17th August 1997

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82nd National Tennis Championships

Former National Champion fails in comeback bid

By Annesley Ferreira

Former womens national singles champion, Vajira Premaratne making a comeback after a long lay-off was beaten by Anuskha Rajiah in two straight sets in the first round of the Womens Singles event at the 82nd National Tennis Championships worked off at the National Tennis Centre Courts at Greenpath last morning.

While Rajiah who was the 4th seed won the first set with ease at 6-1, she was made to fight in the second before securing her place into the second round in a tie breaker at 7-6.

Shalini Pereira pulled off a win over Manisha Abeywardena in a three setter 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, and Renuka Kurukulasuriya too scored a win in a three setter 7-6, 3-6, 7-5 in their first round encounters and Thimali Rajapaksa and Sasha Weerasinghe pulled off wins over Umadanthi Dias and Nashika Salgado in two straight sets.

Rajapaksa won 6-1, 7-5, and Weerasinghe won 6-0, 6-1.

The womens top four in the Womens Singles seedings are Saranga Sangakkara the reigning champion, Sobhini Wickremahewa, Dinali de Silva, Anuskha Rajiah.

Mens singles

In the absence of Rohan de Silva last years Mens Singles runner up, top seed Jayendra Wijeyesekera looks certain to retain the title.

Rajeev Rajapaksa is the number 2 seed followed by Lahiru Jayasuriya, Samitha Ranaweera, Dhevan Peiris, Vanaka Gunawardena, Manjula Weerakoon, Roshan Razik.

In yesterdays first round matches Ghazzali Ghouse, Ganendran Subramaniam, Thivanka Atukorala, Methal Hewage and Renuka Wijemanne won through to the second round.

Ghouse beat Mirko Muller 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 Subramaniam beat Basitha Kariyawasam 6-4, 6-2, Atukorale beat Iqbal Majeed 6-1, 6-0, Hewage beat J. Gallangoda 6-0, 6-1, Wijemanne beat Skanka Wijekoon 6-0, 6-2.

Over 35

Top seed, Aruna Seneviratne beat Eric Schmid 6-2, 6-1, in the mens over 35 singles first round while the bottom seed Ravi Subramanim beat R. L. de Silva 6-0, 6.0.

Veterans

Lyn Fernando the top in the Mens Singles over 55 downed Bryan Pereira 6-1, 6-0.

The championships will be continued from 8 a.m. today.

Kings going for the kill

By Marlon Fernandopulle

The excitement of Limited Over cricket, which has taken Lankan spectators by storm will return to the Premadasa Stadium today, when the high riding Sri Lanka team take on a battered Indian team in the first of the three One Day Internationals under lights.

Riding on the crest of a wave of success, the Lankan team under Arjuna Ranatunga is eager to once again prove their one day credentials. Their thirst for success has not only been to win the game, but to completely outplay the opposition and not give them a semblance of a chance.

Record breaking opener Sanath Jayasuriya who has taken Sri Lanka to new heights in both Tests and One Dayers, is certain to be the cynosure of all eyes. In the midst of a purple patch Jayasuriya will get another chance to have a crack at the Indian bowlers today. No doubt the visitors will have to come out with a carefully planned ploy to trap the left hander who in recent times has stood between victory and defeat.

Supported by a battery of batsmen capable of tearing the Indian attack apart, and a brilliant fielding side, Sri Lanka will start off as favourites in today's day/night game. The return of Hashan Tillekaratne will add stability to the middle order and strengthen their batting further.

India on the other hand will be looking to redeem lost prestige in the last leg of their tour. The former world champions are struggling to find their rhythm in the one dayers and the task is becoming more difficult against the confident Lankan team, who has won five of the last six encounters between the two countries.

India, who lost the final of the Asia Cup and failed to qualify to the final in the Independence Cup, are determined to pull off today's game to give their team a good chance of winning the 3 match series. Victory will also give Sachin Tendulkar's team some consolation after their beating in the Asia Cup. More importantly it will be a morale booster for the Indian team who will take on arch rivals Pakistan in Canada next month.

The decisive point for the Indians will be their bowling attack. Their main strike bowlers Venkatesh Prasad and Anil Kumble have failed to strike a good length and contain the run hungry Lankan batsmen Thus putting the onus on the inexperienced and part-time bowlers.

Another capacity crowd is expected to throng the Premadasa Stadium today to witness an enthralling encounter between two exciting teams. While the world champions and newly crowned Asian Champs Sri Lanka will be looking to stamp their class as one day kings, India will be eager to wrap up the five week tour on a winning note.

The teams: Sri Lanka

Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Roshan Mahanama, Arvinda de Silva, Arjuna Ranatunga, Hashan Tillekaratne, Lanka Silva, Kumar Dharmasena, Chaminda Vaas, Sajeewa de Silva, Muttiah Muralidaran, Ruwan Kalpage, Upul Chandana, Dulip Liyanage.

