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Lanka reel at 96 for 7
Bernie Wijesekera reporting from Centurion Park
North West Cricket Stadium, Potchefstroom, Saturday - Sri Lanka were in a bad way losing seven wickets for 96 runs in 28.3 overs in reply to South Africa A's score of 221 in 47.4 overs when rain inturrpted play.

South Africa A were 178 for 8 in 37 overs at one stage after their Captain Neil McKenzie won the toss and decided to bat first in their 50-overs warm-up practice match against Sri Lanka here today.

Sri Lanka's experienced medium pacer Pulasthi Gunaratne who flew with five others to South Africa for the five-match one day series ripped through the South African A middle-order with 4 for 37 in 8 overs.

Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya is playing in this match and is expected to be fully fit for the one-day international series which is starting on November 27. Meanwhile Sri Lankan selectors have kept faith in Rusell Arnold for this match despite his poor form with the bat.

Cricket, rich in talent- Bacher
Bernie Wijesekera reporting from Centurion Park
The State must support cricket. This could bring about reconciliation and understanding among all races said former Managing Director of the United Cricket Board of South Africa. Dr. Ali Bacher, who is also the present Executive Director of the Cricket World Cup -2003. Dr. Bacher was interviewed on the third day of the second Test (Nov. 17) at the Executive suite.

This was made possible through the good offices of Gerald De Koch - the Media Manager UCBSA.

Q: What is the secret behind S.A's uplift to emerge as a top cricketing nation after participating for the first time in the W.C. '92.
A: It's the key to its development programme at grassroots level, to give the kids of all races to play the game. In 1982, it was confined only to the Whites. (Mini Cricket). But we broke the barrier in 1986 and the cricket gospel was spread to all races. The Bacher's Mini Cricket Academy is now 21 years old (open to all not confining to the affluent society). The UCBSA's vision was to take the game to the underprivileged. Any govt. support very little Not depending on the Ministry of Sports.

Q:On this tour I was able to go to Soeweto and Alexandra and was able to see the coloured kids playing even in the streets. Don't you think they are more poverty stricken than wielding the willow.
A: Yes. But we are helping them. The Bachers Mini Cricket Academy is doing a good job in assisting them and harnessing talent. Giving exposure and to indulge in junior competitive cricket. Makhaya Ntini, Paul Adams, Ashwell Prince are some of the products playing at national level.

Q: What about your administration and the national selection panel? Is your Sports Ministry making the appointments?
A: No. It's entirely done by the UCBSA. The State should not interfere in the affairs of the NGOs. Of course if there are serious anomalies. No need for Ministry approval over selections.

The selection panel are the best judges. They are knowledgeable and have the experience. The Chairman Omar Henry is doing a full-time job and he's being paid. The counterparts in Sri Lanka should do well to take note of rather than interfering at every given turn. The nomination are done on the recommendations sent to us by the Provinces. The UCBSA picks the panel. The panel is for one year. They had to be totally committed. If they are found wanting then we remove them but not the Sports Minister.

Q: Any comments about the forthcoming World Cup -2003, here.
A: It's an united effort on the part of so many people. I am not going to take by personal credit. So many people have given a hand, for this exciting event to be remembered in the history of S.A. Cricket. This is the 8th W.C and the fourth that S.A. will be competing. Pakistan won the final under Imran Khan against England, at the MCG. S. Africa was re-admitted to the big league (after apartheid) in 1991. We were doubly keen to re-develop the game in the disadvantaged areas of S.A. Earlier it was the privileged sport among the 'Whites'.

Met Clive Lloyd at Lord's. He agreed to come to S.A. in our mission to help cricket among the have-nots. He wanted to meet Mr. Nelson Mandela. He did meet Mandela. Mr. Mandela said, something nice about S.A. cricket. He was pleased that we were taking the sport to the less privileged children. It happened in 1991.

One journalist asked him at this confab whether he would like S.A. taking part in next year's W.C. He replied that he would support the move. Mandela set the ball rolling and backing S.A's late entry for the W.C. l992.

Since then he is supporting cricket, and in our endeavour to promote cricket among the less privileged. For the forthcoming W.C. here, the government is giving the organizers 100 percent support, with men and material. 14 nations will take part.

Q:How did the late entry for W.C '92 become a reality?
A:Even your former President of the BCCSL, Tyronne Fernando and present Minister of Foreign Affairs gave us all support and encouragement. The ICC held an emergency meeting in Sharjah. Late Sir Colin Cowdrey President of the ICC gave the nod of our late entry, to participate. Today UCBSA has been recognized and we are hosting the event. All S. Africans are giving support.

Q:What about security?
A: No problem. The organisers have left no stone unturned. He finally commended cricket Rich in talent.

When Sangakkara was on song
By Marlon Fernandopulle
Sri Lanka wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara was on song at the Centurion Park. No,this time it was not with the willow. The 25-year-old wicket keeper batsman who has earned accolades from his team mates for his chit chats behind the stumps was at full throttle during the tensed last day of that second test match which saw tempers flying and some shocking umpiring decisions.

After stomaching enough of barrage from the arrogant South Africans particularly Pollock, Kallis and Boucher,Sangakkara led from the front as he gave the Proteas a taste of their own medicine.

"Where is the attitude now? Wheres the arrogance and the attitude now? Are you guys rattled? Doubting yourself,man? Self doubt, man?" Yeah, those were directed at Andrew Hall, the right hander who was struggling in the middle during that tensed run chase on the last day. New boy Ashwell Prince was not spared either.

"Ashwell's become the scapegoat of the side.Why don't they like you Ashwell? What did you do?" But the wicketkeeper saved the best for the last when he let Pollock have a piece of his mind. "We don't complain when we loose away. We don't cry like in Morocco and say this is not our conditions,this is not our conditions and go to the Press conference and say the same. F '***ing joke. If you win be gracious in both, man. Graceful, man, graceful Shaun. Learn it".

The South African captain who was instrumental in starting all this when he patted Mahela Jayawardene on the previous day listened tentatively, took a few steps towards the short leg umpire, came back to his crease and said You have been superb.

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