The Sunday TimesTimesports

16th February 1996

| FRONT PAGE

| HOME PAGE | EDITORIAL/OPINION | NEWS / COMMENT | BUSINESS | PLUS

Contents


Sri Lanka 106; India 211/6

By M.E.Marikar (Our Kandy Corr)

INDIA were in a strong position at the end of the first day's play in their first Under-19 Test match against Sri Lanka which began at the Asgiriya Stadium yesterday.

After dismissing Sri Lanka for a paltry 106, the tourists were 211 for 6 at stumps.

Opener Amith Pagnis was the top scorer for India with a fighting 94. The left hander was associated in an 81 run stand for the fourth wicket with skipper Jyothi Yadev (22). He stroked 13 boundaries in a knock which lasted 140 minutes.

Earlier Sri Lanka skipper Nimesh Perera won the toss and elected to bat on the placid wicket. The Sri Lankan batting showed that they were not geared for four day Test cricket as the batsmen looked for quick runs against the accurate bowling of Ajith Agarkar and left arm pacie Mohammed Ghouse. This pair extracted a lot of life out of the wicket while wily left arm spinner Wandavas Dorkanth Balajit Rao had the impressive figures of 2 for six in 10 overs of which nine were maidens. Musie Raza captaured two for 15 with his off spinners. Two batsmen were run out.

Kandy representatives in the Sri Lanka Under19 team gave pathetic displays. Trinity skipper Kumar Sangakkara was unnecessarily run out at the non-strikers end for six runs while Antonian Dilshan Vitharna left the first ball he faced to long on where Ajit Agarkar took a simple catch. No 11 batsmen Rangana Herath who made 10 was looking at a big hit made by Pradeep Hewage as the later passed the non-strikers end.

Herath made a belated start and was run out. Ranjith Basnayake of Maliyadeva made a top score of 30 while Pradeep Hewage made 22 with five well-timed fours.

SRI LANKA - 106

INDIA - 1st innings 211 for 6 at stumps (Arkash Chopra 94, Jayothi Yadev 22, Mithun Mannas 24; Hemantha Boteju 2 for 37, Pradeep Hewage 1 for 53, Nimesh Perera 3 for 53)


Yardley interview tomorrow

Bruce Yardley, Sri Lanka's new cricket coach will be interviewed live on the Commercial Service of the SLBC tomorrow at 5.30 pm by Eric Gauder.

This interview will be broadcast on the new Sports Action sponsored programme by Union Assurance

The Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka have given him permission to be interviewed. (AF)


Kaluwitharane hits twin centuries

Kalpage, Gunawardena make career best hundreds

By Marlon Fernandopulle

Dashing Sri Lankan opening batsmen Romesh Kaluwitharana completed twin centuries for Colts while Ruwan Kalpage (Bloomfield) and Aruna Gunawardene (SSC) made career best hundreds on the second day of the P Sara Trophy tournament games yesterday.

Kaluwitharana who is enjoying his best season with the bat followed his 157 in the first innings with another sparkling 107 after Colts batted for the second time to collect maximum bonus points.The century was Kaluwitharana's sixth for the current season.

Earlier Galle were bundled out for 176 with Chaminda Vaas taking 4/50. Colts in their second innings were 258/6 at close.

SSC opening batsmen Aruna Gunawardene stroked his maiden century for the season and Hemantha Wickremaratne plundered 130 as the home side looked well set to clinch their 7th outright victory for the season.

Antonians who were bowled out for 206 were 107/4 in their second innings still needing 104 runs to avoid an innings defeat.

SSC who began the day at 122/3 amassed 417/7 before declaring.Gunawardene and Wickremaratne added 228 for the 4th wicket in an entertaining partnership that set the stage for the home sides sizeable first innings total.

Ruwan Kalpage put Bloomfield on course to an outright victory with a superb allround performance.The Sri Lanka A captain hit 16 boundaries and one six on his way to 160 and later captured 3/36 to help bowl out Police for 204.Forced to follow on the cops were 4/0 at close.

