Sri Lanka News Round-up (8 Jan 1998)

Thursday 08, January 1998

SRI LANKA SPORTS NEWS AT-A-GLANCE

Compiled by Dinesh Weerawansa

* Skipper Indika Batuwitarachchi of Thorn Group scored a record 167 not out which included 14 sixes and 5 fours to beat Upali Group by 185 runs in a Mercantile H division cricket match at MCA grounds. Batuwitarachchi and vice captain Shihara Muthuporutota have been in 'good nick' this season while left-arm leg-spinner Chaminda Dilruk has chipped in with five wicket hauls on two occasions.

Thorn group has secured the top position in their respective group by recording wins in all five league matches scoring a total of 20 points. In the last match Thorn Group made 263 for 5 in 30 overs (Indika Batuwitarachchi 165 not out, S. McCay 27, Anton Fernando 21) and in reply Upali Group were shot out for 78 in 23.2 overs (G. Mangala 16, Chaminda Dilruk 5 for 31).

* An unbeaten century by D.L.Maddy (136 n.o) and a superb 96 by skipper Nick Knight helped the visiting England 'A' to make a healthy 278 for 2 at close on the opening day of their three-day tour match against Kenya in Nairobi.

England 'A', taking the first lease of the wicket, lost opener S.P.James for 29 with the total on 48 but a fine 187-run second wicket stand between Maddy and Knight helped them to recover.

* The second leg of the Carton & United One-Day triangular one day series in Australia will commence on Friday when New Zealand takes on South Africa in a day/night match in Brisbane.

After the six first leg preliminary round matches, South Africa takes a close lead with six points with three wins and a loss. In the second place is Australia with four points with two wins and two defeats. Third-placed New Zealand has just one win (with three defeats) against the table leaders South Africa. All three teams have completed four matches each and have equal number of matches in the second leg of the preliminary round before the top two teams play in best-of-three finals.

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