Sri Lanka News Round-up (2-4 Dec 1997)

2-4 December 1997

SRI LANKA SPORTS NEWS AT-A-GLANCE

Compiled by Dinesh Weerawansa.

2 Dec

* Sri Lanka team arrived in Mumbai to play their third and final cricket Test against India which starts here on Wednesday. This will be a crucial game for both teams as the three-match series is tied nil-all following a high-scoring draws in Mohali and a rain-hit game in Nagpur.

Sri Lanka team is scheduled to have a full work out tomorrow and the final X1 is expected to be named later in the day. But team sources said Sri Lanka will in all probability make just one change in the bowling department. However, paceman Ravindra Pushpakumara is expected to retain his place and Sajeeva de Silva is unlikely to be recalled. After the third Test in Mumbai, Sri Lanka team departs to Colombo on December 8 and will return to India on December 20 for the second leg. The three one day internationals between India and Sri Lanka will be played on December 22 (in Guwahati), 25 (in Indore or Gwalior) and on December 28 (in Goa). During this break, the Indian team will tour Sharjah to play in a four-nation Champions trophy tournament with Pakistan, West Indies and England.

* St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa, qualified for the second round of the Horlicks Trophy all-island under-13 Division one when they beat Maris Stella, Prince of Wales, Ananda and drew with De Mazenod at the inter-schools cricket tournament.

* The inter-school cricket encounter between Mahanama College and Devananda College ended in a draw at the Peterson Park. P.Sathyapala of Mahanama College took a match bag of 9 wickets for 68 runs. R. M. Chandana excelled for Devananda College capturing 5 wickets for 30 runs.

scores: Mahanama College 189 all out (S. Rajapaksa 45, M. Bandara 34, P.Jinasena 31 n.o., H. Mahesh 4 for 51, R. M. Chandana 3 for 43, P. Nalaka 2 for 15.) and 138 all out in the 2nd innings (P. Jinasena 37, D. Perera 20, Y. Gamlath 20, S. Rajapaksa 20 n.o., R. M. Chandana 5 for 30, H. W. Mahesh 2 for 42); Devananda College 110 all out (R. M. Chandana 24, P.Sathyapala 5 for 27, S. Rajapaksha 3 for 27) and 141 for 8 at close in the 2nd innings (R. M. Chandana 29, H. W. Mahesh 29, N. Thushara 24, S. Rajapaksa 4 for 30, P. Sathyapala 4 for 41).

* Madawala United Sports Club, Madawala, created one of the biggest shocks in the hill capital in recent times when they beat the more fancied Old Trinitians Sports Club by 24 runs in their Board of Control's Division III cricket tournament match played in Kandy.

The Madawala United team comprised mainly cricketers from Madeena Central College and they put up a creditable performance against their much stronger opponents. Match winner for the Madawala team was spinner Mohammed Arshard who captured 5 for 17 to have the Old Trinitians on a hop. Chief score: Madawala United SC 99 all out in 40 overs (M. Arshard 22, M. Isry 15, A. Jayasena 2 for 14, S. Gunawardena 4 for 14, M. Samath 2 for 10). Old Trinitians SC 75 all out in 38 overs (Angus Jayasena 21, M. Aslam 2 for 8, M. Premkumar 2 for 1, M. Arshard 5 for 17).

* Wennappuwa SC registered a thrilling three-run win over Chilaw Marians in their Cricket Board inter-club limited over tournament match played at Wennappuwa.

Wennapuwa SC, batting first, made 191 all out in 48.2 overs (Asanka Kurukulasuriya 48, Camillus Susantha 47, Thisara Perera 30, Vijitha Gunawardena 20, M. Fernando 4 for 7, Dixon Fernando 2 for 30, M. de Silva 2 for 40). In reply, Chilaw Marians made 188 for 9 in 50 overs (Dixon Fernando 54, Saman Thithagolla 37, Dileepa Perera 18, Asanka Wijeratne 3 for 32, Muditha Gunawardena 2 for 21).

* The visiting Netherlands Women's National Cricket Team ended their short tour of the island on a winning note when they beat their Sri Lankan counterparts by ten wickets in the third and final one day `international' played at the Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy.

With this win the Dutch women's team won the three-match series 2-1 with the home team wining only the second game. The Netherlands team will now fly to New Delhi with their morale high to participate in the Women's World Cup Cricket tournament to be held in India from December 9.

