Sri Lanka News Round-up (23 Oct1997)

Thursday 23, October 1997

SRI LANKA SPORTS NEWS AT-A-GLANCE

Compiled by Dinesh Weerawansa

* Wennappuwa Sports Club fared creditably well in the 1997 under-24 division I cricket tournament. Having played six matches during the season, they won four matches including an innings win over Petersons SC played at Wennappuwa and lost two games.

They narrowly lost to Old Cambrians for want of time with the Old Cambrians holding out at 116 for 9 wkts needing 31 runs for an outright win. The two outstanding all-rounders of the side Thisara Perera and K. Nelson Fernando made useful contributions with the bat totally 225 and 205 runs and capturing 16 wickets for 114 runs and 21 wickets for 253 runs respectively during the season.Amal Fernando, Malinda Siyambalapitiya, Shiroman Jayatunga, T. A. Fernando, Camillus Susantha, Indika Fernando, Dimuth Fernando and Asanka Wijeratne made useful contributions in their outings.

Star-studded teams meet on Sunday

By Richard Dwight

Two star-studded teams from the SSC and NCC will meet on Sunday 26 at the NCC grounds Maitland Cresent in a Limited over game for the J. R. Jayawardene Memorial Challenge Trophy.

SSC slippered by Sri Lanka Test captain Arjuna Ranatunga, has five other Test stars and other prospective cricketers in their ranks while NCC led by reliable Hashan Tillakaratne with maestro Aravinda de Silva has three other Test cricketers and seasoned players to count on.

The match starts soon after the opening ceremony at 9.30 am.

SSC From: Arjuna Ranatunga, Marvan Atapathu, Mahela Jayawardena, Sanjeeva Ranatunga H. Wickremaratne, A Gunewardena, S. Silva, Pramodaya Wickremasinghe, Jayantha Silva, C. Boteju and R. Jayawardena.

NCC from: Hashan Tillakeratne, Aravinda de Silva, Russell Arnold, Aviska Gunewardene, Sajeeva de Silva A. Riddigamanagedara, P. Hewage, P. Jayawardene, S. Warusamana, D. Samarasinghe Asela Pathirana and Ravindra Pushpakumara.

Asgiriya gets a Test after 4 years

By Sa'adi Thawfeeq

Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy will host their first Test match in four years when the first Test of a short two-match series against Zimbabwe is played there from January 7-11.

No Test has been played there since Sri Lanka were shot out for their lowest total in Test cricket - 71 by Pakistan in August 1994.

However, the stadium has been the venue for the highest total in limited overs cricket - 398 for five in 50 overs by Sri Lanka against Kenya during the 1996 World Cup tournament.

It has also hosted a few minor matches like the 4-day under 24 Test between Sri Lanka and South Africa in 1995 and the 4-day under 19 Test between Sri Lanka and India in February this year.

According to Cricket Board sources, the best weather conditions for cricket are experienced in Kandy only during the months of January, February and March.

The second Test is scheduled for the SSC from January 14-18.

Zimbabwe's seven-match tour also includes a series of three one-day internationals on January 22, 24 and 26.

The tour commences on January 3 with a 3-day warm-up match. A one-day warm-up match is also scheduled for January 20 before the commencement of the one-day series.

ENGLAND `A'

With England `A' also due for a 11-match tour of Sri Lanka, Kandy is likely to be allocated at least one of the three 4-day unofficial Tests.

England `A' are due on January 12 and are scheduled to play three unofficial one-day internationals, two 4-day warm-up games, one 3-day warm-up game and two one-day warm up matches.

England `A' will be touring Sri Lanka till February 25.

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