A resolute rearguard fightback by the tailenders helped CCC to recover from 112/6 to a formidable 292 all out against Bloomfield in a Division One P.Sara Trophy game at Maitland Crescent yesterday.
Overnight batsmen Yasas Tilekaratne (37) and Upul Fernando (55) added 73 for the 7th wicket as the CCC bowlers toiled all morning for a breakthrough. The home side were frustrated further when Mario Villawarayar (61) and Niranjan Dabare (20.N.O.) added 63 runs for the last wicket to help CCC reach 292 all out. Villawarayan's half century included three boundaries and three sixes.
Bloomfield replied with 45/2 when bad light halted play. Sanath Jayasuriya was at the crease batting on a subdued 35, which included four hits to the ropes.
SSC were reeling at 57 for 4 in their encounter against neighbours NCC. After Friday's play was washed-off, only two hours of play was possible yesterday.
Invited to take first lease of the wicket SSC were rocked back on their heels by NCC's left are medium pacer Sajeewa Silva. Silva grabbed the first 03 wickets after which Benedictine schoolboy Pradeep Hewage sent at Marvan Atapattu's stumps cartwheeling in his second over. Arjuna Ranatunge and Hemantha Wickremaratne defied the NCC bowlers of any further success before bad light halted play.
A fluent century by Indika Galagoda helped BRC to be in the box seat in their game against Kalutara TC. After bowling out Kalutara TC for 160 runs BRC finished the day at a commanding 203 for 4.. Galagoda was unbeaten on 104 with the aid of ten hits to the ropes.
Half centuries by Indika de Saram (54) and Upul Chandana (67) helped Tamil Union to 232 all out against Colts. Off sppiner Tilan Samaraweera was the pick of the Colts bowlers claiming 5 for 50.. Play commenced only yesterday in this game after it was washed-off on Friday.
Exchanges were even at Braybrooke place in the game between Antonians SC and Galle CC. Chasing Galle CC's first innings total of 205 all out Antonians SC were 64/3 when bad light stopped play.
At Maitland Crescent: CCC Vs Bloomfield: CCC-112/6 overnight 292 all out. Yasas Tilekaratne 37, Upul Fernando 55, Mario Villawarayan 61, Niranjan Dabare 20 N.O. Priyankara Wickremasinghe 4/63 Bateesha de Silva 3/21, Hemantha Boteju 2/44; Bloomfield - 45/2 (Sanath Jayasuriya 35 .N.O.)
At Maitland Place: NCC Vs SSC: SSC - 57/4 (Mahela Jayawardene 26; Sajeewa de Silva 3/21, Pradeep Hewage 1/16)
At. Braybrooke Place: Galle CC Vs Old Antonians SC: Galle-67/2 overnight 205 all out. (Anil Riddigammanagedera-27, Duminda Wickremasinghe-31, S.M. Faumy 43, Namal Samarawickrema 2/22, Thushira Kodikara 2/32, Gamini Perera 4/37); Old Antonians SC - 64/3 (Pasan Wanasinghe-25)
AT Havelock Park BRC Vs Kalutara TC: Kalutara TC-93/3 overnight 160 all out. (Chitraka Hettiarachchi -45, Padmanath Perera-26, Primal Warakagoda 24 N. O. Deepal Maddurapperuma 6/45); BRC-203/4 (Indika Galagoda 105. N.O. Udaya Hettiarachchi 35 NO. Dhammika Rajapakse 26, Chitraka Hettiarachchi 2/25
At Colts grounds Colts vs Tamil Union: Tamil Union -232 all out(Indika de Saram 54, Upul Chandana 67, Nishantha ranatunga 3/53, Tilan Samaraweera 5/50; Colts 10/0.
At Moratuwa: Sebatianites Vs Panadura SC: Sebastianites scored 119 for 6 at close against Panadura in their Sara Trophy match at Moratuwa Stadium yesterday. (S. K. Silva 29, D. Bodhiyabaduge 55, Don Arunasiri 2 for 21, Indika Gallage 2 for 35).
Pushpakumara and Kalpage take a break after excercises
The national cricket team boosted by fresh talent are undergoing tough physical fitness training in preparation for a hectic 1997, during which Captain Arjuna Ranatunga hopes the team would rise to greater heights than in 1996.
With World Champion status, Sri Lanka had got a year full of cricket starting with the tour to New Zealand in February, Sharjah Cup in March, back here to play Pakistan in April, to India for an invitation tournament, to the Caribbean in May, Asia Cup in Sri Lanka in June, to India in July, to Pakistan for an invitation tourney in August, to Kenya in September, to Sharjah in October and India here in November with at least two more invitations not yet confirmed.
With so much cricket at stake the local officials are not taking any chances, paying a much attation to the peak fitness required to cope with the heaviest schedule in Sri Lanka's cricket history.
The poolists are now being given physical training by Alex Kountourie, the team physiotherapist. Counting a solid eight years experience in Australia, he has been with the local cricketers for the past 13 months. He has become a part of the national cricket team.
