A heading duel from the crucial
Group A League match between UAE and Kuwait which UAE won 3-2 in the ongoing X1
th Asian Cup Football Tournament in the United Arab Emirates.
Two former Sri Lankan cricket captains who were the beneficiaries of Sharjah 1996 tournament have not been paid their full dues as yet, The Sunday Times learns.
Anura Tennekoon and Bandula Warnapura were to be paid 10,000 US Dollars (Rs. 570,000) each by the organizers of the Sharjah Cup, but only 10,000 US Dollars had been sent to the Sri Lanka Cricket Board by the organizers in Sharjah so far. The two ex-captains, however, had not received any money as yet.
Meanwhile, at the Cricket Board Exco meeting on Friday, the issue was taken up for discussion. The Exco which at first decided to grant Tennekoon and Warnapura US $5,000 each from the US $10,000 it had received, changed the decision and requested Board President Upali Dharmadasa who is scheduled to visit Sharjah soon to obtain the balance so that the two ex-captains could be given the full amount.
The Exco also decided to extend the probation period of Dhammika Ranatunga, the Chief Executive Officer, as he is facing two inquiries. One of the inquiries is related to a statement where he had allegedly made derogatory remarks on Exco members. The second inquiry is about his failure to submit an estimate for his trip to South Africa, The Sunday Times was told. It is said that Ranatunga had left the stormy Exco session midway at 8p.m. The CO left the meeting before a the EXCo took up a Midweek Mirror story about his alleged remarks of calling all the Exco members booruwas after a vote was taken in favour of Warnapura 13-5.
The Ex-co. also took up an issue arising over the cricket coaches' exam results which appeared in newspapers. The list of candidates appeared on the basis of alphabetical order, which some officials feel may give an impression that Warnapura had came last in the course conducted by Les Lenham. On merit Bandula Warnapura was placed third with Roy Dias first. Questions are being asked as to whether there was a sinister move by some Cricket Board Officials against Warnapura.
The Exco directed the Secretary of the Board to write to the newspapers giving the results in the order of merit.
The Exco also decided to allow the retirement of Tissa Gunaratne, the Administrative Officer of the Cricket Board from June 1997.
A magnificent spell of left arm seam bowling by twenty-year-old Gayan Wijekoon helped Tamil Union to score a sensational 29-run victory over SSC in a inter-club Quarter Final game at Maitland Place yesterday.
Needing only 105 runs for victory, a full strength SSC side was skittled out for just 75 runs in only 25.4 overs. Playing only in his first season for Tamil Union, Wijekoon bowled with sustained pace and accuracy to break the back of the SSC batting. In 15 balls, Wijekoon grabbed the wickets of Anura Gunawardena, Chaminda Fernando, Mahela Jayawardene, Hemantha Wickremarathne and Arjuna Ranatunga to help Tamil Union fight-batch and reach the semi-finals as SSC crashed to one of the lowest totals in recent times.
Incidentally, Gayan Wijekoon who had a successful school season with Gurukula MV last year, opened the batting for Tamils and was one of the three batsmen to enter double figures.
A good all round performance by Ruwan Kalpage helped Bloomfield to register a three wicket victory over NCC at Maitland place.
Kalpage claimed 6 for 32 to reduce NCC to 183 all out in 48.2 overs. The allrounder later put on 68 runs for the 5th wicket with Captain Roshan Mahanama to lay the foundation for victory. Mahanama, playing for the first time this season stroked a fluent half century as he held the innings together, which was threatening to fall apart.
The victory was also sweet revenge for Bloomfield who lost to NCC in last year's final.
CCC booked their place in the last four, defeating Singha SC by 42 runs at Braybrooke place.
CCC hit up 182/9 in 50 overs mainly due to some valuable contributions from their tail-enders Singha SC never came near reaching the CCC score as they lost their way from the beginning to be finally bowled out for 140 runs in 38 overs.
Antonians SC scored a hard fought 2 wicket, victory over Kalutara TC at Havelock Park.
Chasing Kalutara's 191 for victory Antonians SC reached the target with 8 balls remaining. Allrounder Krishan Dharmasena played the sheet anchor role with an impressive half century to take Antonians into the semifinals.
Todays - Semi Final line Up:
Tamil Union vs Antonians SC at Havelock Park, CCC vs Bloomfield at Reid Avenue.
