Akhtar
blasts out Aussies
By Bernie Wijesekera
Shoaib
Akhtar in full swing at P. Sara Stadium. Pic by Ishara
S. Kodikara |
Shoaib
Akhtar in his second spell wrought havoc claiming 5 for 21
and Australia were rattled out for 127 in their second innings
before the rains came down in the first Test of the three
Test Pepsi Series continued for the third day at the P. Sara
Stadium yesterday.
The Australians
leading by 188 runs on the first innings were cruising well
with 45 for no loss at lunch in their second innings and then
collapsed dramatically and were all out for 127. The Pakistanis
have now to make 316 runs to win in the remaining two days
as well as face the wrath of in-form Aussie spinner Shan Warne.
The Australians
made 467 in the first innings. Pakistan in reply were struggling
at 116 for 5 overnight thanks to an aggressive and attractive
103 run sixth wicket stand between 21-year-old Faisal Iqbal,
83 (in 85 balls with 16 fours) and a gritty 66 by wicket-keeper
batsman Rashid Latif in (106 balls with 10 fours) steadied
the innings to stave off an impending a follow on.
Iqbal
batting with authority was pretty harsh on Shane Warne. He
cut, drove and pulled effortlessly. He laced 18 runs in Warne's
15th over inclusive of four fours.) with admirable support
coming from his senior partner Latif. It was sweet revenge
for Warne. Yesterday when he spun a web among the Pakistani
lower-order to bag the last five wickets for 37 runs - after
taking (2 for 57, overnight). 7 for 94.
Latif
had a charmed life on 36 when Ponting failed to pocket the
ball in the slips off McGrath. Then on 57, Matthew Hayden
fluffed at gully off Bret Lee. finally Latif, fell to Warne
when he was well held by Martyn at mid - wicket for a well
struck 66 in 106 balls. Waqar Younis 14 (With a six and four)
saw Pakistan total 279 all out.
Australia
cruising well at lunch 45 for no loss with Hayden on 22 and
Langer on 16. The opening stand reached 61. But Shoaib Akhtar
in his second spell wrought havoc. The Rawalpindi Express,
"Exploded from the Press box end bowled with sheer speed
and venom. In his fifth over dot ball second had Ponting's
gate opened when he played on for 7, In the third ball a stunning
yorker had Mark Waugh's fence shattered and was on a hat-trick.
Steve Waugh played it down.
But the
next delivery sent a bullet on target to trap Steve leg -
before for 0. The Aussie debacle started at 1.54 p.m. Akthar
3 for 9. In the sixth over last ball had Gilchrist's stumps
in a disarry for 7. The game took a dramatic turn when 4 wickets
fell in 11 balls for no runs, after being 61 for 1.
Anura
Rohana in line for golf medal
Sri Lanka who struggled without any success during the past
seven days at the 14th Asian Games had a glimmer of hope of
winning a medal in the men's golf championships when Anura
Rohana topped the third round with a score of 214. If all
goes well a gold medal is within his reach.
Sixty
five players from 17 countries have entered for this competition
and Sri Lankan competitors Tissa Chandrasena (219) and Lalith
Kumara (231) were in fifth and 25th places respectively.
Anura
Rohana was confident of a medal when he spoke to the Sunday
Times at the Games Village yesterday. Twenty nine year old
Rohana is an old boy of Sri Parakumba Vidyalaya, Narahenpita.
He has won contests in Malaysia and Pakistan and is a member
of the Royal Colombo Golf Club in Borella. At the Beijing
Asian Games in 1990, golfer Nandasena Perera bagged a silver.
Meanwhile
Sri Lanka skipper and sprint queen Susanthika Jayasinghe said
yesterday that she is confident of giving the country at least
two golds in the 100 and 200 metre dashes. She also said that
the country has a good chance of winning a medal in the women's
4 X 100 metres relay event as well.
Susanthika
will be seen in action tomorrow (October 7) when she takes
part in the 200 metres heats. Other athletes who will be in
action tomorrow are: Sugath Tillekeratne, Rohan Pradeep Kumara
(Men's 400 metres) and Maheshi de Silva (Women's javelin).
Sriyani Kulawansa is perturbed with the news that she has
been left out of the women's 4 X 100 metres relay squad and
alleged that officials were against her. She said that officials
were serving Susanthika with a different spoon and serving
her with yet another spoon.
Sri Lanka's
rugby team suffered a humiliating 70-11 defeat in the XV-a-side
tournament at the hands of South Korea. At half time the scores
were 24-3. In kabadi too Sri Lanka had a bad day losing to
Pakistan 6-21. Today they are scheduled to meet Malaysia and
India.
Fiery
bowling at its best
By Bernie Wijesekera
Steve Waugh is back in the Australian Test team to lead 'em
in the first epoch-making first Test which is now on at the
picturesque P. Sara Stadium. Both Aussie skipper Steve Waugh
and Pakistani captain Waqar Younis took part in a media confab
held on October 1 followed by a reception for this unique
happening in the annals of Sri Lanka cricket.
Soft-spoken
Steve was a silent observer at the reception attended by people
from all walks of life. Former Sri Lanka players Gamini Goonesena,
Ian Pieris, Vernon Prins, Chandra Schaffter, S. Skanda Kumar
etc., were among them. The Aussie captain was interviewed
by The Sunday Times.
Q:
It's nice to see you leading the team after a well-earned
rest.
A: It's good to be with the family and spend some
time with the kids rather than being away from home for most
part of the time.
It's good to be back in the side and being able to enjoy the
game. Today the Aussies are rated No.1 in the established
game.
It attributes to an unstinted team effort where all contributed
for its success. It's not only winning. The game has to be
enjoyed by all. We must strive to help each other on and off
the field.
Q:
Despite your fame you remain egalitarian helping in charities
at home and especially (away) to overcome suffering. There
are no barriers to do community service. 'God's gift to you
is Life, what you do with it is your gift to God',isn't it.
A: One must always strive to think that everything is
temporary. During this short span one must try to help others,
alleviate their misery. It's not only me. All other members
of the team are quite aware of this. You believe that all
must play for the right reasons and look to the future of
the game rather than their own needs. This has been one of
the reasons for the degrading of the game in recent times.
This is something where all must adhere to.
Beaten
by better team
Q: Australia has the strength in all departments to match
any team (Tests). In the 1998-'99 tour of India, the Aussies
were beaten by India.
A: We were not disgraced, but beaten by a better team.
It's good for the game and the players learnt much from that
tour - to play in humid conditions and slow turning pitches.
One must learn to face setbacks in life. This will help to
plan for a better future.
Q:
On that tour your heart melted for the poor suffering children
(in a Leprosy home). It was a laudable act of yours to spend
a day with the children. They have not forgotten the gesture.
Further you made a promise to come back which you did to raise
funds for the Girls Home.
A: The late Sir Don Bradman despite his fame led a humble
life for others to emulate. He instilled on fairplay and maintained
its spirit at all times.
Glen McGrath though not a ball of fire with the cherry is
the number one fast bowler in the world.
Q:
This first Test match at this neutral venue - P. 'Sara' Stadium
(formerly known as The Oval) has been a good pitch for fast
bowling. The likes of Keith Miller and Ray Lindwall, John
Snow, Wesley Hall and Charlie Griffith, Jones and Trim revelled
on this pitch.
A: Australia has McGrath, young Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie,
while Pakistan fielding virtually a youth team sans big 'uns,
They are headed by Waqar Younis, 'Rawalpindi Express' Shoaib
Akthar and M. Sami to match them. It will be the world's best
hostile bowlers on show for the first time in Sri Lanka.
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