At Maitland Place: SSC vs Antonians SC: Antonians SC - 206 & 107/4 - (M. Prasanga 31 P Wanasinghe 24 YY. Tilekaratne 24 n o N Soyza 2/29)

SSC - 417/6 decl (A. Gunawardene 158 n o R Jayawardene 22 H Wickremaratne 130 A Ranatunge 18 M Jayawardene 46 P Wanasinghe 5/131)

At Reid Avenue : Bloomfield vs Police SC : Bloomfield - 417/7 decl ( R. Kalpage 160 P Wickremasinghe 27 n o V Ranaweera 3/108 D. Gunawardene 2/61)

Police SC - 204 (R Jana-ka21 R. Wimalasiri 25 N. Soyza 35 A. Serasinghe 26 A Ratnasiri 27 M. Villawarayan 2/39 K. Dhrmasena 2/29 R Kalpage 3/36 S Jayasuriya 2/6) & 4/0

At Havelock Park : Colts SC VS Galle CC: Colts 453/5 decl & 258/6 - (R. Kaluwitharana 107 S. Fernando 43 E. Upashantha 27 n o A. Riddegamanagedara 3/68)

Galle - 176 - (S. Koddithuwakku 32 A. Riddegam-anagedara 23 C. K. Hewa-gama 44 n o E. Upashantha 3/38 C. Vaas 4/50 B. Perera 3/63)


Panadura on top

(By Marcus Joseph)

Useful contributions by the middle order helped Panadura to a commanding position against BRC at Panadura. BRC - 213. Panadura - 329/6 - (I. Amithakeerthi 84 n o S. Liyanage 48 S. Kumara 43 C. Galapathi 43 A. I. Gallage 25 n o J. Rajapakse 3/40 L. Sagara2/101)


St. Sebastian's win for 7th time

By S.M.D.Sirisena

St. Sebastian's coasted through to their seventh victory in the current Inter-Schools cricket season when they trounced St. Sylvester's Kandy by ten wickets at Moratuwa yesterday.

Dinesh Seneviratne and Laknath Fernando were the match winners for the Moratuwa lads claiming seven wickets each.

Royal College retained the Sir Frank Gunasekera trophy when they obtained a first innings win over Wesley in their annual inter-school fixture at Campbell Park,

Set to make 217 in 28 overs, Wesley were 116 for seven at the close.

Umesh Paramasivam of S.Thomas' scored his maiden century against St. Joseph's in their drawn Inter-School game at Mt. Lavinia.

Set to make 179 for win, the Josephians were 65 for 3 at close.

Muditha Maduwantha of D.S.Senanayake Vidyalaya's 105 against Thurstan was the highlight of the drawn Inter-School cricket game at Vijerama Mawatha.

S.Thomas' drew with St. Joseph's at Mt. Lavinia.

S.Thomas' first innings - 199 and second innings 186 for 2 dec (Umesh Paramasivam 107 n.o, Roshan Weeraratne 52, R.Mapatuna 10, Janaka Siriwardena 11 n.o). St. Joseph's - 105 for 5 overnight, 207 all out (M.Bosco 22, M.Fernando 29, A. de. Mel 14, C. Fernando 29 n.o, D.Woutersz 16; R.Mapatuna 5 for 49, R.Ratwatte 2 for 37, R.Pieris 2 for 27) and 65 for 3 in 30 overs (R.Perera 20, I.Daniel 22 n.o; R.Mapatuna 2 for 03)

Royal draw with Wesley at Campbell Park

Royal - 203 in 8.3 overs and 154 for 9 (Janaka Gaganayake 18, Jehan Mubarak 36, Lasantha Liyanage 32, Anuk Samarakkody 33 n.o; Manjula Karunaratne 2 for 30, D. Jayakody 2 for 15, Brian Senadhira 4 for 33). Wesley - 44 for 4 overnight, 141 all out (D. Wenceslaus 32, M. Zainudeen 30, M. Karunaratne 15; Lasanth Liyanage 4 for 33) and 111 for 7 (D. Jayakody 31, T.Amarasekera 30, Lasantha Liyanage 4 for 25, Umesh Gunasekera 2 for 09)

Thurstan draw with D.S.Senanayake at Wijerama Mawatha.

Thurstan - 255 for 9 (S.Bandaratilleke 55, Manoj Hettiarachchi 62, Arjuna Dayananda 30, S.Samarasinghe 38 n.o; H.Junaid 4 for 54) and 89 for 4 (S. Jayawardena 33). D.S. Senanayake - 289 all out (Muditha Maduwantha 105, Sashi Lafir 41, Nalin Pradeep 56, Yohan Fonseka 32)

St. Sebastian's beat St. Sylvester's Kandy by 10 wickets at Moratuwa.

St. Sebastians - 286 for 7 dec (Buddhika Mendis 130, Sanjeeva Silva 71; R.Ruhunuge 4 for 66, S.Dissanayake 3 for 93) and 8 for no loss. St. Sylvester's - 159 (C. Wijesinghe 25, R. Hajireen 25, R. Dissanayake 44; Dinesh Seneviratne 4 for 36, Laknath Fernando 4 for 40) and 134 all out (T.Liyanage 21, Dinesh Seneviratne 3 for 42, Laknath Fernando 3 for 25, Ajith Mendis 2 for 10)


Richard for Kenya Rally

Richard de Zoysa will do Sri Lanka proud, when be becomes the first driver to participate in the Kenyan National Rally next month. De Zoysa, who is presently Sri Lanka's rally champion, has been officially and formally invited by the Chairman of the Kenya Motor Sports Club to take part in the Equator Rally.

