event will be at the height of the April holiday season (17th and 18th April) and a very large spectator base is expected this year - breaking previous records. Both competitors and spectators are requested to reserve their berths well ahead, to avoid disappointment!

Two hat-tricks in a Test match in same afternoon

by Mahinda Wijesinghe
Recently, two Asian cricketers, India's Anil Kumble and Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram, brought honour and glory to the entire region by capturing all ten wickets in an innings and achieving a hat-trick respectively, in Test cricket. Kumble and Akram are the first two Asians to perform these feats. Yet another bowler, former West Indian skipper, Courtney Walsh, entered the pantheon of cricketing gods when he dismissed Ian Healy, the Australian wicket-keeper, during the first Test of their current series at Port of Spain. The soft-spoken, 36- year-old Jamaican paceman who made his Test debut 14 years ago thus became only the third bowler to have a bag of over 400 Test wickets. The others being Kapil Dev (434) of India and Sir Richard Hadlee (431) from New Zealand, whilst Kumble is only the second, after Jim Laker of England, to have captured all ten in an innings. In fact, only one man, Jim Burke, slipped Laker's deadly web, otherwise he would have had call twenty in the match. But, that is another story.

Unfortunately, Wasim Akram performed the hat-trick against Sri Lanka at Lahore. In the history of Test cricket Wasim Akram was the 21st player to achieve this feat and it was the 23rd hat-trick. Hugh Trumble of Australia is the only man to have performed the hat-trick in two separate Tests (in 1901/02 and 1903/04 at Melbourne) while yet another little known Australian did so in one innings twice in the same afternoon! More of it later.


T. J. Mathews - Two hat-tricks in one afternoon		 The feat of taking a hat-trick is one of the intriguing and exciting aspects of the game. The expression hat-trick evolved from ancient times. It used to be a practice those days when a player does exceptionally well, a collection was made amongst the spectators by passing the hat round. If a bowler captured three wickets in successive deliveries the hat did make the rounds. Hence the word hat-trick. There were no sponsors in those times to fork out millions to players! When a bowler dismisses two batsmen in successive deliveries, there is an expectant hush in the crowd.

The captain brings the fielders in, the bowler, the new bats man and fielders are nervous. The bowler wonders whether he will deliver it right, the batsman is sweating whether he can survive the ignominy of being a hat-trick victim, while the fielders are nervous hoping none of them will drop the catch! It all adds to the drama. If the bowler succeeds in achieving the dream, all hell breaks loose. The high-fives, the cheers, and the groans in the opposite camp, they make a wondrous cacophony. If the bowler fails, the fielders get back to their original positions, and it is business as usual.

Possibly the most dramatic of hat-tricks was performed, just as Wasim Akram did, during a Test triangular, the first-ever of its kind, held in England in 1912. The other two sides being Australia and South Africa. Coincidentally, it was on the same venue that Jim Laker performed the phenomenal feat of capturing 19/90 in an Ashes Test, though he could not achieve a hat-trick, 44 years earlier. The man who performed, what was termed as a double hat-trick was Thomas James Matthews. Described as a tiny right-arm leg-spinner and a stubborn late order right-hand batsman. His opportunities to bowl even in the Victorian side was limited due to the presence of spinners Hazlitt, Saunders and Armstrong and he had matches when he was not asked to bowl at all. This makes his feat all the more remarkable. A man who sometimes does not even get a regular bowl in first-class cricket performing two hat-tricks in an afternoon in a Test match! Sounds as if it is from a fairy tale.

Yet, it did happen. It was the first match of the Triangular tournament when Australia met South Africa at Manchester in 1912 on May 27 & 28. Australia batted first and amassed 448 towards which left-harder Warren Bardsley (114) and Charlie Kelleway (114) made centuries. It is also interesting to note that the South Africans, famous for utilising legspin/googly bowlers, had four of them in Faulkner, Pegler, Schwarz and White in their attack. Pegler was eventually the most successful capturing 6/105. On the second day of the Test, at four o'clock, thanks to a skilful unbeaten century (122*) by Aubrey Faulkner, the Springboks, as they were then known, were only 30 runs short of the follow-on. Let the Wisden Almanack (1913) take it from here: Then came the first of Matthews hat-trick. Beaumont was bowled, and to the next two balls, Pegler and Ward were out leg-before wicket. Though his side had been in the field since eleven o'clock, Gregory, holding a lead of 183, was not afraid to make the South Africans bat again. Their second innings began at a quarter to five, and resulted n a dismal collapse, three wickets were down for 22, and five for 70. Matthews then performed his second hat-trick. He bowled Taylor, and in the cleverest way caught and bowled Schwarz and Ward. The Test match was over in two days with the Australians victors by an innings and 88 runs.

