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1st, December 1996

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Success after mini slump

Nawaz, Mahela frustrate Windies

By Marlon Fernandopulle

A square cut by Sri Lanka A opening batsman Ruwin Pieris is stopped in the gully by a diving Stuart Willims. Pieris top scored with fluent 51 and helped Sri Lanka A to beat West Indies A by four wickets .Pic by Dunstan Wickremaratna


Despite a middle order slump, the seventh wicket pair Naweed Nawaz and Mahela Jayawardene steadied and lifted Sri Lanka 'A' to what was eventually a comfortable four wicket victory over West Windies 'A' in the second unofficial one-day International at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium yesterday.

After bowling out the Windies for 131 Sri Lanka lost their way midway in their innings to be dangerously placed at 94 for 6 before Jayawardene and Nawaz batted spiritedly to take the home side to an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three match series.

Earlier in the day Sri Lanka 'A' skipper Marvan Atapattu won the toss and invited West Indies to take first lease on a placid wicket. Opening bowlers Ravindra Pushpakumara and Nuwan Soyza kept the Windies openers Wallace and Williams in check with an accurate opening spell.

Soyza drew first blood, bowling Williams for 21 in the 10th over. Fellow opener Wallace (48) continued his good form on the tour but lacked support from the other end.

Sri Lanka's spinner Upul Chandana and Ruwan Kalpage bowled a nagging length and made the Windies batsmen toil hard. They struck at regular intervals and never let the visitors off the hook. Once again the bowlers were backed up by good fielding which put the brakes on the West Indian batsmen. Apart from the openers, none of the other West Indies batsmen came to terms with the Lankan bowlers. Only middle order batsmen Jacobs reached double figures after the openers, as the Windies were bundled out for 131 runs in 39.2 overs.

Sri Lanka lost Lanka de Silva early, but his partner Ruwan Pieris (51) showed great temperament as he played a couple of eloquent strokes with immaculate timing to take the fight to the Windies. Pieris added 44 runs for the second wicket with skipper Atapattu (14) to put Lanka on course to victory. However a middle order slump where Sri Lanka lost four wickets for 11 runs gave the Windies a chance of coming back and equalling the three match series.

But Lanka's 7th wicket pair of Nawaz (29) Jayawardene (22) defied the Windies bowlers, denying them of any further breakthrough. Jayawardene who was surprisingly sent into bat after all rounders Chandana and Kalpage showed great maturity and promise as he gave good suport to his senior partner Nawaz and guided Sri Lanka to victory with 12 overs remaining.

For the visitors right arm leg spinner Nagamootoo was the pick of bowlers claiming 4/31. The third one dayer will be played at the SSC grounds today.

Scoreboard

West Indies 'A'

S.C. Williams b. Soyza 21

P.A. Wallace c. Atapattu b. Chandana 48

F.L. Reifer l.b.w. b. Pushpakumara 01

D. Joseph c. Chandana b. Wickremasinghe 06

R.A. Harper b. Kalpage 05

T.O. Powell c. Pieris b. Chandana 04

R.D. Jacops c. Pieris b. Pushpakumara 15

L.R. Williams c. Pushpakumara b. Kalpage 02

O.D. Gibson run out 03

M.V. Nagamootoo b. Soyza 01

C.E. Cuffy not out 00

Extras (b-4, lb-7, w-10, nb-04) 25

Total (for 10 wickets in 39.2 overs) 131

Fall of wickets: 1-29, 2-63, 3-70, 4-91, 5-99, 6-99, 7-108, 8-114 9-124, 10-131.

Bowling: Pushpakumara 6.2-0-43-2, Soyza 10-2-24-2, Wickremasinghe 8-2-31-1, Chandana 7-1-11-2, Kalpage 8-1-11-2.

