The Fifth Column

24th May 1998

The match sans sponsors

"Thaaththa" Bindu Udagedara asked, "what do you think of the match?"

"Match?" Percy Udagedara was puzzled; "I thought the New Zealanders haven't begun the Test matches yet..."

"No, thaaththa" Bindu said, pointing to the TV" that match that they are giving live coverage, the match between the UNP and PA on AirLanka..." "I wonder who is sponsoring the live coverage.." Percy said.

"No one, thaaththa," Bindu said.

"What a pity" Percy said, "they could have got someone like Singapore Airlines, British Airways, Peace Air or Mexican Airlines to sponsor the coverage, that way, Rupavahini could have made a profit...".

"What do you think of the teams, thaaththa?"

"The UNP played mostly second eleven players like Rajitha, Kongahage, Sarath Ranawake and Mahinda Samarasinghe. They seem to be fighting for places in the Test team....."

"So who was dropped?"

"Why, Hameed has been dropped or so it seems, Ronnie is of course on the injured list. Then, even Anura didn't play..."

"But they didn't do that badly despite fielding a second eleven..." "No" Percy agreed; "they did quite well after losing the toss and being asked to bat on a tricky wicket..."

"But thaththa, the PA played a full first eleven.."

"Yes, they took the game very seriously, so, Dharmasiri, G. L, Kingsley, C. V. and Jeyaraj were all asked to bat.."

"Weren't there any second eleven players?"

"Why not? Ravi was there but he was run out as soon as he began his innings; his partner Jeyaraj deliberately left him stranded.

"So who won the awards, thaaththa?"

"The best fielder's award was shared by G. L and Dharmasiri, they didn't drop anything that came their way.

"The best bowler?"

"That award goes to Ranil for bowling a steady line and length and keeping the batsmen in check.."

"And the best batsman?"

"That must be given to Jeyaraj for his entertaining innings, hitting all around the wicket including quite a few sixes..." "The best Captain?"

"Satellite of course though she didn't play in this match. She deserves the award for simply persevering with a team of such mediocre talent..."

"Any other awards, thaaththa?"

"Yes, there's a special award to the umpires, K. B. and Anil. It's a pity we couldn't have neutral umpires because the TV replays clearly showed the third umpire, Rauf Hakeem giving several wrong decisions..."

"And how was the crowd, thaaththa?"

"Well, eighteen million people were supposed to see the match on TV".

"And who won the match, finally?"

"That's where there is a difference, Bindu" Percy said.

"Why do you say that, thaaththa?"

"Though the UNP and the PA played the match, Bindu, the winners and losers were someone else...."

"So, who won?"

"Why Emirates Airlines, of course..."

"And who lost, then?"

"Eighteen million people of this country" Percy said.

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