The Australians too had one other leg-spinner - the Springboks had four, remember? - in first change bowler Sid Emery who bowled 37 overs in the first innings. Matthews was the fifth bowler tried out by the Australian skipper. It is almost incredible that the sixth in order of merit! Legspinner in the match captured six wickets, all included in two separate hat-tricks. That is not all. Not only did each of his hat-tricks end the South African innings but they were claimed without the aid of any fielder. Two each were bowled, lbw and, caught and bowled! His figures were 3/16 and 3/38. Matthews was playing in his third Test and had only captured one Test wicket previously. He played 5 Tests after this historic performance in Manchester, and bagged only 9 more Test wickets. A relatively insignificant bowling career, one might say.

Except one day in the merry month of May at Manchester when Matthews enjoyed moments of magical melodrama.

Hair or no Hair, Murali's balls are fair

by Hemantha Warnakulasuriaya
Muralidaran made Darrel Hair famous. His fame or notoriety inflamed the cricketing world. He was notorious in the sub-continent, but loved by the sons who have descended from the convicts that inherited Australia. Autobiographies are written by the famous or the notorious. It is their fame or notoriety that sells the book. This theory applies equally to Darrel Hair. Mr. Hair was able to write a book called "Decision Maker", purely by a single act of no-balling arguably the world's best off spinner Muralitharan, and make a quick buck from it so that when he is removed from the ICC Panel of umpires he could live happily ever after.

In trying to understand the hidden soul of Darrell Hair it is necessary for most Sri Lankans to know the ancestry and the progeny of Mr. Hair. ln England the gaols were getting filled. It was impossible for the British to build a sufficient number of gaols in England. The convicts were first transported to America, and with the war of independence and the eventual victory of the American colonies, the continued of Judges sentencing convicted persons to transportation and the marked increase in offences caused by social upheavals, the Englishmen were frantically in search of a colony from which these dastardly criminals would never be able to escape and come back to England. They were the scum of the earth. Murderers, rapists, highwaymen and those who had committed high treason, but escaped the death sentence for some flaw in the law had to be bundled out and sent to a place where they would be in permanent exile. The discovery of Australia and the eventual colonizing of it by the English became the ideal 'gaol' for these convicts to be deported and imprisoned so that they would never return.

Darrell Hair hails from New South Wales which was originally inhabited by 717 convicts, of whom 180 were women, guarded by 191 Marines, under 10 officers. When these convicts were awaiting supplies from England, the second fleet of three ships arrived, loaded not with provisions but more convicts. The fleet had left England with 1,017 aboard 267 died on the voyage and 486 of those who did arrive were sick. Reading through the pages of 'The Decision Maker' the obvious conclusion is that Darrel Hair cannot get rid of his convict past.

The no-balling of Muralidaran takes pride of place in the very first chapter of the book by Mr. Hair. He knew the tremendous opposition that would be unleashed against him, not only by the other cricket loving people in the world, but also by the other members of the Australian public whose genealogy could be traced not to the convicts, but to the Marines and the civil servants who were employed by the British as Settlement officers of the colony.

The conspiracy to no-ball Muralidaran began at Sharjah where he was officiating in some one-day international where Sri Lanka leap-frogged and beat the West Indies The manner in which Sri Lanka attacked the bowling of the West Indies speedsters and following an impossible target of over 300 runs to win was a real shocker. The spectators at the Sharjah Stadium and the world over watched the spectacle with utter disbelief. Romesh Kaluwitharana, about half the height of Mr. Hair and most of the West Indian bowlers, made the miscreants ponder about a strategy to make Sri Lanka pay for their unbelievable stroke making and commitment shown on the field. The balls roared to the boundary with the same speed with which the bowlers bowled. It was this display that astounded the connoisseurs of cricket. Sir Richard Hadlee who had witnessed this murderous onslaught at once predicted that Sri Lanka would become the world champions. Unlike Sir Richard Hadlee, Mr. Hair saw this improbable onslaught only 22 feet away from the place it was happening. He saw this unbelievable hand and eye coordination of some Sri Lankan batsmen, including slow dogged Hashan Tillakeratne.