At Maitland Place: Tamil Union beat SSC by 29 runs. Tamil Union - 104 all out in 37.4 overs. (Thusira de Silva 24, Gayan Wijekoon 13, Asela Jayasuriya 13, Nuwan Soyza 3/24, Arjuna Ranatunga 2/29, Jayantha Silva 2/7). SSC - 75 all out in 25.5 overs. (Pramodya Wickremasinghe 20, n.o., Gayan Wijekoon 5/22, Chaminda Hathurusinghe 2/20, Upul Chandana 2/18.)
At Maitland Place: Bloomfield beat NCC by 03 wickets. NCC - 183 all out 48.2 overs. (Russell Arnold 34, Ruwin Pieris 30, Avishka Gunawardena 25, Hashan Tilekaratne 43, Sanjeewa Ranatunga 29, Ruwan Kalpage 6/32, Priyankara Wickremasinghe 2/25). Bloomfield 184/7 in 47.2 overs. (Pubudu Dassanayake 28, Sampath Perera 38, Roshan Mahanama 56, Ruwan Kalpage 24, Sajeewa Silva 2/15, Russell Arnold 2/25, Ruwin Pieris 2/8).
At Braybooke Place CCC beat Singha SC by 42 runs: CCC-182/9 in 50 overs. (Chaminda Handunhettige 22, Sanjeewa Silva 26, Varuna Waragoda 36, Wendell Labrooy 25, Chintaka Edirimanne 28 n.o. W. Kusumsiri 3/38, B. Ranjith 2/14). Singha SC 140 all out in 38 overs. (H. Premasiri 45, Niranjan Dabare 5/26, Wendell Labrooy 2/22).
At Havelock Park: Antonians SC beat Kalutara TC by 2 wickets: Kalutara TC 191 all out in 48 overs. (T.M. Dilshan 26, S. Fonseka 22, S. Suriyapperuma 23, M. Nilanga 26.n.o, Pasan Wanasinghe 3/33, Kishan Dharmasena 2/26, Manoj Prasanga 2/26). Antonians SC 193/8 in 48.4 overs. (A. de Silva 26, T. Kodikara 34, Manoj Prasanga 27, Krishan Dharmasena 51, n.o. Priyankara de Silva 3/58, R. Kottachchi 2/41).
Sri Lanka would not have won the World Cup without Australian coach Dave Whatmore, according to star batsman Asanka Gurusinha.
The 30-year-old left-hander, who arrived in Melbourne to take up a three-year contract with district club North Melbourne, said the loss of Whatmore to English county side Lancashire was a major blow to Sri Lanka.
"He was the main man, to me, he did everything to us," Gurusinha said.
"We were a brilliant side, but mentally he changed us from a brilliant side that won here and there to a consistently winning side.
"He changed our attitude and I don't think we would have won such a championship as the World Cup without him."
An affable character known as "The Guru", Gurusinha was dropped for the last two games of the recent Sharjah one day tournament.
"I don't know what has happened, they wouldn't tell me why I wasn't playing," Gurusinha said. "It came as a big shock."
He thinks his summer sojourn in Melbourne has upset selectors who want the No. 3 batsman in Colombo six weeks before Sri Lanka embarks on its March tour of New Zealand.
"They knew at the end of the one day tournament that I was coming here and I think that's the problem," Gurusinha said.
"I've told them I can meet the team in New Zealand and by playing here I am keeping in shape and the standard is probably better than grade cricket at home.
A veteran of more than 40 Tests and 150 one day internationals, Gurusinha said he was waiting for a reply from the cricket board.
"I had an agreement with North Melbourne and I wasn't going to break that, so well just have to sit and wait for the mailman to tell me what's happening."
Gurusinha said he hoped the dramas that surrounded last year's Sri Lankan tour and Australia's forfeit of its opening World Cup match in Colombo would not permanently damage relations between the countries.
"I dont' have any problems with anyone in the Australian team," he said. "I had an altercation with Steve Waugh because we both like to play it hard on the field, but it ends there.
"That's one of the reasons why I like playing here, you play your cricket in a very positive way and enjoy it which is the main thing."
Speaking of enjoyment, Gurusinha is still pinching himself that he was part of a World Cup winning side.
"It was amazing, I've never seen so many people on the streets of Colombo when we arrived home. The President had to send her cars and security to try and get us through the traffic."
The Mercantile Hockey Assocication team will leave for South India: Bangalore and Madras, on January 3 for two tours.
The Mercantile team, who emerged champions and stayed unbeaten in their last tour of India, will be led by Christopher Tissera.
They are expected to play five matches in Bangalore from January 4th to 8th and leave for Madras for four matches all of which are to be played at the last SAF Games venue, at Chennai.
