• McGrath, Gillespie send India crashing to defeat
• Peter Roebuck arrives in Sri Lanka Sept.7
• Warnapura sees STC in final
• Vidyartha Division 2 Champs
• Do-or-die battle for Lanka today
• St. Peter's Under-17 undisputed champs
• Eddie Gray and Bertie in town
• Sri Lanka's chances depend on draw
• All set for Kandy's Int-Sevens rugby fiesta
• Harini wins Silver and Bronze medals
• Army Women in thrilling win
• Nawaloka Group F division champs
• Rover Pinpoints....
• 15 swimmers for SAF Games
• Chandradasa new Golf Champion
• Police Shuttle champs
• Fisherman's son in Asian Games Pool
• Briefly
• Kandy S. C. pride of Hill Capital rugby
• Have you heard this…
• Putting Lanka on the Team Sailing map
• That Davis Cup Cliffhanger of 1939
• NCC pool - a boost to aqua sport . . .
• The Umpires and their decisions
• BCCSL may claim damages

McGrath, Gillespie send India crashing to defeat

By Marlon Fernandopulle

A hostile opening spell from Glen McGrath and Jason Gillespie send India crashing to a 41 run defeat against Australia in a Aiwa Cup Tri Nation game at the SSC grounds yesterday.

Chasing 253 to win in 49 overs the Indians who were minus skipper Sachin Tendulkar (back strain)were rocked back by McGrath and Gillespie who took five wickets between them in their opening spell and reduced India to 44 for 5 in the 13th over.

While opener Sadagopan Ramesh stood firm on one end, the rest of the Indian top order succumbed to the pace,bounce and swing of McGrath and Gillespie.

Needing a win to have a better chance of playing in Tuesdays final India never looked like reaching the target after their disasterous start.

However allrounder Robin Singh joined Ramesh and stemmed the fall of wickets and added 123 runs in as much as 170 balls to bring some respectability to the total.

Ramesh playing his first match in the tournament completed his 4th half century and went on to make 71 in 123 balls. Left hander Singh who was out in the last over top scored with 75 as India were all out for 211 conceding victory by 41 runs and still in search of a solitary win in the tournament.

Earlier in the day India won the toss and invited Australia to take first lease of the wicket. After openers Mark Waugh and Adam Gilchrist put on 40 runs for the first wicket the World Champions progressed steadily scoring between 5 to 6 runs an over. Gilchrist led the way with another aggresive knock of 75 and put on 110 runs with Andrew Symonds (45) for the second wicket to pave the way for a sizeable total.

Although Ricky Ponting (32) and Darren Leheman(28) helped the Aussies to reach 200 in the 39 th over their middle order failed to build from the solid start that was provided.

Medium pacer Prasad returning in his second spell removed Ponting and Bevan after Robin Singh prized out skipper Steve Waugh that left the Aussies tail exposed. Allrounder Tom Moody (14 n o) battled it out untill the end as the Aussies reached 252 for 8 in 50 overs.

India needs a big win today if they are to overtake Sri Lanka on the Net Run Rate and play in Tuesdays final.As the Current Net run rate stands Sri Lanka (-0.40) are ahead of India(-0.77) .

Australia

M Waugh c Dravid b Srinath 18

(Attempted off drive thick outside edge)

A Gilchrist c Srinath b Chopra 77

(Top edged a sweep to short fine leg)

A Symonds c Dravid b Srinath 45

(Playing forward thick outside edge to wk)

R Ponting c Shukla(sub) b Prasad 32

(Pull over square leg)

D Leheman run out(Jadeja) 28

(Attempted Single,beaten by throw)

S Waugh c & b Singh 6

(Driving a half Volley)

M Bevan b Prasad 7

(Playing forward to a ball that cut back sharply)

T Moody not out 14

S Warne c Shukla(sub) b Kumble 4

(Uppish drive to Long off)

J Gillepsie not out 2

Extras (B -1,LB-10,NB-3,W-5) 15

Total (for 8 wkts in 50 overs) 252

Bowling: J Srinath10-1-43-2 V Prasad 10-0-29-2 N Chopra 10-0-62-1 A Kumble 9-0-48-1 R Singh 8-0-41-1 S Ganguly 3-0-18-0

India

S Ganguly c Warne b Mcgrath 8

(Playing back ,thick outside edge to wk)

S Ramesh c M Waugh b Symonds 71

(Fending a short pitch delivery ct at Mid Wicket)

A Khurasiya b Gillepsie 12

(Attempted drive,inside edge)

R Dravid c Gilchrist b Gillespie 00

(Playing forward to an outswinger)

A Jadeja lbw b Mcgrath 00

(Shuffled across the stumps)

V Kambli c Gilchrist b Gillespie 03

(Playing forward ,thin edge to wk)

R Singh ct Symonds b Leheman 75

(Pull to deep mid wicket)

N Chopra run out(Symonds) 5

(Attempted second run beaten by throw

J Srinath c Gilchrist b Gillespie 15

(Attempted off drive thin outside edge)o wk)

A Kumble b Leheman 4

(Attempted hit to long on, missed)

V Prasad not out 0

Extras (LB-4,W-10,NB -4) 18

Total(all out in 48.3 overs) 211

Bowling :G Mcgrath 10-0-55-2 J Gillespie 9-1-26-4 T Moody 10-4-28-0 A Symonds 7-0-32-1 M Bevan 5-0-21-0 S Warne 7-0-41-0, D Leheman 0.3-0-4-2

Peter Roebuck arrives in Sri Lanka Sept.7

Respected and renowned Sports writer Peter Roebuck will arrive in Sri Lankan on Tuesday Sepember 31 primarily to cover the 3 Test Series between Sri Lanka and Australia.