It was still the belief that Australia would without much difficulty wear the crown of world cricket. The standards of batting, bowling and fielding of Australians had put through a gruelling and uncompromising athleticism and had thus reached dizzy heights. South Africa was the only other team that looked close to snatching the crown from Australia. But they were newcomers to world cricket, after being banned for a number of years. They had not had the international exposure which was necessary for the killer instinct. Only the patriotic South Africans gave their cricket team a chance to win the World Cup. No one outside South Africa had predicted that they would win the World Cup. But the pronouncement of Sir Richard Hadlee and some other experts who had seen Sri Lanka reaching the Himalayan heights predicted that minnows of world cricket would become giant whales of cricket and reign supreme. They would no longer be there to fill the numbers. There was something very uncharacteristic in the manner in which they played the game.

The mediocre sub-standard bowling attack was complemented with a brilliant display of fielding. Some of the fielders virtually picked the cricket ball leaping to the sky as if plucking it from the azure blue sky, when the TV crew and the others thought that the ball has whisked past the fielder's head and was racing to the boundary. But in a moment the spectators were transfixed when the fielder threw the ball to the sky in ecstatic jubilation, to the agony and bewilderment of the opponents.

They played as if some super power had given them and given the team some extra zip which made them perform super-human tasks. The conspirators knew that this trend was dangerous and some method should be found to belittle them and drain their spirits out. There was one man called Muralidaran who had a peculiar rubbery wrist. He could spin the ball even on a glass sheet. The ball spun so viciously, at times it hit the stumps at a 90 degree angle. He was the only bowler in the side.

There was nothing anyone could do about the fielding and catching. As long as the ball did not touch the ground the rule book says that the batsman is out. There is nothing any one could do about the batting. One could inspect a bat and make a statement that the blade of the bat is wider than the permissible width. But amazingly when the Sri Lankans bat, the ball hit the super soft spot in the meat of the bat which produced a sound equivalent to an imposing note of a Beethoven sonata. It was so pleasing to the ear, the connoisseurs knew only once out of ten times would a batsman hit the sweet spot. But the Sri Lankans were doing it all the time, as if they were waving an unbelievable magic wand. It was hinted that some Sri Lankan bats were so made to conceal a thick metal frame inside it. The rules did not permit the umpires to send the bat through an X Ray machine. So logically only the bowlers were left, and of the bowlers every one of them were just above mediocrity and far below the standards of the Sheffield Shield cricketers . But there was this man Muralidaran who had an unusual action, rubbery wrists and the ball spun and stung the sticks like a vicious viper. It seems that the Captain and the team mates were expecting Muralidaran to make a hole or a dent in the batting of the opposition. Something ought to be done to demoralize and defame Sri Lankan cricketers, and make them feel dejected and unwanted. No one in the cricketing community would defend the puny Sri Lankans. Hair watched the action of Muralidaran. The greatest of the present generation of umpires, Dickie Bird, and the greatest of the present umpires, David Shepherd had found absolutely nothing wrong with the bowling action of Muralidaran.

It was hurtful that everyone always spoke with great adoration of these two umpires, and to add to the list there was Steve Bucknor from the West Indies and Venkataraghavan from India. No one not even the Australians, ever thought of Darrel Hair as among the five best umpires in the world. In fact no Australian umpires were considered to be among the best ten in the world. Dickie Bird has retired, David Shepherd, Steve Bucknor and Venkataraghavan are still officiating. None of them with their wide and rich experience ever thought of no-balling Muralitharan or of writing their memoirs.

What is the most controversial decision that an umpire could make. An umpire could make any wrong decision which stares in the face of spectators who watch the replays on the television. Except the great Geoff Boycott, no other commentator would linchpin such atrocious decision makers. Still it would never become a controversial decision. It will be soon forgotten. If an umpire continues to make bad decisions, the ICC would politely request to remove him or not nominate him to the panel of umpires. Finally the message dawned upon Hair. After having watched Muralidaran the conspiracy was hatched in Sharjah. In fact he reported the action of Muralidaran, and Kumar Dharmasena to the Match Referee. Hair knew that Sri Lankans would be travelling to Australia for the Benson & Hedges Cup. The way that they were playing in Sharjah, he may have reckoned that this team would win and it was necessary to prevent it. Can any patriotic Australian with a convict's past ever permit such a transgression - minnows winning the Benson & Hedges Trophy and the World Cup eventually.