In Madras the fixtures are: January 11th vs Southern Railways.
January 12th vs Chennai HA. January 13th vs Indian Overseas Bank. January 14 vs Chennai HA.
All matches will be played at the Radhakrishna Stadium commencing at 4.30 pm.
The team comprises C. Tissera (Captain), D. Mariyanayagam (Vice Captain), A. Senanayake, S. Jayasena, P. Heenkenda, D. Ranjith Kumar, B.L. V.S. Perera, Johnny Martin, A. de. Silva, M.S. M. Hanas, T. Jayasinghe, M.I. Mohothar. S. Kumar. S.M. Senanayake, M.S. Salih, N. Etipola. Manager Dennis De Rosairo, Assistant Manager V. Ganesh, Hockey Manager Tom de Silva, Coach T.M. Lameez.
The Royal-Wesley cricket match, which was played on the Railway Grounds, Mt. Mary on the 8th. and 9th February 1946, will be remembered for the controversy it raised, probably unique in Sri Lanka, when on the first day of play, the Royal captain, Mahes Rodrigo wanted to declare his innings closed, but the Wesley skipper, Edmund Dissanayake, refused to accept the Declaration as it was late by 5 minutes!
The powerful Royal team led by "Sporty" Mahes Rodrigo included M. Kasipillai, G.T. Kapukotuwa, G.L.G. Cooray, T. Parathalingam, C.D.L. Fernando, Percy Goonewardene, F.E. Porrit, Vimal Wickramasuriya, R. Rajaratnam and R.S. Cooke.
The comparatively young Wesley team led by Edmund Dissanayake included Alan Ratnarajah, Piyasiri Abeywardene, Harold Matthysz, Natty Prins, Denis Van Twest, Bertus Perera, Clive Bartholomeusz, Eric Nugara, Vivil Dias, Sinha Jayasundera and Ronald Gomes.
Veteran sports writer, S.S. Perera has published in the "Royal-Wesley Centenary Cricket Match Souvenir, 1993" some interesting details about this match. "For the first time in the history of Ceylon School Cricket Schools requested the Official Umpires' Association to officiate as Umpires."
"The rules prevailing at that time stipulated that no declaration shall be made on the first day unless a minimum of one and a half hours of batting were given to the other side. The refusal of the Wesley captain was unpheld by the Umpires on that rule."
This rule was not popularly known, as several spectators inquired as to why the declaration was refused.
What followed thereafter was a comedy. Royal had piled up 312 for 5 when balked by the declaration, Mahes Rodrigo who was on 18, retired. The next batsman F.E. Porrit played one ball and wished to retire. But he was informed by the Umpire that he could not do so without facing at least one over. Vimal Wickramasuriya, Rajaratnam and Cooke, followed suit. Parathalingam was not out 2.
"This comedy of "retirement" took 20 minutes to enact and from Wesley's point of view, was of great help in postponing the moment of defeat. For the Wesley team of 1946 included 8 freshers, all of whom were under 16. Vivil Dias was a student in Grade 7.
Royal were out for 317 towards which Kapukotuwa contributed 81, Cooray 78, Kasipillai 69 and Percy Goonewardene 46.
Earlier, the Royal batsmen were in such an aggressive mood of scoring that the Wesley bowlers considered it wiser to bowl "wides." There were as many as 14 wides.
On the first day, Wesley had one hour to bat. Everyone expected Wesley to collapse. I opened batting with Vivil Dias. My first run came after I had batted for half an hour! It was a single pushed to mid on. There was tremendous applause from the Royal camp... not a cheer but a jeer, which was taken up sportingly. At the end of the day we had scored 50 runs for 1 wicket.
To continue, may I quote from "Sports and Recreation."
"Wesley batted for one hour on Friday and were all out for 167 on Saturday. Edmund Dissanayake was the last man out, having scored 107 runs, which included 16 hits to the ropes. Wesley followed on and batted for rest of the day, scoring 172 for 7 towards which Vivil Dias scored 79.
Dias, who had been ruled out caught at 8 was recalled by the Royal captain Mahes Rodrigo, after a brief consulation with the fielder concerned. This sporting act of the Royal skipper probably deprived them of a victory.
It will be recalled that Mahes played for All Ceylon later and also captained the Ceylon Rugby team more than once.
"The correctness of the decision in upholding the refusal of the Wesley captain, was approved by the MCC. A few years later this Rule was repealed. A Declaration is now possible on the first day of play, at any time."