The Equator Rally is the Kenya event of the African Rally Championships held in Kenya annually.

The Equator Rally will be held in October.

This will help De Zoysa gather experience for the participation of the East African Rally championships he is hoping to compete in 1998.

The prestigious East African Safari Rally championships is part of the World Rally Championships stage. De Zoysa is currently training for the local night speed rally to be held next week-end.

De Zoysa is also armed with an International Motor Rally Drivers License and a certificate from the prestigious Jim Russell Driving School in UK which has proved his potential to be on par with international champs. (AF)


NZ in good position

CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday - New Zealand were on top at stumps on the second day of the third cricket test against England at Lancaster Park on Saturday. England were 145 for five at stumps, still trailing the home side by 201 runs with three days to play.

Captain Mike Atherton had spent 204 minutes at the crease to be 66 not out, while Dominic Cork was on 16, after 75 minutes.

The pair had stopped a mid-order tumble with an unbroken 41-run stand.

New Zealand, 346 in their first innings, need to win the test to level the three-match rubber.

Lively left armer Geoff Allott picked up three wickets as England's batsmen played a series of loose strokes, finishing the day with three for 49. New Zealand's innings on Saturday, resuming at 229 for five, revolved around recalled wicketkeeper Adam Parore and allrounder Chris Cairns, who added 82 in 103 minutes for the sixth wicket.

Parore reached 59 while Cairns made 57, his second half century in five innings during the series.

Tailenders Daniel Vettori and Heath Davis added a breezy 27 in 33 minutes for the ninth wicket before offspinner Robert Croft finished the innings by taking his fifth wicket.

He finished with five for 95 off 39.1 overs, his best test figures.

* FLASH: India were bundled out for 168 in the first one day international against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo yesterday.


Warnapura leads Lanka Cavaliers

By Annesley Ferreira

Many leading cricketers who have played cricket at the highest level, have got together to form an over-40 cricket team which was named the ÒLanka CavaliersÓ at a meeting held at the BRC pavilion on February 11.

This team comprises Sri Lanka's first test captain Bandula Warnapura, who will lead the side with Jayantha Seneviratne as his deputy will include several Test Caps and cricketers who have played representative or first class cricket in Sri Lanka and abroad.

They have decided to impart their vast cricketing knowledge gained over the years with a special focus on developing the outstation cricketers. In this direction a Cricket Calendar has been drawn up which includes many outstation venues for the matches to be played. They plan to play with local sides and advise them on various aspects of cricket. Young players who have talent, will be identified and assisted to further their cricketing skills. It is their view that while the standard of cricket played has advanced globally, the sportsmanship aspect is fast deteriorating even internationally which has affected the young ones also in Sri Lanka.

As Bandula Warnapura put it ÒThe game must be played hard but in a disciplined manner with the right spirit.Ó

Broadly the objective of this team is to play ÒCricket for Peace, Service and GoodwillÓ. To achieve these aims they are working on many plans which include matches, coaching sessions and foreign tours. Lakith Peiris, who is a cricket enthusiast, a former President of Lanka Lions, Dubai and founder/immediate past President of Moratuwa Cricket Council and currently Vice President of Old Cambrians Sports Club and Hony. Secretary of Carlton Club Moratuwa was appointed Manager of the Team.

The following cricketers formed the group - Bandula Warnapura (Captain), Jayantha Seneviratne, (Vice Captain), Jerry Woutersz, Mervyn Fernando, Damian Fernando, Basil Perera, K.H. Nandasena, Kirthi Gunaratne, Bandula de Silva, Lantra Fernando, C.P.P. Raj, Mike Raj, Zareen Hameed, Dushan Soza, Dayan Sirisena, Chitral Mendis, S. Illagaratnam Peter Manuel, Dennis Davis and D.Woutersz.

Two matches played against Colts Veterans XI first at their home ground and the second at Tyronne Fernando Stadium on 4th February 1997, were both won by Lanka Cavaliers.

Scores of 2nd match

Colts XI 183 , for 8 wickets in 30 overs. (H. Devapriya 55, Bernard Wijetunga 37, Lal Wickramatunga 25, Rohan Perera 20, Gamini Gunasena 13, Premalal Fernando 11, Basil Perera 2 wickets for 33 , H.K. Nandasena 2 wickets for 39).