Sri Lanka

R. Pieris b. Nagamootoo 51

L.de Silva l.b.w. b. Gibson 00

M. Atapattu ct. Reifer b. Nagamootoo 14

N. Nawaz not out 29

I.de Saram ct. Powell b. Cuffy 03

U. Chandana ct. Gibson b. Nagamootoo 00

R. Kalpage ct. Powell b. Nagamooto0 00

M. Jayawardene not out 22

Extras (lb-4, w-8, nb-3) 15

Total for 06 wickets in 38 overs 134

Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-65, 3-83, 4-92, 5-94, 6-94,

Bowling : Cuffy 10-1-34-1, Gibson 7-1-24-1, Harper 9-0-34-0, Nagamootoo 10-0-31-4, Williams 2-0-7-0.


Sunday Times cameraman not allowed in

Schoolboy N. B. Walisundera of Vidyartha was picked 'best boxer' at the 71st Boxing Nationals worked off at the Sugathdasa Indoor Stadium.

Walisundera's schoolmate, M. R. K. Wanniarchchi was picked as the 'best loser.'

Sri Lanka Army walked away with the champions trophy for another year and also carried away the trophy awarded for the most successful club at the Nationals.

Sorry no action photographs could be carried in 'The Sunday Times,' since our photographer assigned to cover this event was refused permission for entry to the Sugathdasa indoor Stadium.


Even exchanges in sara games

Exchanges were even at Havelock Park in the P. Sara Trophy division I cricket match between BRC and Kurunegala YCC yesterday.

With play restricted on the first day, Kurunegala YCC resuming from their overnight total of 92 for 5 were all out for 153 with Ajith Ekanayake better known for his bowling feats scoring a superb 82 while his namesake Dushantha bowled best for the homesters claiming 5 for 33.

BRC were bowled out for 142 runs thus giving a first innings lead for the Kurunegala lads.

Dharmapala schoolboy Chintika Jayasinghe making his debut in first class cricket top scored for the Havelock Park Club with a steady 38.

Kurunegala batting a second time were 40 for 3.

Kurunegala YCC 153 all out in 46.5 overs. (Ajith Ekanayake 82, R. Herath 29, Dushantha Ekanayake 5/33, Chamath Perera 3/30) and 40 for 3 at the close.

BRC 142 all out in 50.1 overs. (Chintika Jayasinghe 38, Chamath Perera 25, Wasantha Kumara 3/40, Ajith Ekanayake 3/32, Ranjith Madurasinghe 3/18).

In another game at the adjoining Colts grounds with play getting under way only today, Bloomfield totalled 262 and Colts replied with 27 for no loss.

For the Reid Avenue Club, Nilantha Bopage scored 81 and Indiika Batuwitarachchi assisted him with a flashy 70.

Bloomfield 262 all out. (Nilantha Bopage 81, Indika Batuwitarachchi 70, Pulasti Gunaratne 20, Bateesha de Silva 22, Chaminda Vaas 4/65, Tilan Samaraweera 3/40, Dinuk Hettiarachchi 2/53).

Colts 27 for no loss at the close. Chaminda Mendis 20 not out (AF)


Blewett blasts and busts Windies

SYDNEY, Saturday (Reuter) - All-rounder Greg Blewett proved his worth as a replacement for the injured Steve Waugh as Australia and West Indies shared the honours on day two of the second test on Saturday.

Blewett, who was called into the side when Waugh withdrew because of a groin injury, grabbed the crucial wicket of opener Sherwin Campbell for 77 just before close of play.

West Indies ended the day on 156 for three in 58 overs, still 175 runs adrift of Australia's first innings total of 331 with seven wickets in hand.

But the tourists have already lost the prize wicket of number three batsman Brian Lara, who fell to fast bowler Glenn McGrath for two.

Carl Hooper remained unbeaten on 27 at the finish alongside Shivnarine Chanderpaul on three not out. In addition to removing Campbell with a superb inswinging yorker, the medium-pace bowler scored 69 runs to help the home side add 107 potentially crucial runs today after resuming on 224 for five.

Blewett made a dramatic entry into test cricket two seasons ago when he scored a century in each of his first two tests against England.

But he struggled for form on the subsequent tour to West Indies and was dropped after a disappointing home series against Pakistan 12 months ago.

Campbell, whose century in the first test in Brisbane failed to save the tourists from a 123-run defeat, hit 13 fours during his 199-minute stay at the crease.

