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18th January 1998

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Zimbabwe’s Andy Flower reverse sweeps off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan to complete his fourth test century, the first against Sri Lanka, on the fourth day of the second and final test at Colombo yesterday. Flower remained unbeaten on 105. pic by Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi REUTERS. Inset Aravinda de Silva who scored a defiant 87 not out.

Contents


2nd Test against Zimbabwe: victory is 117 runs away from the home team

Aravinda, Arjuna in rescue act for Lanka

By Marlon Fernandopulle

An unfinished 72 run stand for the sixth wicket between skipper Arjuna Ranatunge and vice captain Aravinda De Silva brought Sri Lanka to the threshold of victory at the end of the fourth day's play in the second Test against Zimbabwe at the SSC grounds yesterday.

Sri Lanka finished the day on 209 for 5 still needing another 117 runs for victory.

Sri Lanka's victory march was thawarted when they lost two quick wickets with only ten runs on the board. First Test double centurion Marvan Atapattu went for an ambitious drive and was caught behind for a 'duck' while Roshan Mahanama was adjudged lbw by umpire Salim Badar for no score.It was Mahanama's second duck in the series in which he has not entered double figures in four innings.

Vice captain Aravinda De Silva joined Sanath Jayasuriya and steadied the ship with an entertaining century stand. Jayasuriya abandoned his natural exuberance but punished the loose deliveries in his 110 ball innings to strike eight fours and two sixes in his 68. De Silva as always rose to the occasion when the chips were low, to anchor the innings with another majestic half century.

But just when the Lankans were cruising steadliy at 110 for 2 Zimbabwe opening bowler Heath Streak produced a deadly second spell that put the skids on the Lankan innings.Streak accounted for Jayasuriya and the out of form Tilakaratne in one over and later removed Romesh Kaluwitharana to have the Lankans tottering at 137 for 5.

However the advent of skipper Arjuna Ranatunge to the crease put the Lankans back on the rails.The left hander used all his experience and withstood some on field sledging to support his vice captain as Lanka fought back to keep alive their chances. Ranatunge was unbeaten on 29 while De Silva was on 87 and heading for his 16th century.The two most experienced Test cricketers will have to shoulder the responsibility and continue to bat if Sri Lanka is to register their 11th Test win .

Earlier Zimbabwe s seventh wicket pair continued to frustrate the Lankan bowlers and added 63 runs to help them to 299 all out and set a challenging target. Andy Flower completed a fine century to be unbeaten on 105 before running out of partners.


Sanath Jayasuriya to lead Board President's XI

By Saif Izzadeen

Sri Lanka's dashing opening batsmen Sanath Jayasuriya will lead a strong Board President's Xl to play in the one day match against Zimbabwe on Tuesday at the Moratuwa stadium.

Since a match of this nature is being played in Moratuwa after a long time a large crowd is expected to witness it

The Squad

Sanath Jayasuriya (Captain), Naveed Nawaz, Mahela Jayawardena, Indika de Saram, Hemantha Wickremaratne, Janaka Silva, Ruwan Kalpage, Upul Chandana, Hemantha Boteju, Ravindra Puhpakumara, Mario Villavarayan, Ruwin Peries, Saman Jayantha, Ruchira Perera.


Rugby World Cup Qualifier

Lankan hopes dashed on the post

Bangkok, Saturday - It was yet so near but yet so far for Sri Lanka as the World Cup rugby qualifying match between Taiwan and Sri Lanka ended with a close 31 -27 win for Taiwan during extra time yesterday.

At full time it was dedadlocked at 19 all after Taiwan led Sri Lanka 11-6 at the breather. It was a ding dong battle for supramacy as both sides were indulged in a do- or-die affair.

But the Taiwanies who were trailing 27 -24 did well to win the match few minutes before the extra time ended.

Breaking through the Sri Lanka defence, they scored a goal which gave them an exciting 31-27 win

Sri Lanka's three quarters were outstanding as they gave a breathtaking dispaly of fast open rugby which kept the Taiwan defence all at sea.

But Sri Lanka couldn't hold on and threw way the chance of qulifying for the Asian final round of the World Cup.