Lanka Cavaliers - 186 runs for 7 wickets in 29.1 overs. (Jayantha Seneviratne 72, Dushan Soza 37, Chitral Mendis 20, C.P.P. Raj 17, Upali Warnapura 2 wickets for 14 runs, Carlton Bernadus 2 wickets for 6 runs).

The third match is scheduled to be played on Sunday, March 2 against Old Trinitians Sports Club at Asgiriya Stadium.


Basketball practices for veterans

Basketball practices for veterans which commenced on January 18, will continue every Saturday at the Depot Police Courts at Bambalapitiya at 5 p. m.

All veterans over 35 years of age, who are interested in playing basketball are requested to attend practices at the Depot Police Courts.

Meanwhile a five side cager tournament for those over 35 years of age is to be held in April this year.

For further details, contact, the Secretary, Naufer Mahroof on telephone 581032 or Trevine E. David Tournament, Secretary, telephone 449908. (AF)


Women's Tennis World Rankings

New York (Reuter) Top 20 women's tennis players as ranked by the Corel WTA Tour:

1.Steffi Graf (Germany) 3028.0000 points

2. Martina Hingis (Switzerland) 3995.5000

3.Arantxa Sanchez Vicario (Spain) 3202.6871

4. Jana Novatna (Czech Republic) 3183.9412

5. Conchita Martinez (Spain) 3010.6710

6. Monica Seles (U.S.) 2931.8083

7. Anke Huber (Germany) 2487.0388

8. Lindsay Davenport (U. S.) 2243.5667

9. Iva Majoli (Croatia) 2126.2820

10. Karina Habsudova (Slovakia) 1993.7182

11. Irina Spirlea (Romania) 1906.7950

12. Amanda Coetzer (South Africa) 1731.2009

13. Judith Wiesner (Austria) 1390.5810

14. Brenda Schultz- McCarthy (Netherlands) 1560.8799

15. Mary Joe Fernandez (U. S.) 1342.5113

16. Mary Pierce (France) 1530.8195

17. Barbara Paulus (Austria) 1404.2813

18. Sabine Appelmans (Belgium) 1336.6050

19. Kimberly Po (U. S.) 1260.0647

20. Elena Likhovtseva (Russia) 1197.2240


Those who say Aussies are Test cricket champs, are asinine - Colin Croft

Peter Roebuck weighs in on the debate.

Former West Indies fast bowler Colin Croft has described Australia as unworthy of the world championship title and labelled its cricket media sycophants.

Fierce debate is raging about the legitimacy of Australia's claim to be champions of Test cricket. So hot were emotions running in the press box as Pakistan romped to victory over the West Indies that one participant felt obliged to walk around the ground until her nerves had settled.

Meanwhile, a visiting scribe has described local reporters as asinine and sycophantic, which went down only tolerably well. The significance of the argument reaches beyond its subject matter, to which we will return soon. Its undiluted passion reminds observers once again of the remarkable effect Australia can have upon its sporting visitors.

Teams arriving down under find themselves bombarded by the brash exterior of a land full of galahs and cockatoos and raw prawns. Pursuing a frenetic programme, they hurry from city to city and match to match and everything is lights, cameras, action. Everyone seems cocky. There is much pugnacity and rather less perspective. An overwhelming feeling arises of landing in an immodest country.

Nor are locals afraid to support their teams. It's Collingwood against the rest. Australia against the rest. Maybe it's the toughness of a land in which nature still dictates terms. This is a country in which one has to survive.

To outsiders, Australians can seem straightforward, self-absorbed and confident. In reality, of course, they are insecure, which is why they are so wary of emotion and touch. Somehow, in the rush, the overblown is emphasised and the better points are missed.

Visitors arrive hoping to find a sense of desert aridity and instead they are confronted by a gladiatorial atmosphere in which they are subjected to an assault that leaves them gasping for breath and straining for a chunk of ordinary humanity. They find themselves exposed to the curses of the oafs and the shafts of their opponents.

Of course, hardened players and teams survive, either by giving it back in kind or else by letting it wash over them, and by doing so, they win the respect of their opponents and enter into a different world.

Few guests, though, reach past the shrill surface and into the quiet interiors of Australia, the suffering bush, the Henry Lawson part, the durable people with their toleration, hardness and a sense of democracy that sees them sitting in the front seat of taxis.

Deafened by the noise, the visitors do not hear the warm applause that always greets sportsmen like David Gower and Stefan Edberg nor do they notice the relish reserved for the swashbuckling batting of Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana. More than most, though, the Australians support their own. They appreciate bold and brave play by opponents. It's beating about the bush they can't stand. Most of the noise is simply an overreaction unsurprising in a country whose markets are small. visitors are more inclined to see the sales pitch than the pitch itself.


