 Jubilant Sri Lankan players congratulate Roshan Mahanama after he caught Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell on the third day of the first test in Kandy January 9. Zimbabwe, replying to Sri Lanka's 469-9 declared, were all out for 140 in their first innings and were forced to follow on. pic by Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi - Reuters |
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Another tantalising spell of bowling by spinner Muttiah Muralitharan sent Zimbabwe plunging to the brink of defeat by close of play on the fourth day of their test match against Sri Lanka at the packed Asgiriya Stadium yesterday.
Facing an uphill task after they were forced to follow on, Zimbabwe fought well and hard yesterday to ensure that Sri Lankans did not get a bonus rest day, today. Indeed by tea, Zimbabwe appeared to be heading for a match-saving score, but three wickets tumbled in the final session, leaving Sri Lanka well set to have the match in their bag, possibly by lunch time on the final day.
At close of play yesterday, Zimbabwe were 289 for 7 in their second innings — still needing 40 runs to avert an innings defeat, with Muralitharan claiming 5 for 73 which together with his 5 for 23 in the first innings gave him a match bag of 10 wickets. He becomes the second Sri Lankan to achieve this rare feat after opening bowler Chaminda Vaas who took 10 for 90 against New Zealand in 1995.
Large crowds gathered at the picturesque Asgiriya Stadium in bright weather from yesterday morning, apparently hoping for an early Sri Lankan victory. But some back-to-the wall heroics by lowly-rated Zimbabwe batsmen delayed the expected outcome, though it could not be denied.
The fightback was led by Andy Flower who made 67 and new comer Murray Goodwin who made his first half century and went on to 70, while Skipper Alistair Campbell chipped in with a useful contribution in the pre-lunch session.
Flower and Goodwin in the best partnership for the day added 82 for the fourth wicket in a rescue act that took Zimbabwe to much greater respectability than they achieved in the first innings where they crumbled for 140 in reply to Sri Lanka's 469 for 9 declared.
It was hometown hero Murali who broke this vital stand, as he did many others, to roaring cheers from thousands of fans.
Flower and Campbell put on 76 runs for the fifth wicket, but again it was Murali who got him with a vicious spinner to end the six-hour knock by Flower. When Murali bowled Craig Wishart in the same over, it was his tenth wicket and the writing was very much on the wall for Zimbabwe.
After Vaas dismissed skipper Campbell in the first delivery in the second new ball it was clear that only the final rites needed to be performed and the question was whether Sri Lanka could finish it off yesterday. But bad light gave Zimbabwe a chance to fight another day.
If a miracle is to take place today, it would need to come through Paul Strang, the only recognised batsman still at the crease. Indeed he has a century against Pakistan to his credit but the task at Asgiriya looks highly improbable if not impossible for him.
In the previous two home Tests against Zimbabwe in 1996, Sri Lanka won both with spinners Muralitharan and Jayantha Silva taking 27 wickets. Victory today will be the third straight triumph against Zimbabwe in home test, showing up again their weakness inthe face of good spin bowling.
ScoreboardSri Lanka - First Innings 469 for 9 dec.
(M. S. Atapattu 223, P. A. de Silva 75, P. Strang 3
for 123, A. whittall 3 for 73)
Zimbabwe - First Innings 140 all out.
(G. Rennie 53, P. Strang 35, M. Muralitharan 5 for 23, J. Silva 3 for 27)
Zimbabwe - Second Innings (Overnight 71 for 2)
Gavin Rennie - L B W b Muralitharan 24
Grant Flower - b de Silva 38
Murray Goodwin - b Muralitharan 70
Andrew Whittall - b Muralitharan 14
Andy Flower - c Mahanama b Muralitharan 67
Alistair Campbell - L B W b Vaas 40
Craig Wishart - b Muralitharan 00
Paul Strang - not out 13
Heath Streak - not out 06
Extras (B - 01, L. B -10, N. B 06) 17
Total for seven wkts. at stumps 289
Fall of wickets: 1-68 (Grant), 2-68 (Rennie), 3-103 (Whittall), 4-185 (Goodwin), 5 -261 (A. Flower), 6-261(Wishart), 7-271(Campbell).
Bowling: Vaas: 20-3-52-1, Pushpakumara: 16-2-49-0, Muralitharan: 39-13-78-5, De Silva:13-5-25-1, J. Silva: 11-2-35-0, Jayasuriya: 16-038-0, Atapattu: 1-0-01-0.