Sri Lankans, were known to be very docile and gentle people. They had been nurtured in the traditions of the game which developed into a fine art of gentlemanship during the Victorian era in England. The Anglicized Sri Lankans venerated and embraced anything and everything which had been spoon-fed to them by their Colonial masters. They still live in an era where umpires out of sheer malicious design and racial bias made unfavourable decisions and Sri Lankans were taught never to question such decisions. It was ungentlemanly, the schools taught them. Unfortunately for Mr. Hair and the other Australian media, who left no stone unturned to demoralize the Sri Lankan cricketers they did not know that this new breed of cricketers, except for a few, could read and understand the English language as fluently as those who came from a few elitist schools where the spoken language was the Queen's language. But these young spoil-sports had inborn natural talents and an Australian called Dave Whatmore correctly moulded them into a groove and fine tuned them. They were like a Formula Five racing team willing to race with any team to conquer the world title.

When Sri Lanka played against Queensland, Allan Border found that the delivery of young Muralitharan could hardly be read. He was curious how he could spin the ball virtually at right angles. His adoration of the young bowler was soon picked up by the Press. Muralitharan was made the scapegoat of the Australian media, and others who blindly and fanatically loved their cricket.

The conspiracy was such that soon articles appeared in the Press all over Australia of the impending disaster Sri Lanka would face at the hands of the decision makers.

After the first day of the test match at Perth, "Sri Lankan Cheats" beamed 54 point banner headlines in newspapers all over Australia. The pounding had begun. The Sri Lankans must be roundly condemned. Their unbelievable mental makeup which had made them to think that they were superior to all their cricketing opponents must be crushed. The tampering of the ball, the latest gimmick discovered to condemn the Pakistanis for their uncanny versatility in swinging the ball late with toe crushing yorkers, invented against the Pakistanis was now directed at the Sri Lankans with the help of a Pakistani, Kaisar Hyatt. Peter Parker was the other culprit. In 'Decision Maker' this is what Darrell Hair said in the caption under the picture where Ranatunga, Peter Parker and the Pakistani umpire were displayed discussing a point. "Peter Parker explaining to Ranatunga that cricket balls do not normally have these funny scratches on them" indicating really that Peter Parker an Australian umpire found scratches on the cricket ball which he reckoned was funny showing that the Sri Lankan cricketers had deliberately scratched the cricket ball in order to get some late reverse swing.. Even this dastardly statement imputing that Peter Parker had in fact told Darrel Hair about his observations proves that all were concerned in the conspiracy.

After Hair no-balled Muralitharan, something strange happened. A few newspapers who were on a witch hunt to prove that Sri Lankan cricketers were petty thieves and would resort to any misdemeanor to win a match, turned their cannons on Darrell Hair himself. Muralitharan was the only Sri Lankan Tamil in the National cricket team. Even the most vociferous anti-Sri Lankan Eelam Lobbyist became mad over the bo-balling controversy. They would not spare Hare for no-balling Muralitharan even if he was a Sinhalese. United they stood in the face of overwhelming racial bias.

The TV commentators headed by Tony Greig added fuel to the fire by completely disagreeing with Hair and sympathizing with the Sri Lankan cricketers. This is what Darrel Hair says when he reached home after that match. "The media hysteria was manageable. But I was terrified when I received death threats delivered to my home through the mail, even placed in my letter box without stamps. This was frightening stuff as at the time I had an unlisted telephone number and no information about umpires addresses should be available through the State or National Cricket Board. I suppose if someone really wants to track you down they can through other means. These threats affected my day to day life for a considerable length of time and I had to think seriously whether it was worth it. Did I really want to continue? It was not much fun leaving home for work each morning wondering if your family will be safe and intact when you return. The fact that some of these threats contained information that only those close to me could have known was also disturbing. The threats were passed on to the Australian Federal Police but I held out little hope of them being traced. In my darkest moments I wondered what had become of cricket". As a criminal lawyer, I know for certain that all convicts are the greatest cowards on earth.