Three Lankan referees for foreign rugby tournaments

By Annesley Ferreira

Three of Sri Lanka's senior rugby referees are invited to blow in three foreign tournaments in Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand. They have been recommended by the Sri Lanka Society of Rugby Football Referees.

Sanjeewa Saranapala has been picked to blow in the Singapore Blacks 10 a side tournament on February 22 and 23, while Dilroy Fernando has been picked to blow in the Carlsberg 10 a side tournament in Hong Kong on March 18 and 19

S.W. Chang will go as a touch judge for the World Cup 99 qualifying round match against Sri Lanka and Thailand (today) in Bangkok.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Society of Rugby Football Referees (SLSRFR) has picked on Nimal Leuke, a Vice-President of the Society to represent them at the 6th ARFUR Committee Meeting in Hong Kong on March 20.

The SLSRFR has also made certain changes in the system of assigning referees for the matches this year.

The Assignment Committee A will comprise Ananda Saranapala, Anton Benedict, Vipula Dharmadasa and Tony Amith including a fixtures Secretary with no voting rights.

This committee will assign referees for inter club and schools A Division and assist the General Committee in assigning referees for overseas assignments.

Assignment Committee B will comprise active and non-active Grade A referees Ananda Saranapala, Roshan Deen, Dilroy Fernando, Mahind Jayawardena including one member being the fixtures Secretary.

Referees Assessments -

Beginning this year all referees will be graded and named , Grade A 1,A 2,A 3, B 1, B 2, B 3 and cadet.

Assessment Committee A - Ananda Saranapala, Anton Benedict, Lionel Almedia, Metha Abegoonewardena, Daya Jayasundera, Brig Jupana Jayawardana and M.R. Moorsa.

They will assess the performance of all Grade A 1, A 2, A 3, referees. Referees officiating in all Inter Club A Division and some inportant Schools A Division matches will be assessed by an assessor present at the match and such assessment will be given to the referee immediately in order for the referee to improve his shortcomings.

Assessment Committee B - Consisting of mostly active Grade A referees and Ananda Saranapala, S.W. Chang, Roshan Deen, Dilroy Fernando, Anil Jayasinghe and Sanjeewa Saranapala

They will assess the performance of all Grade B 1, B 2, B 3 and cadet referees.


Japanese training for TT coach

Former Sri Lanka National TT champion for many years Lalith Priyantha has been invited to undergo an advanced training course for coaches conducted by the Butterfly Table Tennis Dohjo at their training centre in Tokyo, Japan from March 3 to 9

This course will be conducted before the world Table Tennis Championships in Japan.

Priyantha who is currently a senior coach in TT having retired from the game, he has been instrumental in obtaining this course through the world leading quality table tennis equipment Tamasu Compahy Limited in japan.

He has been promised free accommodation by fax signed by Hideka Chiba the Assistant Manager of Tamasu Company Limited.


30 member NB pool to pick team for KL

The thrity member national netball pool has been picked by the Selection Committee for Netball in Sri Lnaka in readiness to participate in the 4th Asian Championships in Malaysia in December this year.

The poll picked is - Deepthi Alwis (Colombo District), Sandya Jayasuriya (Western Province) P.D.N. parasadi (Army), Deepthi Rupasinghe, Jayanthi Somasekera de Silva, Thilaka Jinadasa, Upendra Gamage, Rangika Mahawatta, T.N. Kodituwakku (Mercantile) Vajira Pushpakumari (Nationalised Services), Sujeewa Shamali (Ratnapuara) Rathna Victoria (Kurunegala) Shanika Kumari Perera, Harshani Priyangika, Anusha Kumari Deraniyagala, Sumudumali Geekiyanage, Niluka Priyangani, V.H.S. Priyadarshani (National Youth Council) Lakmini Gunasekera, Narmada Wijeratne, Thushari Mendis (Kandy) Manjula Lankatilleka(Kalutara) K.A.H.S.D. Jayatilleke (Free Trade Zone), Upamala Kariyawasam, Nayana Chitrangani (Air Force) Madari Samaratunga (Kegalle) Vishaka Fernando, Diloshani Fernando (Wennapuwa) Jinali Medigama (Nuwara-Eliya) P.M. Vithanage (Matara) (AF)

Go to the Sports Archive

Home Page

Front Page OP/ED News Business Plus

Please send your comments and suggestions on this web site to
info@suntimes.is.lk or to
webmaster@infolabs.is.lk