McGrath earlier removed opener Robert Samuels for 35, ending a 92-run first-wicket partnership with Campbell.

The lanky New South Wales paceman added Lara to his haul when the West Indies vice-captain edged a faint catch to wicketkeeper Ian Healy with the total on 108.

The dismissal capped a fine day for McGrath, who earlier recorded his highest score in first-class cricket.

Scoreboard

Australia 1st Innings

(224 for five overnight)

M.A. Taylor c Chanderpaul b Bishop 27

M.T. Elliott c Lara b Bishop 29

R.T. Ponting c Samuels b Walsh 9

M.E. Waugh c Lara b Walsh 19

M.G. Bevan c Hooper b Benjamin 16

G.S. Blewett c Adams b Walsh 69

I.A. Healy c Lara b Walsh 44

S.K. Warne c Browne b Bishop 28

M.S. Kasprowicz c Campbell b Walsh 21

J.N. Gillespie not out 16

G.D. McGrath lbw b Adams 24

Extras (lb10, w1, nb18) 29

Total (all out, 119.5 overs) 331

Fall of wkts: 1-54, 2-68, 3-73, 4-94, 5-131, 6-224, 7-245, 8-283, 9-288

Bowling: Ambrose 25-5-73-0 (9nb), Walsh 30-6-98-5 (3nb), Benjamin 22-4-69-1 (3nb), Hooper 14-6-15-0, Bishop 23-5-55-3 (3nb, 1w), Adams 5. 5-1-11-1.

West Indies 1st Innings

S.L. Campbell b Blewett 77

R.G. Samuels lbw B McGrath 35

B.C. Lara c Healy b McGrath 2

C.L. Hooper not out 27

S. Chanderpaul not out 3

Extras (b3, lb2, nb7) 12

Total (3 wkts, 58 overs) 156

Fall of wkts: 1-92, 2-108, 3-136

Bowling: McGrath 16-2-56-2 (6nb), Kasprowicz 3-0-13-0, Warne 15-7-20-0, Gillespie 13-4-25-0 (1nb), Bevan 7-0-24-0, Blewett 4-0-13-1


NCC sitting pretty

NCC with 215 for 5 are sitting pretty at the end of the second day's play in their Sara Trophy Div. I Segment I cricket match against Panadura SC played at Panadura yesterday.

Russel Arnold who opened batting scored 70 runs. NCC skipper Hashan Thilakaratne was not out 16 at close. Not a ball was bowled on Friday due to overnight rain. Play started yesterday at 1.15 p.m.

NCC 215 for 5 (Russel Arnold 70, Suminda Rajapakse 46, Priyantha Rajapakse 20, Aviska Gunawardena 35, Hashan Thilakaratne 16 not out, Surendra Kumara 2/30)


Mangala to Australia

Panadura SC all rounder, Mangala Jayasena has left for Australia to play for Lyndale Cricket club in Melbourne. A regular member of the Panadura SC in the Division I team for several years, Mangala played for Sri Lanka Board President's XI against Young England Cricket XI in 1991.


Sumanasuriya in upset win

Unseeded. K.T.S. Sumanasuriya created a major upset on day one of the 13th Ariyadasa Silva Memorial shuttle championships, conducted by the Sri Lanka Badminton Association, worked off at Maitland Place yesterday.

Sumanasuriya toppled 4th seed Thanuja Liyanage in a three-setter, 18-16, 11-15, 15-12, in their second round match.

In the other second round matches,

Thushara Edirisinghe beat I. Boharan 15-4, 15-5; L.A.D. Kalubowila beat I. Arunashantha 15-3, 15-11; C. Kumarapperuma beat Isuru Ratnayake 15-2, 15-5.; U.D.R.P. Kumara beat K.M.W. Jayaweera 15-2, 15-6; D.D. Ranaweera beat Thusan de Silva 15-3, 17-15; Indika Priyantha beat Prabath Kumarasinghe 15-3, 15-8; Kamal Gamlath beat Anura Weerasuriya 15-7, 15-0; Janaka Mendis beat R. Randenu 15-2, 15-8.


