Lalitha wins 1500m at Ceylinco Meet
W.D.Lalitha Kumaratunga of Seylan Bank was the winer of the 1500 metres
event at the annual sports meet of Ceylinco Group of Companies held at
the Colombo University grounds.
Following are the other results:
Men - 1500 M: 1. W.D. Lalitha Kumarathunge (Seylan Bank); 2. S.Rodrigo
(Cey.CISCO), 3. A.N. Deepal Jayasena (Seylan Bank).
High Jump: 1. Nuwan Rohana (Middleway); 2. E.S.I. Silva (Blue Diamond);
3. Thimal Basnayake (Ceylinco Shriram).
Discus Throw : P.K. Bandara (Cey.Insurance Life); 2. N. Liyanage (Blue
Diamonds); 3. D.Hilary (Blue Diamonds).
Long Jump: 1. B.M. Nisha Mendis (Seylan Bank); 2. D.H. Silva (CIC Life);
3. P.K.Premasiri (Seylan Bank).
Shot Putt: 1. P.K. Bandara (CIC Life); 2. H.E.T.Sampath (CIC Life);
3. I.M. Rajiva Wijetunga (Ceylinco Shriram).
Women - Long Jump: 1. Mangalika Senadeera (General); 2. Arunika Udayani
(The Finance); 3. T.G. Anjana Kulari (General).
Shot Putt: 1. K.M.Indrani (CIC General); 2.Arunika Udayani (The Finance);
3. Nayomi Hettiarachchi (Golden Key).
Muttiah Muralitharan
Born: 17 April 1972, Kandy
Major Teams: Tamil Union, Lancashire, Sri Lanka.
Known As: Muttiah Muralitharan
Batting Style: Right Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Right Arm Off Break
Test Debut: Sri Lanka v Australia at Colombo (RPS), 2nd Test,
1992/93
ODI Debut: Sri Lanka v India at Colombo (RPS), 2nd ODI, 1993/94
Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1999
Profile:
Muttiah Muralitharan was born in Kandy. His father, Muttiah Sinnasamy,
ran a successful confectionary business and Muralitharan is the eldest
of four sons. When he was nine years old he was sent to St Anthony's College,
a private school run by Benedictine monks and styled upon Ampleforth College
in England. He began his cricketing career as a medium pace bowler, but
on the advice of his school coach, Sunil Fernando, he took up off spin
when he was fourteen years old. He soon impressed and went ton to play
for four years in the school First XI. In those days he played as an all
rounder and batted in the middle order. In his final two seasons at St
Anthony's he took over one hundred wickets and in 1990/1 was named as the
'Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year. He joined Tamil Union and was selected
for the Sri Lanka A tour of England in 1991. He played in five games but
failed to capture a single wicket. Wisden Cricketers' Almanack records:
"Muttiah Muralitharan [found] pitches generally unsympathetic to his slow
turn. However, at 19 he was very much a novice with time to learn the skills
of his trade." On his return to Sri Lanka he impressed against Allan Border's
Australian team in a practice game and then went on to make his test debut
at Premadasa International Stadium in the Second Test Match of the series.
Andrew Flower
Born: 28 April 1968, Cape Town, South Africa
Major Teams: Mashonaland, Marylebone Cricket Club, Zimbabwe.
Known As: Andy Flower
Batting Style: Left Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Right Arm Off Break
Other: Wicket Keeper Test Debut: Zimbabwe v India at Harare,
Only Test, 1992/93
ODI Debut: Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka at New Plymouth, World Cup,
1991/92
Profile: A wicket-keeper batsman of high class, a sound 'keeper,
and fluent stroke maker who can dominate the best bowling. His left-hand
batting is based on a solid technique, and he employs a wide range of shots,
improvising to great effect in one-day games. He drives anything pitched
up, can cut and hook, and is strong off his legs. Although he is a capable
wicket-keeper and it enables the national side to play him as a virtual
all rounder, his keeping has never quite reached the same high standard
as his batting. His first century in the national side came on his official
one day international debut, against Sri Lanka in the first World Cup match
of 1992. When he was appointed captain and forced to take on a triple role,
he found after two years the burden too heavy to bear, and relinquished
the captaincy. One of his best innings, instrumental in bringing Zimbabwe
their first Test victory, was a magnificent 156 against Pakistan in 1994-95.
He took up the captaincy again in a caretaker role after Alistair Campbell's
resignation in November 1999.
Brian Charles Lara
Born: 2 May 1969, Cantaro, Santa Cruz, Trinidad
Major Teams: Trinidad & Tobago, Warwickshire, Northern Transvaal,
WI.
Known As: Brian Lara
Batting Style: Left Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Leg Break Googly
Test Debut: West Indies v Pakistan at Lahore, 3rd Test, 1990/91
ODI Debut: West Indies v Pakistan at Karachi, 1st ODI, 1990/91
Profile: Strengths: Could be tremendously charming and talks
a good game. When batting well, has no real peers for stroke-play. When
he is concentrating on cricket, can be very innovative and exciting, both
as captain and as batsman. Was been allowed to continue as captain to form
his own destiny despite the dreadful South African tour but losing to NZ
in 1999-2000 was the final straw, and he resigned shortly afterwards. Does
have the ability to forget any off-field situations to focus on the cricket.