Drivers, officials protest
London, (Reuter) drivers and motor racing officials may be unwilling to take part in races in Italy, following the Italian decision to prosecute team chief Frank Williams and five others over the death of Ayrton Senna, the sport's governing body said.
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said it now faced difficulty in persuading international officials to carry out their functions at Italian events.
"There may also be difficulty persuading competitors from outside Italy to participate," the FIA added in a statement from its Paris headquarters.
Veteran formula one team boss Ken Tyrrell said earlier on Tuesday that it might be impossible for his team to race in Italy next year in the light of the prosecution over Senna's death during the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994.
"Motor racing is a dangerous sport," said Tyrrell. "The drivers themselves know that and although the loss of Ayrton was awful and it is awful to lose any driver, I don't think we will be able to get insurance cover to prevent a similar situation.
Tyrrell's comments came a few days after another F1 team boss, Benetton's Flavio Briatore, said he would not race his cars in Italy if there were convictions.
Lawyers said on Monday that Williams, his team's technical director Patrick Head and chief designer Adrian Newy would go on trial for manslaughter in February, alongside race director Roland Bruynserede, Imola track director Federico Bendinelli and former track official Giorgio Poggi: All six deny the charges.
The FIA said they were confident that the six would be acquitted and its president, Max Mosley, said the furture of the formula one world championship was not at risk because of the case. This is a uniquely Italian problem requiring a uniquely Italian solution, Mosley said. "Whatever the outcome, no other country is involved and the Formula One World Championship will not be affected."
Romania to rebuild racecourse
BUCHAREST, (Reuter) - Bucharest's popular old racecourse, demolished in 1961 by communist authorities, is to be rebuilt under a $25 million programme, a Bucharest daily reported.
Evenimental Zilei said a consortium of companies, backed by an Italian investor, had formed the "Thoroughbred Horse" group to build a track by 1999 at Mogosoaia, 16 km (10 miles) north of the capital.
It said the 58-hectare (145-acre) facility would provide for flat and harness racing and consist of turf and dirt courses with seating for up to 10,000. Some $600,000 had already been sunk into the project.
"We are looking for new investors beyond those already involved and for a measure of understnading from the new government (elected last month)," Ioan Cirje, manager of Thoroughbred Horse, told the daily.
The old Bucharest course, built in the 1930s and popular among wealthy Romanians between the two world wars, was torn down to make way for an exhibition hall.
Racing was dismissed as bourgeois under the communists, who slaughtered horses en masse after seizing power in 1948. Two small tracks were allowed to function in Ploiesti, north of Bucharest, and in Mangalia on the Black Sea Coast, where most of the country's top animals were stabled.
Almost all the top contenders for the formula I UIM Powerboat Racing for the year 1997, were of the opinion that there would be a tough battle for supremacy. They stated that they were looking forward to race in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is a beautiful country from what we have heard, stated Guido Cappelini, Jon Jones, Humaid Bakhit and Paul Blackburn, and we stand by this since we are supported by the great manners of most of the Lankans whom we have met at the grand finale in Abu Dhabi.
Guido who emerged as the four time champion, having won it in 1993, 94, 95 and 96, is still a bachelor at 37 years and said that he would maintain his position for a few more years, while Jon Jones of the Gold Leaf team, stated that it will not be long before he beats Guido.
"Did you see the manner which I drove my boat? I led for over 20 laps in the two races, which had to be restarted after an accident, otherwise I should have beaten Guido," he said.
In the second race too which I led from start, I heard a sound coming from the exhaust in the 17th lap and it worsened in the 20th lap which promoted me to pull out due to engine problem.
"If this did not happen, I would have no doubt given my sponsors the much desired result in toppling the World champion," Jones said.
Taking over from Jones, was UEA's Humaid Bakhit driving in the colours of Gold Leaf who very nearly beat Guido in the final of the Grand Prix events, driving to perfection cheered by his home town fans.
"My only aim is to win the World Title for my country," said Bakhit and thanked the support of the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club.
But Bakhit had the occasion to celebrate, when he became the Asian Champion, defeating Japan's Yutaka Sugihara.