Sri Lanka, although they lost the match, won much adimirations from the fans for their gutty display.


Colts IX meet England

The Colts 1X will play a three-day cricket match against England A at the NCC grounds tomorrow. The Colts 1X team is as follows:

Bradman Ediriweera, Shantha Kalawitigoda, Anusha Pollonowita. Manoj Mendis, Sampath Perera, Sajith Fernando, T. M. Dilshan, Batheesha de Silva, Nalliah Rajan, Indika Gallage, Suresh Perera, Jeevantha Kulathunga, Kumar Sangakkara and Ranaweera.


President's XI in 40 run win over England 'A'

By Bernie Wijesekera

The visiting England 'A' team playing their first match of their seven-week tour of Sri Lanka suffered a 40 run defeat to the President's XI in their 50-over warm-up match at the Police Park yesterday.

It turned out to be a low scoring match where the bowlers dominated play. The President"s XI skipper Russel Arnold, winning the toss elected to bat first on a slow pitch with openers Arnold and Ruvin Peiris. They lost their first wicket at 21, when Peiris fell to Hutchinson for seven. Arnold, who stroked the ball with confidence, was joined by S.Silva. The pair put on 36 runs for the second wicket - the best for any wicket.

After the departure of Arnold, when he fell leg-before to Mark Ealham for 29 (with four fours made in 41 balls), the middle order fell apart to the varied England A attack for 142 runs in 46.2 overs.

The only other batsman to show any sort of resistence was A.Riddigammangedera, who toop scored with 31 (with five fours and a six in 35 balls).

Among the visiting bowlers Ben Hollioake proved to be the most economical with three for 11 in six overs. Hollioke was well supported by A.Giles (2 for 14) and D.Cosker (3 for 37).

England A in reply started disastrously losing three wickets for 14. After the early setback, the rest of the batting fell on the way side, being vulnerable to spin, barring Mark Ealham, the experienced England batsman.


Colts CC are strongly placed

A solid onening patnership of 90 runs between Duleep Samaraweera (41) and Chaminda Mendis (64) helped Colts to be strongly placed at 207 for 2 at the end of the second day's play in the Inter Club P. Sara Trophy cricket match against Panadura at Havelock Park yesterday.

Panadura - (242 for 6 overnight) 334 all out (S.Kumara 132, M.Jayasena 51, K.Silva 24; S.Alexander 3 for 50,T.Mattews 3 for 57, T.Samaraweera 3 for 52)

Colts - 207 for 2 at close (D.Samaraweera 41, C.Mendis 64, S.Fernando 66n.o, S.Janaka 20n.o)

BRC1st innings

BRC did well to take first innings from Tamil Union, who were 12 for no loss in their second innings at the end of the second day's play in the Inter Club P. Sara Trophy cricket match at Havelock Park yesterday.

Tamil Union - (43 for 6 overnight) 95 all out (S.Kumara 15,C.Ramanayke 37, B.Jeganadan 12, V.Wijegunawardena 10; W.Laboory 2 for 37, I.Amarasinghe 4 for 17, S.Madanayake 2 for 18) and 12 for no loss

BRC - 143 all out ( S. Perera 25, S. Tennakoon 23, D.Rajapaske 26, W.Laboory 20; C. Ramanayake 2 for 33, U.Chandana 2 for 30)

CCC on top

CCC made Sebastinaties to follow on and they were five for no loss at the end of the second day's play in the Inter Club P. Sara trophy cricket match at Havelock Park yesterday.

CCC - 204 for 4 dec (Bradman Ediriweera 154, Nilantha Bopage 89, Anushka Polowita 49, Lanke de Silva 40, G.Handunettige 45; N.Perera 2 for 134, N.Seneviratne 2 for 57)

Sebastianites - 85 (P.Salgado 25, H.Keerthi 3 for 32, I.Gallege 2 for 14, Alles 2 for 15 and Dalugoda 2 for 12)

Bloomfield has the edge

Bloomfield after bowling Police for 147 in the first innings and asked to follow on were 68 for 2 at the end of the second day's play in the Inter Club P. Sara trophy cricket match at Havelock Park yesterday.