Highly impressed by our gentleman cricketers, and their willingness to learn, Alex is of the opinion that he has got the best team in the world willing workers, good learners and men who play in the highest interest of their country.
Marvan
Atapattu
He is expecting the poolists to reach peak stamina and fitness in six weeks time before they go to New Zealand to face the first of the 1997 challenges.
At present the national pool players are having exercises thrice a week at the Ananda College pool with a session at the gymnasium also. At the pool it is fitness building with water resistance exercises and then outdoor physical fitness with strength building at the gym.
In addition all poolists are given a strict diet programme to keep weight at required levels. Weight is checked through a sophisticated skinfold technique.
Team manager Duleep Mendis has been delegated the task of overlooking the entire training schedule until a new coach takes over next month. According to Mendis, the team is shaping up well and are hopeful of great things next year.
Guido Cappellini made it four-in-a-row by emerging the UIM Formula One Powerboat world champion at the Breakwaters of Abu Dhabi on Friday.
Guido of Italy won the championships in 1993, 1994, 1995 and capped it all with a fine display of controlled driving to win Pole Position with the fastest timing at practices with Jon Jones of the Gold Leaf Team close on his heels.
The Italian has aggregated 140 points in the seven series wins in Sardinia, Hungary, Russia, France, Greece, China, Italy losing to Jones in Champion A Italia.
In the run off for Pole Positions, Goran Rarlof of Sweden had the misfortune of pulling out of the race with his engine catching fire whilst in the water.
AU lad Humid who has also joined the John Player Gold Leaf team, did well to come amongst the first six to record the fastest time in front of his home crowd.
Guide, the undisputed world champion, was presented with the Maserati Ghibili coupe by world championship promoter Nicols di German at the end of the last Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi.
Speaking to the 'Sunday Times', Guido said he was thrilled that he could maintain his position as world champion and paid a tribute to this faithful for not causing him any problems except where be lost to Welshman, Jon Jones in the sixth of the series.
Periti Loppala of Finland too came into contention for the grand finale, with a fastest time on the penultimate day of the grid position was faded away in the afternoon session for pole position.
The other drivers who faced the starter included: 1 Guido Chappellini (Italy) Dac Racing 2 Yutaka Sugihara (Japan) Dac Racing 3 Michael Werner (Germany) Mm Power Germany 4 Goran Karlof (Sweden) MM Power Germany 7 Jonathan Jones (England) John Player Gold Leaf 8 Paul Blackburn (England) John Player Gold Leaf 9 Massimo Roggiero (Italy) Dactalusfi 10 Pertileppala (Finland) Dactalusfi 14 Thomas Ericsson (Sweden) Singha 15 Andy Elliot (Eng.) Singha 16 Fabrizio Bocca (Italy) Formula Racing 18 Jerry Peachment (England) Formula Racing 19 Philippe Dessertene (France) Fuchfi 20 Jean V Degusine (France) Fuchfi
The inter-firm shuttle championship 1996 organized by the Mercantile Badminton Association annually is now in progress at the Indoor Stadium, S. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia.
The final matches of the championship will be held on December 15 from 5.00 p.m. onwards.
Muttiah Muralitharan was placed fourteenth and Romesh Kaluwitharana seventeenth in the CEAT International Cricketer of the 1996 in which Wasim Akram was placed on top.
The Top 20 players in the CEAT CRICKET RATINGS as on 14th November '96 is as follows:
Wasim Akram Pakistan 56 01 Saeed Anwar Pakistan 46 02 Moin Khan Pakistan 42 03 Anil Kumble India 41 04 Sachin Tendulkar India 41 04 Waqar Younis Pakistan 38 06 Nayan Mongia India 37 07 Saqlain Mushtaq Pakistan 34 08 Venkatesh Prasad India 34 08 Ijaz Ahmed Pakistan 32 10 Mushtaq Ahmed Pakistan 32 10 Nick Knight England 28 12 Paul Strang Zimbabwe 28 12 Dominic Cork England 25 14 M. Muralitharan Sri Lanka 25 14 Alec Stewart England 25 14 Romesh Kaluwitharana Sri Lanka 24 17 Saurav Ganguly India 23 18 Jack Russell England 23 18 Andy Flower Zimbabwe 22 20
The Kandy District Cricket Association Under 19 side figured in a drawn game with the touring Durham County Cricket Club Under 22 side in their two day match which ended at the Asgiriya International Stadium, last week-end.
Kandy DCA Juniors however had the consolation of enjoying a first innings lead of 64 runs.
Kandy batted first and scored 195, Ranga Dissanayake of St. Sylvester's, Kandy top scored with 55, which had 5 boundaries. Sumedha Weerasiri who led Sri Rahula last season hit an elegant 35, while S. Moratota 21, and Rohan De Raffayal 23, helped to swell the home team's total. Imran Shah was the most successful English bowler with figures of 5 for 80, while Ian Jones captured 3 for 13.