Defeat stares at India

By Kuldip Lal

CALCUTTA, Saturday (AFP) - South African bowlers made up for the absence of pace spearhead Allan Donald by dealing four quick blows to leave India on the brink of defeat in the second test here today.

Debutant Lance Klusener picked up three wickets and off-spinner Pat Symcox removed danger man Sachin Tendulkar with his third ball after India were given eight hours to save the match.

Set an improbable victory target of 467, the Indians collapsed to 28 for four before Mohammad Azharuddin and Rahul Dravid took them to 59 without further loss by close of the fourth day's play.

The South Africans have the entire final day's play on Sunday to take the remaining six wickets and draw level in the three-match series after losing the first test by 64 runs last week.

India's slim hopes of saving the game rest on the two batsmen at the crease Ñ Azharuddin, the first innings centurion who is unbeaten on a run-a-ball 25, and Dravid (18 not out).

Gary Kirsten scored a century in each innings and Daryll Cullinan hit up 153 not out as South Africa posted a mammoth 367 for three in their second knock before declaring shortly before tea.

Left-hander Kirsten, who made 102 in the first innings, scored 133 with the help of 18 boundaries before he was run out 15 minutes before lunch. Cullinan, who reached his second test century on the stroke of lunch after spending an hour in the nervous nineties, hit 15 boundaries and a six during his six-hour vigil.

The bowlers took up from there to compensate for the absence of Donald, who did not take the field because of a bruised toe. Klusener, who went for 75 runs from 14 overs in the first innings, bowled a better line the second time around, conceding just four runs in his first spell of five overs.

The 22-year-old struck in the second over of his next spell by removing Nayan Mongia and Saurav Ganguly in the space of five deliveries.

Mongia was picked up low at first slip by Cullinan for eight and left-hander Ganguly disappointed his home crowd once again by being caught behind for no score.

Scoreboard

South Africa 1st innings: 428 (A. Hudson 146, G. Kirsten 102, V. Prasad 6-104)

India 1st innings: 329 (M. Azharuddin 109, A. Kumble 88, A. Donald 3-72)

South Africa 2nd innings

(overnight 160-1):

A. Hudson retd hurt 6

G. Kirsten run out 133

H. Gibbs c Dravid b Srinath 9

D. Cullinan not out 153

H. Cronje c and b Kumble 34

B. McMillan not out 17

Extras: (lb10, nb4, w1) 15

Total (for 3 wkts decl) 367

Fall of wickets: 1-39, 2-251, 3-306

Bowling: Srinath 24-2-97-1, Prasad 15-0-63-0, Kumble 33-5-101-1, Hirwani 11-1-40-0, Joshi 11-0-56-0

India 2nd innings:

N. Mongia c Cullinan b Klusener 8

R. Dravid not out 18

S. Ganguly c Richardson b Klusener 0

S. Tendulkar c Kirsten b Symcox 2

V. Laxman b Klusener 1

M. Azharuddin not out 25

Extras: (nb5) 5

Total (for 4 wkts) 59

Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-18, 3-27, 4-28

Bowling: McMillan 10-6-8-0, Klusener 13-3-13-3, Cronje 7-4-10-0, Symcox 6-1-28-1


Pakistan in command against Kiwis

RAWALPINDI, Saturday (Reuter) - New Zealand were 69 for no wicket in their second innings, still 112 runs behind Pakistan, at the close on the third day of the second test today.

Earlier Pakistan took a 181-run innings lead over New Zealand, but might have felt it should have been bigger.

The home side totalled 430 but lost their last six wickets for just 54 runs after early partnerships built them a solid base.

Much tighter New Zealand bowling took wickets at regular intervals after Chris Cairns removed Pakistani captain Saeed Anwar for 149. His fine innings included 20 boundaries over a span of 214 balls and 305 minutes.

Anwar mistimed a hook off a short delivery from Cairns and Simon Doull took an excellent catch at long leg.

Inzamamul Haq popped up a ball from Chris Harris and Justin Vaughan scooped up a diving one-handed catch at silly point to dismiss the Pakistani for just one run.

