Friday 16th March, 2012 Anderson gives an indication of what’s on cards for Sri Lankans rout Sri Lanka BY REX CLEMENTINE Policemen easily outnum- bered the handful of specta- A caterer who tors who witnessed proceed- doesn’t provide ings of England’s first day at office on their tour of Sri cutlery! Lanka as James Anderson Sri Lanka (SLC) big- by 6 at Asia Cup gave the local supporters a wigs may not have a knack for DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Skipper fair idea of what to expect spotting talent, but they certainly Misbah-ul-Haq and smashed from his , which had half centuries to guide Pakistan to a six- great control, as he troubled seem to be having a knack for victory over Sri Lanka in the third SLC President’s XI with four fixing deals for their kith and kin. one-day international of the Asia Cup on wickets, claimed either side Yesterday, the large contingent Thursday. of lunch to help England of English journalists covering Chasing a winning target of 189, reduce the hosts to 169, after the opening day’s play of Pakistan comfortably reached 189-4 in just they had elected to bat first. England’s tour of Sri Lanka, 39.5 overs in a steady yet determined The game got underway found out that there was no cut- innings. Misbah was unbeaten on 72 one hour late due to a wet lery, when they turned up for while Akmal made 77 runs. outfield and Anderson, after lunch at the R. Premadasa The win moved Pakistan closer to the Stadium. Among the English final, while Sri Lanka risked an early exit finding the edges of Dimuth Karunaratne (0) and journalists are former Test crick- from the four-team competition. eters. Pakistan set its victory course with the Bhanuka Rajapaksa (1) ‘The Island’ learns that the ball after produced figures cheaply,bowled Roshen Silva caterer from the Moratuwa area of 4-43, took 3-27 and Umar (21) after lunch before trap- Gul chipped in with 2-20 to dismiss Sri ping Prasanna is a pet of certain SLC bigwigs Lanka for 188. Jayawardene for 2. and is even entitled to vote at the Sri Lanka was bowled out with more Ashen Silva, a 21-year-old SLC AGM. There have been sev- than four overs left. opener from Maris Stella eral complaints to cancel the College, stood firm after caterer’s contract, but his ‘fran- SCOREBOARD showing some early nerves to chise power’ seems to be keep- ing him in the lucrative business! Sri Lanka top score with 66 runs. Silva, Mahela Jayawardene c Hafeez b Cheema 12 who has scored heavily for Tillakaratne Dilshan c Ajaml b Cheema 20 Lankan CC this season hav- lower order to claim figures Kumar Sangakkara b Cheema 71 ing already notched up five of five for 37 in 24 overs. Dinesh Chandimal c Younis b Gul 0 centuries, was flat footed England faced only ten Lahiru Thirimanne c Akmal b Azam 7 against the pacemen, but deliveries in their innings as Upul Tharanga b Ajmal 57 once the spinners came on, bad light forced an early end Farveez Maharoof c Misbah b Ajmal 2 he handled them confidently. to play.The Englishmen got a Nuwan Kulasekara c Ahmed b Gul 4 The left-hander reached Seekkuge Prasanna 5 fair idea as to what to expect his half-century by driving Lasith Malinga b Cheema 1 throughout the tour as the Suresh Lakmal c Jamshed b Ajmal 0 Graeme Swann straight past new ball was shared by the Extras: (5lb, 4w) 9 him for four and cut his next Sri Lankan spinners. TOTAL: (all out) 188 for another bound- There was an injury scare Overs: 45.4. ary.Silva ultimately fell for in the morning as fast bowler Fall of wickets: 1-35, 2-43, 3-47, 4-65, 5-161, the pace as Stephen Finn pro- Stuart Broad twisted his 6-165, 7-172, 8-182, 9-187. duced the outside edge. ankle while warming up. He Bowling: 8-1-20-2 (2w), Aizaz Sri Lanka recovered was to play the game, but was Cheema 9-0-43-4 (2w), 10- briefly as Silva and Sachithra replaced by Finn. 0-40-0, 4-0-21-1, Saeed Ajmal Serasinghe added 65 runs for 8.4-1-27-3, 6-0-32-0. England have another the fifth wicket and left-arm- Pakistan warm-up game ahead of the M. Hafeez c Chandimal b Prasanna 11 spinner Monty Panesar pro- first Test that gets underway c Tharanga b Lakmal 18 duced the breakthrough at the Galle International c Maharoof b Lakmal 2 before running through the Stadium next week. Misbah-ul-Haq not out 72 Umar Akmal c Tharanga b Maharoof 77 England’s James Anderson, right, delivers a ball as Sri Hammad Azam not out 4 Lanka’s Ashen Silva looks on during a practice cricket Extras: (1lb, 2w, 2nb) 5 TOTAL: (for four wickets) 189 match between England and the Sri Lanka Board XI in Overs: 39.5. Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, March 15, 2012. (AP Fall of wickets: 1-29, 2-31, 3-33, 4-185. Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Did not bat: Shahid Afridi, Sarfraz Ahmed, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Aizaz Cheema. Bowling: Lasith Malinga 8-1-44-0, Nuwan Kulasekara 7-2-22-0, Suresh Lakmal 8-1-37-2 (2nb), Seekkuge Prasanna 7.5-1-49-1, Farveez Maharoof 7-0-23-1 (2w), Tillakaratne Dilshan 2- 0-13-0. Result: Pakistan won by 6 wickets. Toss: Sri Lanka. Umpires: and Paul Reiffel, Australia. TV : Sharfuddoula, Bangladesh. Match Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara, left, reacts after Pakistan’s Aizaz Cheema, second from left, bowled him out during referee: David Boon, Australia. their Asia Cup cricket match in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, March 15, 2012. (AP) Jaffna kids make long trek for Galle’s rugby showdown Jaffna lads by the tournament host. Arrangements St. Antony’s College from Kayts had been made to host the rugby players from makes the rugby fraternity sit up Jaffna for breakfast at Ihala Talduwa College, and take note as they travel from which the school’s principal H.M Priyadasa was Point Pedro to Dondra Head to also expected to attend. Meanwhile SLRFU has granted all the monetary needs to make the first compete in an All Island School long trip of the Jaffna boys a memorable one. Rugby Tournament St.Antony’s is no stranger to school sports spec- trum as they won the 400m relay bronze medal at BY CHATHURA PINNAWALA the National Schools Athletics Championships SCOREBOARD The distance between Point Pedro and Dondra recently and have emerged victorious in the all Head isn’t too plentiful as it seems. The journey by island Physical Training competitions in 2008 and Sri Lanka first innings St. Antony’s College rugby players, covering 2011. St. Antony’s principal Rec. K. James A. Silva ct Prior b Finn 66 almost the entire length of the famous point’s to Singarayar said on the eve of the tournament D. Karunaratne ct Prior b Anderson 00 try their hand at rugby union in the SLSRFA con- players had been in good shape and he expects a B. Rajapaksa ct Trottb Anderson 01 ducted under 20 Division II sevens tournament, is healthy performance from the boys. “They have R. Silva b Anderson 21 St. Antony’s College, Kayts Rugby Sevens team. P. Jayawardene lbwb Anderson 02 a historic chapter in the country more so than a been in full training for the past few weeks and inspector of Jaffna rugby.He especially thanked S. Serasinghe ct Andersonb Panesar 31 feel good story.The tournament will be held at the spirits are high. We are new to rugby, but in a the efforts of Jaffna security Forces commander D. Pereralbw b Panesar 00 Rathgama Public grounds, Galle on March 17 and short span of time have showed we are capable at K. Elvitigala lbw b Panesar 04 18. Major Gen. Mahinda Hathurusinghe, Lt. Col. Christie Jayasinghe and Lt. Col. Senaka it and that we are very ardent about it too. I feel M. Bandara ct Swannb Panesar 06 The school, founded in 1872 by Rev. FR. these will hold us in a good stead and since this is T. Gamage not out 14 Boissean, caught the eye of the officials travelling Premawansa for the continuous support in these endeavors. our first outing we are planning to the raise the N. Premaratne b Panesar 01 from Colombo to conduct coaching camps in Extras: (b 12, lb 2, w 5, nb 4) 23 Well known names like Ellis Meachen, Ananda bar step by step. This year we are here to com- Jaffna. K. Kularathinam, one of the stalwarts in pete.” Total: all out 169 bringing rugby to Jaffna, who possesses a vested Kasthuriarachchi and Nihal ‘Viper’ Gunaratne Overs: 73.3 If they water the spirit and keep it away from interest in the swift development of the oval ball had gone the distance to inject rugby to Jaffna and Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-11, 3-65, 4-67, 5-132, 6-134, 7-134, 8-138, drying out, it wouldn’t be that much of a long shot game, says there were apparent signs that the this initiative was a direct result of the project 9-168. school had the zeal to learn the ropes. “When we undertaken by SLRFU Rugby Development and to envisage the probability of a schools rugby Bowling: Anderson 11-3-19-4, Finn 16-7-33-1 (5w), Bopara 5-0- were about to do the camps at the Doreappa Education Ministry.Director of Sports, Rohana champion rising from the Jaffna peninsula in the 19-0 (4nb), Swann 18-4-47-0, Panesar 23.3-11-37-5. Stadium, we invited all the schools in Jaffna and Karunaratne, Project Director, Milroy Jayamanne, not too distant future. England first innings outskirts. Some sent two, some five, but St. Educational Ministry secretary, H.M Gunasekara, St. Antony’s College, Kayts sevens Squad: A. Strauss not out 06 A. Cook not out 00 Antony’s sent twelve. It was clear that they had SLRFU development co-chairman Nalin De Silva Rednasingam Venutheepan, Kunaseelan and schools coordinator K.S.P Karunaratne are Kunaraj, Jeyabalan Vinothkumar, Tharmarasa Extras: 00 the enthusiasm. They have been training hard at Total: for no loss 06 the men behind the scenes of the project which Jeyeraj, Jerad Jeyeseelan Dilaxsan, Doreappa and I’m sure they’ll surprise some in Overs: 1.1 the match-ups.” was called ‘Rugby Ready.’ Thiruganasothi Kirushanth, Panneerselvan St. Antony’s will play in Group E which com- To bat: J. Trott, K. Pietersen, I. Bell, R. Bopara, M. Prior J. Kularathinam-known affectionately among the Sivatheepan, Tharmarasa Vithuraj, Kumar Anderson, G. Swann, S. Finn and M. Panesar. rugby circles as ‘Rajan’-who was the Jaffna prises Talduwa Buddhist School, Rahula College, Nitharsan, Kirupananthan Anparasan, Alosius Katugastota and Mahinda College, Galle. They left Bowling: Perera 1-0-6-0, Serasinghe 0.1-0-0-0. District hockey captain in 1983- had worked with Princs Inoch, Lurthunayagam Joseph Thanusan, Toss: SLCPXI Jaffna on Thursday evening and rugby sources say the SLRFU during the war and is a very optimistic S. Pararajasekaram (Teacher-in Charge). Umpires: R. Kottahachchi and R. Wimalasiri a rousing reception has been arranged for the

Friday 16th March, 2012