Durham in reply made 49 for 3 at close on the first day. Overnight rain prevented play from starting on time and play started after lunch on the second day. Durham continuing from their overnight score of 49 for 3 were dismissed for 131 in 75.3 overs. C. Clarke top scored with 50, while P. Collinwood 20, Imran Shah 15 batted best for Durham. R. De Raffayal 4 for 18 was the most successful bowler.
Forty-nine-year-old Former Australian off spinner Bruce Yardley has been appointed Coach of the Sri Lanka team with effect from January 20 for a period of two and a half years, the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka announced on Friday.
According to Dharmadasa the former Australian spinner was contracted for a fee which is 25 per cent more than what was paid to Whatmore. Dave was paid 5000 Australian dollars per month and given free accommodation and a vehicle. Earlier it was reported that South African born Allan Lamb had demanded over one million rupees if he is to coach the Sri Lanka team.
It is reliably understood that Bruce Yardley will also have to tread on the same path as his predecessor with regard to speaking to the media.
Answering a question on the new coach speaking to the press, the Board President said: ÒAs in the case of Whatmore and all other National Cricket, Coaches in the past Yardley will have to obtain permission from the Board prior to speaking to the media, and as it was for Whatmore, the Cricket Board would give the New Coach permission.
But it must be recalled that the Sunday Times was refused permission to speak to the coach prior to the Singer tournament by the Cricket Board President. Infact it was this incident that sparked-off a series of events on Whatmore's censorship.
Sri Lanka's national cricket coaches at any stage were not barred from speaking to the press. As in the case of all other test playing nations, cricket coaches of the national team were free to express their views to the media and were not compelled to seek permission from the Cricket Board, until lately.
Career Record
1st Class: 218 matches: 5124 runs: 512 wkts.
Sheffield Shield: 99 matches: 2665 runs: 383 wkts.
Tests:33 matches: 978 runs: 126 wkts.
Paris, (AFP) - Arsenal's Ian Wright and Nigel Winterburn both avoided punishment from the English Football Association (FA) on Friday in different incidents.
Suspensions and injuries had already put Gunners manager Arsene Wenger under pressure and he was relieved to have two key still players available. The last thing he needed was for goal ace Wright and wing-back Winterburn be handed bans.
Wright appeared before a three-man FA commission despite having admitted and indeed apologised for, disparaging remarks he made about Sheffield Wednesday's Manager David Pleat earlier this season.
It followed Pleat's action in sending a video of September's Arsenal versus Wednesday clash to the FA, pointing out incidents concerning certain London clubs players.
And although it seems that Pleat was referring to other players and not any actions by Wright, the 33-year-old England marksman's subsequent outburst on the subject was reported in several national newspapers. One of them quoted Wright as calling Pleat "a pervert".
The FA commission, headed by disciplinary committee chief Geoff Thompson took 40 minutes to arrive at their verdict on Wright and them nearly two hours over Winterburn's case.
The defender appeared before them facing another charge relating to the same match. Disabled Sheffield Wednesday fans had complained that he made rude gestures to them.
But Winterburn's claim was that he was only clenching his fists and celebrating an Arsenal goal. And the FA after hearing evidence from fans the police decided there was not sufficient material to find him guilty.
Mendis, Gurusinha amongst greats By Marcus Joseph In the current test series between India and South Africa, South African opener Gary Kirsten scored twin centuries, 102 and 133 in the second test. Thus he became the 36th player in cricket history to achieve it. Of these, 30 players scored only once and among them are our cricketing greats - Duleep Mendis, versus India (1982-83) and Asanka Gurusinha, versus New Zealand (1990-91). Included in the list are also such giants as Walter Hammand, Eddie Paynter and Dennis Compton, all of England, D.E. Bradman and Arthur Morris of Australia, Vijay Hazare of India, Everton Weekes of West Indies, Hanif Mohammed of Pakistan and Lawrence Rowe also of West Indies. Sunil M. Gavaskar heads the list scoring twin centuries three times i.e., v. West Indies (1970-71), v. Pakistan (1978-79), and v. West Indies (1978-79). Among these, all-time cricketing greats five scored twin centuries twice, namely Herbert Sutcliffe v Australia (1924-25) and v South Africa (1929), George Headley v England (1929-30), and in 1939, Gregg Chappell v New Zealand (1973-74) and v West Indies (1975-76) and Allan Border v Pakistan (1979-80) and New Zealand (1985-86). Clyde Walcott of West Indies hit up two separate hundreds twice in one series, v Australia in 1954-55. Lawrence Rowe's two hundreds were on his test debut - Allan Border scored 150 not out and 153 against Pakistan to become the first batsman to score 150 in each innings of a Test match. Triple-hundred and hundred in same Test - G.A. Gooch (England), 333 and 123 v India at Lord's (1990). Double hundred and hundred in same Test - K.D. Walters (Australia), 242 and 103 v West Indies 1968-69, Sunil M. Gavaskar (India) 124 and 220 v West Indies 1970-71, L.G. Rowe (West Indies) 214 and 100 v New Zealand 1971-72, Gregg Chappell (Australia) 247 and 133 v New Zealand 1973-74 on Test debut.
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