| Sports
|
||||
|
Lanka
wobble like wanderer
On a pitch that built for pace bowling, Sri Lanka's top attack bowler Muttiah Muralitharan was virtually reduced to a stock bowler while the pacemen fared no better with Ranga Dilhara Fernando contributing much to the disgrace of having extras as the third highest scorer on 62 including 31 no-balls. As on the first day, it was South Africa all the way on the second day, except for a brief mid-afternoon spell when three wickets crashed for five runs and South Africa tumbled to 180 for five. But the polished professionalism of Jaques Kallis aided by Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock and Andrew Hall in three partnerships took them to 378 for seven in response to Sri Lanka's pathetic 192. The mid-afternoon collapse came after South Africa's new opening pair Garry Kirsten and Graeme Smith lifted them with a powerful partnership of 133. Newcomer Smith was the playmaker with a brilliant 77 to add to the three good catches he took on the first day. The spotlight then fell on the experienced Kallis who remained unbeaten on 74 while Boucher and Pollock made 38 each and Hall remained unbeaten on 31. The only consolation for Sri Lanka was the performance of debutante paceman Hasantha Fernando who played the key role in the short period when Sri Lanka held sway. The touring side was dealt a further blow when fast bowler Ruchira Perera was banned from bowling for running on the batting area after warnings by umpires Russel Tiffin and Daryl Harper. This means he cannot bowl for the rest of the innings. Kalpage,
Pradeep steer NCC to close win
Chasing 240 to win in 48 overs NCC were 184/4 at the end of 40 overs when play was called off for bad light. At that stage NCC were ahead by just two runs on the Duckworth/Lewis formula which ensured victory for the host team. Batting first Colts SC were given a sound start with openers Romesh Kaluwitharana(64) and Shantha Kalawitigoda(44) putting on 98 runs in 23 overs. Kaluwitharana who eventually top scored for the Colts hit seven boundaries in his 78 ball knock. However it was left hander Sajith Fernando who proped up the Colts innings when he smacked five sixes and a boundary in a quickfire 63 that helped his team to a challenging 239 for 6 wickets in 48 overs. Needing to score at five runs an over NCC got off to a disasterous start to be 31 for 3 wickets in the seventh over with openers Rally Tissera, Pradeep Hewage and Aravinda de Silva back in the pavillion. But a 61 run stand for the 4 th wicket between left handers Ruwan Kalpage and Naweed Nawaz put NCC back in contention. After Nawaz went for a well compiled 42 from 59 balls,allrounder Susantha Pradeep joined his skipper to keep up the momentum.The pair batted sensibly to add 93 runs in as many balls and to nudge their opponents on the Duckwortth/Lewis system by two runs when play was halted for bad light at the end of 40 overs. NCC vs Colts SC at Maitland Place. Colts SC-239/6 in 48 overs(Romesh Kaluwitharana 64 Shantha Kalawitigoda 44 Sajith Fernando 63 Chaminda Mendis 24 Ruwan Kalpage 2/46) NCC-184/4 in 40 overs(Naweed Nawaz 42 Ruwan Kalpage 69 no Susantha Pradeep 42 n o Eric Upashantha 2/21 ) Kahigala
excel for Kalutara TC |
||||
Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers
Ltd. All rights reserved. |