Must and can lead from the front as a batsman if he wants positive results.
Has the strange ability to shut the world out when he really wants to.
Now, he needs to do exactly that. Weaknesses: Not sufficiently disciplined
for one so gifted. Needs to communicate more with himself and especially
to his players. Like Richards and Sobers before him, he needs to recognize
that the world is not so full of geniuses. Needs to surround himself, especially
off the field, with people who have his best interests at heart. Must try
harder to be fitter. Does not seem to be able to bat for very prolonged
periods anymore. Suggested that he sometimes holds grudges.
Asgiriya Stadium - Kandy
Name: Asgiriya Stadium
End names: Hunnasgiriya End, Hanthana End
Home Team: Kandy Youth Cricket Club.
First-class matches: 22
Test Matches: 12
Profile: The Asgiriya Stadium is in the playing fields of Trinity
College, Kandy. A historic school ground which has been redeveloped to
become the 54th Test venue, hosting the inaugural Test between Sri Lanka
and Australia in 1983. The credit for turning this venue into a Test ground
goes to a Trinity College old boy, the Late Hon. Gamini Dissanayake, who
also served as President of the SLBCC during most of the 1980's. The ground,
which is located in the upcountry, was levelled down by 10 feet in order
to accommodate the seven and a half acres of playing area it now comprises.
Although it has been redesigned, with a massive pavilion, new scoreboard
and sightscreens, the capacity cannot stretch beyond 10,000 spectators.
The ground is in a charming setting, surrounded by hills, although this
does result in shadows over the ground in the late afternoon or evening.
The first First-Class fixture on the ground was played in 1975/76, and
since then the ground has been used regularly for fixtures against touring
teams. During the monsoon period however, the ground is affected severely,
and as a result matches can be ruined by rain, as was the case with the
July 1993 Test between Sri Lanka and India, in which only 12 overs of play
were possible.
(Courtesy CricInfo)
Zahira (Puttalam) champs
By M. Shamil Amit
Zahira College Puttalam, who were promoted to the Division One, created
history when they won the Milo Under 18 All Island Schools Soccer tournament
in their debut year. Four hundred and forty schools participated in this
tournament which was conducted in four age groups. The feature of the tournament
this year was the domination by the outstation schools.
The respective champions and runners up in each age group were - Under
12 Veluwana MMV. Runner up-Joseph Vaz, Wennappuwa. Under 14-Zahira College,
Maradana. Runner up St. Joseph's College, T'malee. Under 16. Division 1-Isipathana
Vidyalaya. Runner up. Joseph Vaz Wennappuwa. Division 2. St. Mary's College,
Negombo. Runner up. St. Joseph's MV, Grandpass. Division 3. Rahula Vidyalaya,
Matara. Runner up Lumbini MV, Colombo. Under 18. Division 1. Zahira (Puttalam).
Runner up-Isipathana, Colombo. Division 2. Galigamuwa MV, Geli Oya. Runner
up Lumbini MV. Division 3. St. Xavier's College, Mannar. Runner up St.
Mary's, Chilaw.
Swim champ Arun
Arun Karunaratne of Sinhalese Sports Club was adjudged the Year 2001 National
Swimming Champion at the Sri Lanka National Swimming and Diving Championships
conducted at Sugathadasa swimming pool during the last week.
Splendid performances of Arun winning all five events he competed paved
way to be also the best swimmer of the meet. Arun won the events 50m Backstroke,
100m Backstroke, 200m Backstroke, 400m Free Style and 200 m Individual
Medley with superb timing.
Rizvi Zain Memorial Challenge Trophy for the best swimmer of the competition
was awarded to Arun by the Asst. General Manager of Bank of Ceylon the
principal sponsor of the swimming meet.
Dilanthi Ranaweera of Mahamaya College was the best national women's
swimmer who won three events at the championships.
BRC cricketers honoured
Burgher Recreation Club, one of the oldest clubs in Sri Lanka turned a
purple patch last season when they emerged runners-up in the Premier "A"
league tournament (P.'Sara' to NCC).
The club accorded a felicitation to the players for doing proud for
the club last weekend. Former Sri Lanka captain and vice-chairman of the
Int. Committee (BCCSL) Mike Tissera was the chief guest. Today BRC is a
family club catering not only to the needs of the talented young sportsmen,
cricket and hockey. In both sports they were front runners in the past.
Late president of the club Gen. B.R. Heyn represented the country in both
sports. He did much for the tement of the club. Others continued its good
work. At present Jayantha Paranathala is at the helm of its affairs, and
with his committee has seen a new facelift.
Today they have a green pitch where all the "A" div. cricket is being
played. According to cricket secretary, Satya Jayasuriya, the club caters
to the needs of the outstation youth cricketers. They have achieved much
success as a result. He said some of them are assisted with job opportunities.
One of them a lad from St. Aloysius Galle, Sajeewa Weerakoon - a wily left-arm
spinner. (BW) |