Bloomfield - 367 all out( R,Kalpage 176, P.Wickremasinghe 42, T.Gunaratne 56, R. palliyaguru 59)

Police - 147 and 68 for 2 at close. - SI


Sajith Rupasinghe match haul of 7 for 80

By S.M.D.Sirisena, Saif Izzadeen and Shane Seneviratne

Sajith Rupasinghe's match bag of 7 for 80 was the highlight as Prince of Wales set a n impossible target of 193 in 23 overs to win and were 89 for five against Ananda which ended in a draw at Ananda Mawatha yesterday.

Resuming from their overnight score of 102 for 3, the Cambrians were all out for 197 in reply to Ananda's first innings total 241. Kalum Fernando made a well compiled 39 and took his tally to 690 runs for the season. Sajith Rupasighe (5 for 42) , Nuwan Jayawardena (3 for 63) and N.Puhpakumara (2 for 6) bowled well for Ananda.

Ananda in the hope geting a result went for quick runs and declared their second innings at 143 for 6. S. Pannpityia (42) and Lahitu Chaturanga (32) helped them to reach the score. Prince of Wales chasing an impossible target of 193 in 23 overs were 89 for 5 at the close with Kalum Fernando making an unbeaten 51 with six boundries.

Ananda - 241 for 8 Dec and 143 for 6( SL,Chaturanga 23, R.Basnayake 21, N,Pushpakumara 28, S.Pannapitiya 42; R.Ranaweera 3 for 28)

Prince of Wales - (102 for 3 overnight) 197 all out ( I.Hitthiya 47, K.Fernando 39, C.Sampath 37; S.Rupasinghe 5 for 42,N.Jayawardena 3 for 63, N.Puhpakumara 2 for 6) and 93 for 5 at close(K.Fernando 51n.o, H.Fernando 23;S.Rupasinghe 2 for 38).

Big yawn at Kotahena

It was a big yawn as theInter School cricklet match between S.Thomas' and St.Benedict's ended in a tame draw at Kotahena yesterday.

S.Thomas' batting a second time after bowling out St.Benedict's for 167 with a deficit of 45 runs, batted with no purpose as they ended the day on 172 for 4 with only Sumudu Perera (53) and skipper Nilanka Pieris with a workmanlike unbeaten 50 helped them to reach the score.

Earlier in the day, St.Benedict's resuming from their overnight 74 for 4 were bowled out for 167. They were helped by a defiant 93 by Dinesh Silva who was very unfournate to miss a century by seven runs.

Dinesh was associated in a useful partnership of 63 for the fifth wicket with Joel Saverimutthapullai who made 30. For S,Thomas', Suranga Pieris bowled well to have 5 for 40 he was well supported by Lakmal Fernando who had 2 for 29.

S. Thomas' - 122 and 172 for 4 at close( S.Perera 53, N.Pieris 50 n.o, M.Pieris 18; S.Fernando 2 for 20)

St.Benedict's - (74 for 4 overnight) 167 all out ( D.Silva 93, J. Saverymutthapilli 30; S.Pieris 5 for 40, L.Fernando 2 for 29)

St. Sylvester's on first innings

St.Sylvester's did well to take the first innings points from Trintiy as the Inter School cricket match between the two schools ended in a draw at Kandy yesterday.

Trinity - 247 for 8 in 72 overs( R.Raffyal 62, K.Weeratne 60, S.Fernando 37, S.Moratota 17, N.Jayasekera 46; R.Dissanayke 2 for 62, C.Ratnayake 2 for 12, A.Perera 2 for 60) and 44 for 2( S.Gamage 12, K.Weeraratne 16)

St.Sylvester's - 262 for 6 in 89 overs( A.Perera 66,R.Dissanayke 78, S.Hajareen 25, C.Wijesuriya 21, H.Wimalawickrema 20n.o,D.Liyanage 11n.o; S.Fernando 4 for 63)

Muditha 96

Muditha Maduwantha of D.S. Senanayake made a defiant 96 in their drawn Inter School cricket match against St.Sebastian's at Wijerama Mawatha yesterday.