The Sri Lankan lasses paid the penalty for being too adventurous and all their front line batswomen were out cheaply. At one stage they were 35 for 7 in 18 overs before the tail enders pushed play into the 44th over. Medium pacer Cheldern Oudlof was the main destroyer taking 5 for 20. When the Dutch batted they found no terrors in the wicket and scored off the runs in just 22.5 overs. In reply to Women's Cricket Association of Sri Lanka's 65 all out in 43.1 overs, Netherlands team made 66 for no loss in 21.5 overs (Nicola Payne 45 n.o., Ed Janss 12 n.o.).

* Ragama CC `B' beat Delgoda CC by four wickets in their Board of Control Division Three cricket match played at Wattala. In reply to Delgoda CC's 266 for 7 in 50 overs (Nalin Edirisinghe 58, R. Jayawardena 59), Ragama CC made 267 for 6 in 45.4 overs (Ruwan Sampath 45, Roshan Abeysinghe 40, L. Priyantha 45).

*Petes sitting pretty

In conditions that were near ideal for bright cricket, St. Peter's found themselves in a comfortable position, accounting for five Zahirian wickets for 77, after having declared with their score at 256 for 9 in their cricket encounter which began at Bambalapitiya yesterday.

St. Peter's having been sent in to bat by Zahira, were given a good start by the openers Jerome Fernando and Angelo Fonseka, who put on 87.

This was further consolidated by a third wicket partnership of 74, between skipper Malinda Warnapura and Mahes Perera, and with a fine all round batting display by the others that followed, St Peter's declared with their score at 256 for 9 at tea - made off 72 overs and 252 minutes. Left-arm spinner Adly Zubair bowled best to take 6 for 80 for Zahira.

When Zahira batted, they did appear to be unsettled by the pace of Ranga Dias and Dhanushka Hettihewa, through which skipper Warnapura exploited with his medium pace cutters to take 3 for 7 to put the Zahirians in a spot, to be 5 for 77 at the close.

St. Peter's 256 for 9 (M. Warnapura 47, A. Fonseka 47, S. Pinto 36, M. Perera 33, J. Fernando 27, G. Lodewyke 15 n.o., A. de Silva 10 n.o.; A Zubair 6 for 80).

Zahira 77 for 5 (I. Faizal 18, M. Hussain 22).

3 Dec

Cricket Board SGM. Dec: 19

By SA'ADI THAWFEEQ

It appears that the lawyers have given the green light for the Sri Lanka Cricket Board's Executive Committee to summon the membership for a Special General Meeting (SGM).

Although official intimation is yet awaited, Cricket Board sources inform us that the SGM is scheduled to be held on December 19 (Friday) at the Board headquarters at 4 p.m.

This will be within the 28 days as stipulated by the constitution, since the letter to the Cricket Board's Executive Committee by the members was dated November 22.

We understand the agenda for the meeting will be a discussion on the WorldTel deal.

All details in relation to the transaction leading to the controversy over bribery allegations will be thrashed out and discussed.

It is also refreshing to know that the members will finally have a chance of being enlightened on the much publicised WorldTel deal which has drawn international attention.

Royal-Thurstan drawn

Despite a sporting declaration by Royal their inter-school cricket encounter against Thurstan ended in a draw at BRC grounds, Havelock Park yesterday.

Royal declared their second innings at 141 for 2 leaving Thurstan a victory target of 164 runs to be made in 25 overs. But Thurstan fell short by 48 runs despite two good half centuries by A. Dayananda (50) and Tharindu Wickremasinghe (51).

Royal: 212 for 6 decl and 141 for 2 decl in 37 overs (R. Peiris 38, R. Jayasuriya 76)

Thurstan: 190 (I. Wickremasinghe 59, H. Rajakaruna 4 for 37, A. Watawala 4 for 31)

There should be a close battle for supremacy as Australia takes on Jinnah Cup champions South Africa in the opening match of the Carlton & United World Series Cup triangular tournament in a day/night game to be played in Sydney on Thursday. The morale of the South Africansa is high following their two successive wins over World champions Sri Lanka in last month's Jinnah Cup four-nation tournament in Pakistan.

The WSC three-nation tournament will be worked off in Australia from December 4 to January 27. Besides the hosts Australia, South Africa and New Zealand are the other two teams taking part. All matches, except for the fifth preliminary round match between New Zealand and South Africa in Hobart on December 11, will be day/night games. the three participating teams will play each other four times each and the top two teams will advance to the best of three finals to be played on January 23, 25 and 27.