India

A. Jadeja, N. Sidhu, R. Dravid, S. Tendulkar, M. Azharuddin, S. Ganguly , N. Mongia, R. Chauhan, A . Kumble, D. Mohanty, V. Prasad, A. Kuruvilla, V. Kambli, N. Kulkarni, G. Khoda.

Talking point{tc "Talking point"}

Australian umpire Steve Randall who officiated as the neutral umpire in the first test was allegedly accused as a cheat and threatened in two separate anonymous letters that were slipped into his hotel room during the game.

The anonymous writer had reminded the umpire of Sri Lanka's controversial Australian tour and used impolite language.

The umpire was visibly shaken and made an immediate complaint to match Referee John Reid and requested for tighter security. Reid took up the matter with a top official of the Cricket Board and subsequently moved the umpire to another room,which was located in front of the security desk at the Hotel.The matter was resolved ,but will it be taken up by the ICC and would it have an effect on the future appointment of neutral umpires to Sri Lanka?

Steve Randall may or may not have had his faults, but this is not the manner in which a visiting umpire should be treated. Surely this is not cricket.

– (MF)

The Forgotten World Champ ?

M. J. M. Laffir put Sri Lanka on the world map by winning the world Billiardscrown.

It is sorry to note that he is a forgotten man now.

Kandy crush Havies 95/0

By Shane Seveviratne.

Kandy ran up the seasons highest score, running up 10 goals and five tries to crush Havelocks by 95 points to nil in their inter club A division second round game played for the Carlsberg Trophy at Nittawella yesterday.

Kandy led 55 nil at the half.

For Kandy, Suranga Kodituwakku and Priyantha Ekanayake scored three tries each, while Imthie Marrikar scored two tries and Opthi Turwa, Nalanak Weerakody, Asoka Jayasena, Harris Omar, Manasa Qoro, Eramasi Durula and Dustan SIlva scored a try each.

Nalaka Weerakody goaled 8 tries and Turwa 2.

Sri Lanka go out favourites

Sri Lanka led by P.D.N. Prasadi in their quest of retaining the Asian Championships title in netball will take on India in their second match of the tourney on September 2 at 6 p.m in Singapore.

The opening match will see the hosts Singapore battle Malaysia at 6 p.m. The remaining fixtures are:

Wednesday September 3rd.India vs Malaysia at 6 p.m. Singapore vs Sri Lanka at 8 p.m.

Thursday September 4th Singapore vs India at 6 p.m. Malaysia vs Sri Lanka at 8 p.m.

Friday September 5 th - semi finals at 6 and 8 p.m.

Saturday September 6th - final at 3 p.m. preceded by the losers final at 1 p.m.

The Sri Lanka team is P.D.N. Prasadi (Captain), K. Tilaka Jinadasa - (Vice Captain), Deepthi Alwis, Sandya Jayasuriya, Deepthi Rupa-singhe, Damayanthi Jaya-tilleka, Sujeewa Anuruddika, Asha Siriwardena, Gayathri Lankatilleka, Jayanthi Soma-sekeram de Silva, Harshani Priyangika Vijayalath, Sanjeewani Wanasinghe.

SSC badly placed

By Saif Izzadeen

SSC were reeling at 65 for 4 in reply against Bioomfield who scored 319 on the close of play on the day one of the under 24 cricket match played at Reid Avenue. Bloomfield taking first lease of the wicket scored 319 with the main contributor being Naveed Nawaz who scored well compiled 132.

Bloomfield 319 all out in 75 overs (N.Nawaz 132,S.Perera 43,B.de.Silva 44, Chaminda Botheju 4 for 60 and Harith Jayasuriya 2 for 15)

At the BRC grounds

BRC 199 all out in 70.3 overs (S.Devapura 85 I.Kodagoda 34,S.Rajapaske 14n.o,I.Gallage 4 for 48 and A.Dalugoda 3 for 57)

CCC 113 for 3 in 23 overs at close of play ( D.Hunu-kumubura 28 n.o, D.Arnolda 23 n,o and S.Jayantha 32)

Tamil Union 382 for 9 dec in 82 overs ( T.Carmer 110 n.o, N.Banadaratilake 50, I.de.Saram 47, A.Jayasinghe 38, C.Liyanage 30, G.Wije-koon 22, S.P.Makweewalla 2 for 134)

Kurunegala Youth Club 20 for 1 at close of play

At the NCC grounds

Moors 144 all out in 55.3 overs ( M.S.Sampan 54 Srimal 17,E.Ekanayake 18, D.Samarasinghe 4 for 37 and S.Jayaratne 5 for 13)

NCC 133 for 1 in 40 overs at close of play ( A.Veerappuli 37 n.o A. Riddiegamanagdera 64 n.o

At the CCC grounds

Colts were 122 for 9 at close of play against Anthonians who made 100 all out in their first inningsAnthonians 100 allout in 51 overs ( A.Gunawardana 24 Bathiya Perera 5 for 37, D.Heetiarachi 2 for 20 and Thilan Samaraweera 2 for 17)

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