During his stay in Sri Lanka Peter will take time off to talk to schoolboy cricketers from Wesley, St. Joseph's St Sebastain's, Trinity, Royal and Richmond.The Sports Media Association of Sri Lanka will host Peter Roebuck at the Old Wesleyites Sports Club on the 7th of September at 6.30 p.m. This event will be sponsored by the Old Wesleyites Sports club.

Warnapura sees STC in final

By Ravi Nagahawatte

S.Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia registered a thrilling 1-0 victory over arch-rivals Royal in the Under 21 finals of the Junior National Water Polo Championship which was worked off at the Sugathadasa Swimming Pool yesterday.

Ranga Warnapura became the sole scorer and the match winner for his team when he helped his team to break the ice after a scoreless first half.

The lads from Mount Lavinia began promisingly earlier on when their juniors annexed the Under 17 title by beating Royal 3-0. Ladies College beat Visaka in the ladies Under 21 final .

Vidyartha Division 2 Champs

By Aubrey Kuruppu

Vidyaratha's under-fifteen Cricketers annexed the Division 2 title with a comprehensive 130 runs win over Royal 'B' in the final played at Campbell Park.

Seven Vidyartha batsmen made sizeable contrubutions as they totalled a formidable 239 - 8. Left arm leg spinner Seneviratne accounted for five batsmen.

Royal fared poorly in reply and were bowled out in a mere 31 overs. Off-spinner Wekadapola returned a bag of five wickets.

On their way to the final, Vidyartha got the better of Thurstan 'B' and Tissa MV Kalutra.

Vidyartha 239 - 8 in 50 overs.

S.M. Perera 37, M. Nilan 15, K.Kulasekera 27, S..Herath 38, P. Indrajith 42, M.Chandrasiri 30, J. Dharmasena 23, D. Seneviratne 5 for30,

Royal 'B' 109 in 31 overs.

D.N. Dias 23, D. Kotahewa 17, C.Heenkende 31, S.M. Perera 2/12, Wekadapola 5/28, L.de Silva 2/8.

Do-or-die battle for Lanka today

By Bernie Wijesekera

Sri Lanka, who nearly turned tables against the mighty Australians under lights last Thursday take on India in the deciding qualifying round match in AIWA Triangular Series at the SSC grounds, (today) Sunday.

The World Cup champions Australia have already qualified with three wins in a row for the final to be played under lights at the R. Premadasa Stadium.

Sri Lanka lost both their matches to Australia. But did well to outplay India by seven wickets. India made 205 for 8 . There were four run-outs in the Indian innings including Sachin Tendulkar 37 and S. Ganguly for 9.

Sri Lanka did well to make it for the loss of three wickets - thanks to two workmanlike knocks coming from skipper Sanath Jayasuriya, a stroke-filled 61 and a perky 71 n.o. by sedate Marvan Atapattu. The pair put on 83 runs for the first wicket which proved a winning factor.

The plus mark for the Lankans success was their much-improved fielding all round.

Jayasuriya led by example leading from the front.

In their penultimate tie against Australia under lights the Lankans lost in a night chase by 27 runs. Aussies made 241. Sri Lanka after a dismal start losing 6 for 114, put up a fine rear guard action by debutante Chamara Silva 55 and all-rounder Upul Chandana 35 making the Aussies sweat for victory.

Without the old brigade it was a gritty display by the new look Lankan team. Though beaten they were in no way disgraced. There were three run outs in the Lankan innings. Impetuosity cost them dearly. Arnold (41), Atapattu (14) and Kaluwitharne (14). Indifferent batting by the top order resulted in their downfall.

In today's match against India, the Lankan batsmen must show better concentration and application, as the Indians, too will go flat out to win this match and be in contention for the final. Sri Lanka has to give a superior all-round team effort to win in this do-or-die battle. The Lankan pacemen tended to be wayward and conceded bonus runs for their opponents. Vas bowled 7 no-balls and a wide against India, while Suresh Perera, too was off target, bowling 1 no ball and 7 wides against the Indians. The pacemen failed to be on target. The spinners who really impressed in the last three games - Chandana, Sanath Jayasuriya (a haul of 5 wkts against the Aussies) in the first match and Muralitharan who contained the batsmen.

The experienced Promodaya Wickremasinghe should be given the nod - as this match will be played at his home ground. Arnold came off in the match against the Aussies, as an utility allrounder - both bat and ball, plus agile fielding.

The Indians will be going flat out to post a win. They too are fielding a young and talented side. Skipper Tendulkar is a classy batsman and a big score is long overdue. He was settling down when he and Ganguly ran themselves out against the Lankans. They have the batsmen to dent any attack on their day with their batting skills which in turn could warm the hearts of the spectators. The Sunday fans are assured of an exciting match in the end.

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