The darkest moment for Darrell Hair became the brightest moment for Sri Lankan cricket. The charter plane which took us to Lahore for the World Cup landed at the airport and there was gloom all over. There was unusual rain on the previous night which had partly flooded the airport. We were taken by a Pakistani philanthropist head of the Pakistan National Olympic Committee to his sprawling factory, the biggest I have seen in the sub-continent. He was waiting to host Sri Lankan brethren flying to Lahore in three charter planes for the World Cup. He was disappointed that only about 100 from the solitary plane ultimately decided to be his guests. He had breakfast and an early lunch prepared for us. It was drizzling. We thought that the match would be postponed for the next day. He spoke to us and said not to worry. "A large number of my factory workers are at the mosque and are praying for the rains to cease". As he finished saying this there was tremendous thunder and lightning which made our eyes blink. Soon afterwards the rains ceased. The match started on schedule. Before we got in to the bus to leave for the Gaddafi Stadium with an Army escort provided by him, he said: "I will not go to the match but would proceed to the mosque and pray for a Sri Lankan victory and then join you at the match". Inside and outside the Stadium, every single Pakistani was a Sri Lankan supporter. The world got the impression that the Gaddafi Stadium was filled with Sri Lankan supporters specially flown to Lahore. I joined two of the brothers of the late General Wijaya Wimalaratne and held high the banner which had been specially designed by them at their factory which proudly displayed in huge letters the following limerick.

In hindsight I have respect for Hair and the Australian media for having treated our cricket team as the scum of earth. If not for these ugly conspiracies, I wonder whether we could have ever won the World Cup.

Sri Lankan selected to represent the United States in the Touch team

USA is participating in the upcoming World Cup in Sydney, Australia, to be held between April 17 and 24 and the only non-white in the team is a Sri Lankan.

According to the Director of Competitions, Mark K. Sloan, United States Federation of International Touch Rugby, Sri Lankan, Mohamed Riyaz Zavahir has been invited to represent the United States Touch team as "Riyaz has worked hard for his selection and has shown outstanding commitment to the US team."

There is great celebration among Sri Lankans in California. Each member of the team has to be sponsored for his participation and a single Sri Lankan has contributed from his own money US$1000 for Riyaz's sponsorship.

Riyaz is an old boy of Wesley College Colombo and works as a trained Nurse in the State of California. He is the son of Mr. & Mrs. M. K. A. Zavahir of W. A. de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 6.

The umpire's immunity limits appeal rights and accurate adjudication in cricket

The regular recurrence of umpiring errors that were vividly shown on video replays during the recent cricket season in Australia is a frustrating experience for both the participants and the followers of the game. This frustration is compounded when the adjudication errors are seen to distort the natural outcome of the contest. In that drama filled one-day match between England and Sri Lanka in Adelaide, Arjuna Ranatunga's verbal duel with Umpire Ross Emerson overshadowed two significant umpiring mistakes that enabled the reprieved two batsmen to score centuries. The first error was the rejection of an appeal by Umpire Tony McQuillan against the English batsman Graeme Hick who was seen on video replay to be caught behind the wicket by keeper Romesh Kaluwitharana off the bowling of Mahela Jayawardena. Hick who was on 11 runs used the reprieve to add another 115 runs to his personal score. He remained unbeaten on 126. The second error was when Sri Lankan batsman Mahela Jayawardena was found short of his ground with his score on 33 runs. The field Umpire Ross Emerson failed to refer the English appeal to the Third Umpire for video arbitration. Jayawardena added a further 87 runs to his score before being dismissed for 120 runs. He was named the player of the match.

These incidents raise significant questions. Why do cricket rules allow wrong umpiring decisions to stand? Why have fuller use not been made of video replays that can correct the umpiring errors?

The answers to these questions lie in the outmoded approach to adjudication in cricket. The prevailing rules require a heavy reliance to be placed in the good faith of the umpires so much so that even when an umpire is wrong his decision has to be treated as right. The rule that the umpire's decision is final has become so entrenched as a dominant paradigm in the philosophy of cricket that any attempt to modify this rule with a view to achieving fairness and accuracy in umpiring decisions, is viewed as heresy. Yet, the considerations of fairness that are paramount to the integrity of a sport, require such an approach to be adopted.

There are historically justifiable reasons for the rule that the umpire's decision is final. In the past there was no effective mechanism or technology to examine an umpire's decision. The availability of modern technology today for review of a decision makes the unqualified adherence to the traditional principle morally unsustainable. To treat a wrong as a right without attempting to use the available resources to correct the wrong, is an unjust proposition. But this is exactly what the current adjudicating rules of cricket deliver.