St.Sebastian's - 205 all out( B.Mendis 38, M.Fernando 30; T.Amaraweera 5 for 71) and 166 for 2 ( B.Mendis 53, M.Fernando 62n.o)

D.S.Senanayake - 275 for 5 dec ( M.Maduwantha 96, T.Amaraweera 40, D.Perera 59)

Wesley-SJC drawn

Wesley set an achieveable target of 213 in 42 overs were 113 for 7 at the close of their drawn Inter School cricket match against St.Joseph's at Darley Road yesterday.

St.Joseph's - 203 all out and 132 for 5 dec( M.Perera 60, I.Daniel 24, S.Fernando 22n.o; M.Senadeera 3 for 36)

Wesley - (49 for 5 overnight) 121 ( A.Jaldeen 25, I.Ranasinghe 45n.o, B.Senedeera 15; R.de.Silva 4 for 50, M.Perera 3 for 32, S.Warnakula 2 for 9) and 113 for 7( A.Jaldeen 24,M.Balasuriya 27; S.Warnakula 3 for 34,M.Perera 2 for 51)

Royal-Nalanda draw

Royal set to make 255 runs in 39 overs for an outright win by Nalanda, made 118 for 5 at close enabling them to draw their Inter-School cricket match at Campbell Place yesterday.

Nalanda in their first innings made 175, Royal in reply were struggling at 88 for 8 (overnight). But resolute batting by their tail-enders A.Watawala (23) and Harith Rajakaruna (25) helped them to a total of 133.

Nalanda - 175 and 213 for 4 dec. (D.Fernando 38, C.Boteju 16, P.Hadigalla 17, M.Porage 66 n.o, A.de. Silva 54 n.o; Harith Rajakaruna 2 for 58).

Royal - 88 for 8 overnight and 133 in 52.5 overs (A.Watawela 23, Harith Rajakaruna 25; N.Kumarage 4 for 51, K.Gangodawila 2 for 40) and 118 for 5 in 39 overs (Jehan Mubarak 14, A.Perera 26, L.Liyanage 37, U. Goonewardena 14 n.o; N.Kumarage 2 for 14, P.Hadigalla 2 for 15) - BW.


Dilini bags 3 table tennis titles

Dilini Madawala of Hillwood College, Kandy, bagged a triple and K. S. T. Chalitha of Sri Devananda, Ambalangoda won a double at the 55th Junior Table Tennis championships conducted by St Joseph's BMW Nugegoda, concluded at the S. Thomas' Indoor Stadium, Mount Lavinia.

Madawala won the girls Under 17 singles /doubles and mixed doubles, while Chalitha won the boys under-17 singles and mixed doubles.

Boys Under - 9 singles - Samuditha Ishan (Royal) beat Udayanga Bandara (Maliyadeva) 21-16, 21-9.
Girls' under-9 singles - Madushani Perera (St Joseph's BMV) beat Jayamali Udagedera (Holy Family Convent Kurunegala) 21-12, 21-13.
Girls Under -11 singles - Kalapani Herath (Holy Family Convent Kurunegala) best Yathindra Dissanyake (Musaeus) 21-16, 21-12.
Boys Under- 11 singles - Tharindu Samaraweera (S. Thomas' Mt.) beat G. P. H. Sajith (Sri Devananda) 21-15, 21-15.
Girls Under - 13 singles - Yathindra Dissanayake (Musaeus) beat Harshani Medagoda (Holy Family Convent Kurunegala) 21-16, 14-21, 21-14.
Boys Under- 13 singles - I. T. Gunapala (Vidyartha) beat Tharindu Samaraweera(S. Thomas' Mt) 16-21, 21-15, 21-7.
Girls Under- 15 singles - Pradeepa Dilrukshi (St Joseph's BMV) beat Harini Kaluarachchi (Mahanama) 22-20, 21-15.
Boys Under- 15 singles - Yohan Dissanayake (Royal) beat Dinesh Deshappriya (Isipathana) 21-14, 21-17.
Girls Under- 17 doubles- Dilini Madawala (Hillwood) /Madushika Kottegoda (Maliyadeva Girls School) beat Mauvlee Prasangani/ Pradeepa Dilrukshi (St Joseph's BMV) 22-20, 21-17. - AF


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