A good all round performance by Niranjan Kumart ( 10/43 and 46 runs) helped Nalanda to rout Thurstan by an innings and 40 runs in an inter school cricket match at Cambpell place yesterday.
Nalanda resuming from their overnight 145 for 4 in reply to Thurstan 127 all out added another 59 runs to be all out for 204. Thurstan batting a second time with a deficit of 77 runs were rattled out for 37 For Nalanda the main wrecker was Niranjan Kumar who ran through the Thurstan innings with a seven wicket haul.
Thurstan - 127 all out and 37 all out ( N. Kumar 7 for 19 and K.Gangodawilla 3 for 16)
Nalanda - (145 for 4 overnight) 204 all out( D.Dayaratne 21, P.Adigala 24, D.Jayasundra 19, N. Kumar 46; T.Wickremasinghe 4 for 56, T.Malliakachchi 3 for 37)
The Southern Motor Sports Club members day rally and get-together will be held today at the Uyanwatta Esplanade, Matara at 2 p.m.
The rally which will cover 60 kilometres of tarred and gravel roads of varying terrain will start at 2 p.m. from Uyanwatta and finish at Brown's Beach Hotel around 5 p.m.
Over 75 competitors including lady drivers and navigators will take part in this rally.
Competitors will be required to answer 10 instant questions, while competing in the rally.
Prizes will be awarded to the first ten, while the best three navigators and the first lady competitor too will be awarded prizes.
A team of strength builders will represent Sri Lanka at the World Strength C'ships to be held in India from January 23 to 25.
According to the Sri Lanka Strength Building Federation President Siridasa Liyanage, Desha. Liyanage, who was placed third at the inaugural C'ships in the 52 Kg category, will officiate at this C'ships. S. Liyanage is also a Vice President of the World Strength Building Federation.
St. Anthony's Kandy set to make 178 runs in 39 overs by Royal, for an outright win, were tottering at 34 for 6. But an unbeaten seventh-wicket stand of 70 runs between A. Pinnaduwa 31 n.o. , (four fours) and Neil Ferdinand 36 n.o., (with five fours) enabled them to draw their inter-school cricket match, concluded at Reid Avenue, yesterday.
Royal batting first on the matting wicket made 144 runs. Mahesh Palihakkara captured for 47. The Antonians in reply were 73 for 6 overnight. Resuming their innings yesterday, they were bowled out for 118.
Royal went for quick runs in their second innings and declared at 151 for 5.
An aggressive 101-run fourth wicket stand between Ruchira Jayasuriya 46 and Umesh Gunawardena 77 (with 9 fours and two sixes) was the show-piece of the Royal second innings.
Both teams decided to play on matting as the turf wicket was not fit for play due to wet conditions.
Royal 144 in 49.4 overs (Ravi Peiris 22, S. Perera 40, H Rajakaruna 18, L Fonseka 2 for 23, Mahesh Palihakkara 6 for 47 and 151 for 5 dec. in 41.0 overs.
(R Jayasuriya 46 Umesh Gunawardena 77, Mahesh Palihakkara 2 for 65, A Pinnaduwa 2 for 11)
SACK (73 for 6 overnight) 118 in 57 overs. A Pinnaduwa 28, S. Burke12, N Ferdinand 11, Jehan Mubarak 3 for36, H K Rajakaruna 4 for 26 and 104 for 6 in 39 overs. A. Pinnaduwa 31 n.o. Neil Ferdinand 36 n.o., A Udumalagala 4 for 8, M Rajakaruna 2 for 20.
St.Benedict's held on doggedly to force a draw against St.Joseph's in their inter school cricket encounter concluded at Kotahena yesterday.
After bowling out the home side for 128 on the first day, the Josephians declared their first innings at 160 for 7 wickets,45 minutes after the lunch break.Openers Johanas Jayasuriya and Ian Daniels scored 43 each and paved the way with a solid first wicket stand.Daniels was the more aggressive of the pair hitting seven boundaries in his brief knock while Jayasuriya had two sixes and a boundary to his credit.
Trailing by 32 runs on the first innings the Benedictines were on the ropes once again and tottering at 33 for 4 wickets after opening bowler Amindha de Mel picked up three quick wickets.
But a determined 37run stand for the 5th wicket between skipper Dinesh De Silva(20) and Ashley Fernando(19) saved the home side from further humiliation. Josephian off spinner Shenal Warnakula (3/22) finally broke through but it was too late as the visitors ran short of time to force a possible victory.