Overnight watchman Mushtaq Ahmed amassed a test-best 42 as he was joined by veteran Salim Malik.

Once Mushtaq went, Malik stepped up the pace as he started running out of partners but went for 78, driving over a full-length ball from Chris Cairns that knocked out his middle stump.

Cairns was by far the most dangerous, if most expensive, New Zealand bowler, finishing with five for 137 off 30.4 overs. He was well supported by Chris Harris, who took three for 57 off 24 overs.


Beira roars

The Beira Lake roared yesterday when the Colombo Rowing Clubs' opening regatta saw top oarsmen and women in a keen battle for honours.

The results:

Gorden Armstrong Scull Trophy - S. de Silva.

Mixed Pairs - W.K. Chammi (bow), C.H. Talpahewa (stroke), V. Dassanayake (cox).

Vanlangenberg Pair Trophy - C.M.L. Maurice (bow), M.I. Jabeer (stroke), E. Edirisinghe (cox).

Double Scull Non Trophy - S. Ganegoda, D. Seneviratne.

Colvin Sirimanne Double Scull Trophy - N. Fernando, C. Sirimanne.

H.M.S. Enterprise Four Trophy - S. de. Silva (bow), R. Dayaratne (2), A. Jayasuriya (3), S. Ganegoda (stroke), S. Edirisinghe (cox).


Sports in brief

42 teams take part in Volleyball Nationals

The Volleyball Nationals played for the John Keells Super Trophy will be worked off from December 2 to 6 and 9 to 13 at the National Youth Service Centre Courts at Maharagama.

Forty two teams, both men and women, will compete. The will be held on Friday, December 20 at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium Courts.

Chula wins Mackinley Quaisch Golf Trophy

The North East Mansoon golf competition spread over two weekends concluded on Sunday at the Royal Colombo Golf Club saw, Chula Amarasinghe win the Mackinley Quaisch Trophy with Rusi Captain in second place.

Amarasinghe also won the R.C.G.C Centenary Trophy with scores of 72, 77, 70, 66 aggregating 285 followed by Rusi Captain also aggregating 285 with scores of 72, 72, 74, 67.

Rusi Captain won the aggregate medal with a score of 72 with Alain Gyi too having a score of 72.

The Clifford Cup was won by P. B. Kalugalagedera 67-70 = 137, H. Abdul Hussein 69-72 =141.

B of C win LO title

Bank of Ceylon emerged champions in the Nationalised Services Association limited overs tournament defeating Sri Lanka Central Transport Board by 89 runs, played at the NSCA grounds at Ratmalana.

Bank of Ceylon 171 for 9 in 35 overs. Rex Silva 45, Ranjith Wijekulasuriya 29, Upali Jayasiri 20, N. Wijesekera 2/17, S. I. Dayanada 2/29, K. Dissanayake 2/36.

Sri Lanka Central Transport Board 82 all out in 28.3 overs. K. Dissanayake 41, J. Weerasekera 4/16, M. S. M. Mikdar 2/5, S. K. S. Premasiri 2/17.


U.16 hockey teams off to Singapore

The Sri Lanka Schools, girls and boys, under 16 hockey teams left for participation in the Singapore International Quadrangular tournament to be held from December 1 to 7.

The teams taking part are: Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Japan.This tournament is conducted by the Singapore Hockey Federation.


Isipathana have Royal on the run

Isipatana took command of their inter-school match against Royal at the end of the first day's play at Reid Avenue yesterday.

Led by skipper Suresh Perera who hit a chanceless 93, Isipatana raced to 223 for 9 in their first innings. In reply Royal were in trouble with 53 for 4 with two of their batsmen being run out. The match will be continued today.

Chief scores: Isipatana 223 for 9 dec in 63 overs.

(Suresh Perera 93, Rangana Fernando 34, Kanchana Madugalla 15, Vidura Algama 27 n.o., Nilantha Atapattu 20 n.o., Shanka Perera 3 for 21, Umesh Gunawardana 2 for 17.)

Royal: 53/4. (Kavinda Nanayakkara 15 n.o., Algama 2 for 19.)

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