Racing Calendar
12 May European Grand Prix: Porto Cervo 26 May Hungarian Grand Pix: Dunaujvaros 8-9 June Russian Grand Prix: S. Petersburg 23 June French Grand Prix Chalon 7 July Greek Grand Prix Corfu 25 August Chinese Grand Prix: Wuxi 8 September Italian Grand Prix Campione 15 September Three Seas Grand Prix: Gallipoli 13 December UAE Grand Prix: Abu Dhabi Competitors ARGENTINA Maidana Carlos AUSTRALIA Bailey Craig BELGIUM Danny Bertels CHINA Linwu Peng UAE Bakhit Humaid FINLAND Leppala Perrti FRANCE Dessertenne Philippe, Deguisne Jean-Vital GERMANY Werner Michael JAPAN Sugihara Yutaka GREAT BRITAIN Blackburn Paul, Elliott Andrew, Jelf Owen, Jones Jonathan, Liddiard Les ITALY Bocca Fabrizio, Cappellini Guido, Roggiero Massimo, Zamparelli Mike NORWAY Guttormsen Thomas RUSSIA Bernitsen Andrey SOUTH AFRICA Van Heerden Anton SWEDEN Eriksson Thomas, Karlof Goran
BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe, Dec 21 (Reuter) - England rekindled hopes of forcing victory in their inaugural test against Zimbabwe after a century by John Crawley and two quick wickets with the new ball at Queen's Club on Saturday.
Crawley was last out for 112, his second century in successive tests, which edged England's final total to 406 Ñ a first innings lead of 30 Ñ on the fourth day.
Zimbabwe were 27 for two at tea after losing both openers. Alan Mullally had Stuart Carlisle snapped up by Mike Atherton at silly point for four and Darren Gough won an lbw appeal against Grant Flower to reduce Zimbabwe to six for two.
Flower played no shot and was out without scoring, but television replays suggested he may have been unlucky to receive his marching orders from Zimbabwe umpire Ian Robinson.
England, who started the day on 306 for four, lost four wickets for 25 at one stage during the morning as they failed to make the most of a potentially strong position.
Nasser Hussain added only 12 to his overnight 101 before hooking a Heath Streak bouncer to Bryan Strang at deep backward square where he held an extraordinary one-handed catch just as the ball seemed to be soaring for six. Hussain's 113 came in 357 minutes, from 278 balls with 14 fours.
When Streak was rested, fellow paceman Henry Olonga struck twice by trapping Robert Croft lbw for seven and having Darren Gough caught at short leg for two.
Chris Silverwood was next to go, caught at gully off the shoulder of the bat from a Paul Strang leg break which turned and bounced. At that stage England had slipped from 328 for four to 353 for eight.
Only John Crawley held up Zimbabwe's advance, moving serenely to 84 not out at lunch, but batted in subdued mood afterwards until he reached three figures by smashing Streak high over mid-wicket for six. He hit his maiden test century in the third and final test against Pakistan at The Oval last August.
As expected, the Air Force bagged a much cherished double, winning the men's and women's National Volleyball titles at the National Youth Services Courts, Maharagama on Friday.
Air Force beat the Army by 3 sets to 1 to win the men's crown in the championships conducted by the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation and sponsored by John Keells.
Air Force won the first set at 16 - 14 in a close battle and lost the second at 9 - 15, and won back the third and fourth sets at 15 - 9, 15 - 12.
In the women's final, AF beat Nattandiya United in three straight sets, 15 - 7, 15 - 7, 15 - 12 with their skipper Mangalika Wanniarachchi proving to be the match winner.
The six-footer Mangalika collected the match, winning points off her services and dashers. For her splendid performance Mangalika was picked as the Best Player.
Asian football has come a long way, but problems remain," said Peter Velappan, General Secretary, Asian Football Confederation at a media seminar organised in connection with the XI Asian Cup championship.
"Asia has half the world's population and some of its most talented players, but there are problems of leadership," he said while presenting a paper on "Asian Football in the New Millenium."
"Korea, Japan, China and Saudi make up the elite group, with teams like Indonesia, Thailand, UAE, Kuwait, Iraq and Iran one step below. But there are economic constraints.
"Professionalism is part of the answer. The four countries mentioned have a professional league, and their success at the international level is no coincidence. Footballers must be among the top 20 percent of salary earners to make it attractive for talented boys to take to the game full time. This is one of our aims," he said. There are 45 countries in the AFC, and about "sixty percent stability" in organisation, he said.
"We aim to make that 90 percent in the next five years." Around 60 mediamen attended the seminar which was declared open by Ahmed Saif Bel Hasa, Vice President, UAE FA and Chairman, Media Committee. Nabon Noor, Chairman of AFC's Media Committee spoke of the growing rapport between the AFC and the media.
Later, in three workshop sessions, aspects of media and the organisation of the game were discussed and the AFC accepted suggestions by the media on improving facilities.
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