* With the second between Pakistan and the West Indies heading for a high-scoring draw in Rawalpindi, the third and final Test to be played from December 6-10 in Karachi should turn out to be an important one for both teams.

On conclusion of the Test series, the West Indies and Pakistan, along with England and India, will play in a quadrangular one day international tournament to be played in Sharjah later next week. India will tour Sharjah between the Test and one day home series against Sri Lanka.

(Home):

* The Sri Lanka women's cricketers are in top trim for the 1997 women's World Cup cricket tournament to be held in India from December 5 to 29. A total of twelve teams will battle for honours in the World Cup, and they have been divided into two groups. England, South Africa, Pakistan, Denmark, Australia and Ireland are in group A while Sri Lanka are in Group B along with New Zealand, Canada, India, West Indies and the Netherlands.

This tour was made possible through the untiring efforts of Mrs. Gwen Herat who is also the representative to the Women's International Conference, President of the Women's Cricket Association of Sri Lanka and President of the Puttalam District Cricket Association. The Sri Lanka team will be captained by all rounder Vanessa Bowen and medium pace bowler Rasanjali Silva will be the vice captain. The team is coached by Guy de Alwis former Sri Lanka wicket-keeper-batsman.

4 Dec

Bandaranaike MMV in third round

Veyangoda Bandaranaike Madhya Maha Vidyalaya qualified for the third round of the Horlicks Trophy all-island under-13 division III cricket tournament when they scored outright wins against Galahitiyawa MMV, Gurukula MV and beat Dalugama St. Francis on first innings. Negombo CC two wins

Negombo Cricket Club registered two victories in their division three Gampaha District Cricket tournament match played recently.

Beat Sun S.C. by 73 runs.

Mevan Fernando of Negombo C.C. captured 4 wickets for 21 runs and Rahim Dole top scored with an unbeaten 48 runs.

Negombo C.C. 214 for 6. (Rahim Dole 48 n.o., Ashoka Jayamanne 42, Achala Jayalath 30, Lloyd Croos 22, N.Lethuman 3 for 41, P.Selliah 3 for 21.)

Sun S.C. all out 151. (M.Shibly 36, N.Lethuman 22 n.o., Mevan Fernando 4 for 21.)

Beat Negombo Moors by 9 wickets.

L. Victor exclled for Negombo C.C. captured 4 wickets for 23 runs and Kasun Bulathsinghe top scored with an unbeaten 58 runs.

Negombo Moors all out 116 (M.Rishan 26, M.Zulfi 27, L.Victor 4 for 23.)

Negombo C.C. 118 for 1. (Kasun Bulathsinghe 58 n.o., Achala Jayalath 30.) Wattala CC by 38 runs

Wattala Cricket Club beat Greenfield by 38 runs in their division three Gampaha District Cricket tournament match played recently.

Wattala C.C. all out 234. ( H.Niron 50, D.Anthony 48, M.Malan 33, C. Marambe 28, N.Nawin 25, D.Perera 2 for 26, A.Peris 3 for 44.)

Greenfield all out 196. (R.Kumara 90 n.o., L.Dabare 25, L.Koelmeyer 2 for 18, K.Lakshman 2 for 44, R.Mohedeen 2 for 44.) Kandamby 102

Tilina Kandamby scored 102 with two sixes and 10 fours for Ananda and Malinda Gajanayake missed out on a century by eight runs for D.S. Senanayake in their inter-school cricket match which ended in a draw at Wijerama Mawatha yesterday.

In reply to Ananda's total of 230, D.S. Senanayake fell short by six runs despite Gajanayake hitting one six and 12 fours in his knock.

Ananda 230 in 71 overs (T. Kandamby 102, M. Pushpakumara 45, K. Jayasinghe 33, Lakshan Fernando 20, N. Jayawardena 18, A. Junaid 3 for 75, Duminda Perera 2 for 17, R. Gunasekera 2 for 35) and 51 for one at stumps in 20 overs (L. Chaturanga 21, R. Basnayake 14)

D.S. Senanayake 224 in 101 overs (M. Gajanayake 92, N. Pradeep 26, M. Abeywickrema 27, R. Gunasekera 27, A. Galagoda 5 for 73, J. Perera 2 for 44, N. Jayasinghe 2 for 28).

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)