The extraordinary immunity that the rules of cricket have conferred on the umpires is at variance with natural justice rules prevailing in many democratic institutions. The right to challenge and have a decision reviewed is a basic norm in a democratic society. Even the judges in courts of law do not enjoy such absolute immunity. Dissatisfied litigants have the right of appeal against the decision of a judge to a higher court or a full bench. The appellate procedure in the legal system is a mechanism that enables a judicial decision to be reviewed and corrected, if it is unsustainable. This procedure serves as a good precedent for an extension of the concept of review to cricket through a paradigm shift in approach to adjudication.

Dissatisfied players should have the right of appeal against the decision of a field umpire to the Third Umpire. The Third Umpire's powers should be extended to enable him to perform an appellate role like an Appeal Court judge, in respect of doubtful catches in front of and behind the wicket including catches by the wicket keeper, run outs and stumpings ( which are not referred to the Third Umpire by a field umpire).

This proposed two-tier appeal process incorporates the principle of correction that is lacking in the existing system of video arbitration, which is used purely as an aid by the field umpire.

Any objection that a two-tier appeal process would unduly protract or destabilise the game can be met by limiting the number of appeals against the field umpires' decisions to five per side per each innings. Such a restriction would prevent excessive appeals by forcing the players to use this right of appeal sparingly. Nevertheless this would give a dissatisfied side a chance to have some of the significant field umpiring errors corrected by the Third Umpire, e.g., those relating to Hick and Jayawardena.

It must be noted that the installation of the Third Umpire has not necessarily resulted in the total removal of umpiring errors. Though different kinds of umpiring errors have been made by video arbitration, it is nevertheless a superior system of adjudication because far fewer umpiring mistakes are made now than in the past.

The uncertainties of cricket have always added to the excitement and attraction of the game. But where adjudication is concerned, nothing but certainty in the accuracy of umpiring decisions would win player and public confidence.

Senaka Weeraratna, Darwin,
Australia.

Fun in the sun with 'C' beach rugby

The second day of "fun in the sun" kicks off at the Taj Exotica, our choice of resort in Bentota on Saturday 20th March, when teams vie for the top position in a sport which combines fun, skill and absolute fitness.

"C" Beach Rugby now in its second consecutive year, had its first preliminary qualifying round for 1999 at Club Intersport and Hotel Ceysands on 27th February. 20 Corporate teams lined up to display their skills in this unique eco-sport which has one man serums in 4 men or women teams, adding considerably to the cur-ious charm of the game. Sampath Bank, MTN Networks, Pan Audio, World Air, JWT, De Sarams and Courtoulds Clothing were just a few of the competing companies of which four qualified for the finals.

Defending champions Mt. Panthers, took their bow in a 15-10 match against Tristar B, resulting in a final between Sampath bank and Tristar B. Sampath bank led by Sri Lanka cap Duminda De Silva of the CR&FC won in a very closely contested match, scoring a try in the final minute of the game (5 - 0).

The Pepsi Player of the Day was Sri Lanka cap and Havelocks player Yuganthara Karunaratne of Sampath Bank. In the "J" league, the contenders were Cargills Food (KFC) and the law firm De Sarams. However, the girls stole the show with their staggering display of fitness. The teams were Courtoulds clothing and Tri Star.

Excellent weather, and the Pepsi Beachside BBQ had tourists too join in the fun and enjoy the cool refreshment provided by Carlsberg. A DJ and the big screen completed a perfect day by the "C " .

"C" Beach 2 on March 20th will provide another day of serious fun and exciting rugby by the sea. The serious Eco-message uses "C" Beach Rugby, a high-profile image sport to raise awareness about our disappearing beaches. Carlsberg feels that an ocean of possibilities exist to save our beaches through "C" beach rugby, which makes fans and players alike, aware of the benefits of a clean, well-maintained beach which protects the coastline and prevents erosion.

The beautiful beach at the Taj Exotica Resort in Bentota is the venue for the second preliminary qualifying round next Saturday. Early bookings are advised as the hotel is offering a special package for lunch and dinner, with a sizzling day by the beach. Flags, bunting, banners, beachside stalls, with non-stop DJ music providing rhythms by the sea all day long, create a total beach carnival atmosphere. Rugby fans and fun-seekers could watch games in progress while soaking up the sun, or relaxing in the shade since excellent cover is provided on the beach.

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