St.Benedict's-128 & 86/8 (Ashley Fernando 19 Dinesh De Silva 20 Amindha de Mel 3/19 Shenal Warnakula 3/22)
St.Joseph's- 160/7 decl.(Johanas Jayasuriya 43 Ian Daniels 43 Monto Perera 24 Sharanga Fernando 26 Shahen Perera 2/36 Malka Fernando 3/19)
Wesley took major honours in their inter school cricket encounter against St. Aloysius which ended in a tame draw at Campbell Park yesterday
Wesley declared their first innings at 127/3 after bowling out the visitors for 118.However the visitors put up a better display in the second essay to be 74/5.
St.Aloysius-118 (S Dilhan 34 S Tilakaratne 26 RSenadheera 5/24 B Senadheera 2/10
Wesley 127/3 decl.(D Jayakody 22 K Balasuriya 34)MFNo decision at MoratuwaThe St Peter's and St.Sebastian's inter school cricket match ended in a drab draw at Moratuwa yesterday
St.Sebastian's - 253 for 5
St.Peter's - 211 for 5( J.Fernando 41, A.Fonseka 14, M. Perera 10, M.Warnapura 37, I.Fonseka 49, S.Gunasekera 29n.o; C.Francis 3 for 4)
S. Thomas' took major honours in the inter school cricket against Ananda which ended in a draw at Ananda mawatha yesterday
Ananda replying for S.Thomas' 221 resuming from there overnight 42 for 4 were bundled out for 121. Ananda forced to follow on were 72 for 2 at the close
S.Thomas' - 221
Ananda - (42 for 4 overnight) 121 all out( R.Basnayake 22, M. Pushpakumar 13, M. Jayawardena 32; L. Fernando 4 for 14 , S. Madonza 2 for 5) and 72 for 2 ( L.Fernando 33 n.o
Malaka De Silva with a fine bowling spell of 5 for 37 put Singhe SC Ambalangoda on the verge of gaining first innings points from BRC at the end of the second days play in the Division 1 inter club P.Sara match at Havelock Park yesterday.
Singhe SC - 220 all out ( Saman Jayantha 77, R.Wimalasena 49, B.Ranjith 36; W. Laboory 4 for 57, I.Amarasinghe 3 for 43, H.Ranaweera 2 for 26)
BRC - 167 for 9 ( M,Rajapaske 22, C. Perera 47, D.Madurupruma 52n.o, U.Heetiarachchi 22, M. De. Silva 5 for 37, A.Jabbar 2 for 23, B.Ranjith 1 for 51)
Police replied with 132 for 3 against Colts 279 all out at the end of the second days play in the Division 1 inter club P.Sara match at Havelock Park yesterday.
Colts CC - (175 for 4 overnight) 279 all out ( C.Mendis 54, T.Samaraweera 85, T. Sampath 49, S.Janaka 20; N.Soysa 3 for 21, A.Priyantha 2 for 51, P.Serasinghe 2 for 44, D.Nanayakkara 2 for 31)
Police SC - 132 for 3 ( R.Wimalasiri 26, S.Gunaratne 52n.o, N. Soysa 31n.o)
Youngsters SC beat Hyline SC Kandy by 7 goals to 3 in their Bristol League football encounter conducted by the Football Federation of Sri Lanka, while Air Force beat York by 3 goals to nil and Navy were held to a scoreless draw by Cooray SC.
In two other games in the Division I, Wanathamulla Youth beat New Youngs SC Wennappuwa by 5 goals to 2 and Cooray beat Wanathamulla Youth by 3 goals to 1.
Young Birds SC beat Old Joes Anuradhapura by 5 goals to 1 in their Division II encounter and Pelicans SC beat Young Marians SC 2-nil, Maya SC beat New Star SC 1-nil, Army were held to a 1-all draw by Pelicans SC and Tri Star received a walk-over from Municipal SC.
In Division III Young Star Anuradhapura beat Bolton SC Puttalam 6-1, Ove SC Negombo beat Oddidas SC Puttalam 3-2, Fortuna SC Wattala beat Wimbledon SC Puttalam 3-2, Mahajana SC Kurunegala beat Pelawatta SC Badulla 2-1, Munaweera SC Matara beat Zavia SC Beruwala 6-3, Malwatta SC Matale beat Reliance SC Kandy 4-1, Mawanella United beat Matale Youth 2-nil, Red Sun SC Gampola beat Hatton Youth 8-1, Naseby Lake Side SC Nuwara-Eliya beat Eastern Youth 2-1.
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